by J. E. Cluney
Scott finished in record time, driven nuts by my scent, and when Jaye unloaded inside me, there was a chaotic scramble as Nathan and Scott madly tried to take his place inside me.
This mad sex and mind-blowing orgasms continued for quite some time, each man taking his turn with me until I was so tired and drained, my female parts aching, but not from need. And I was dripping semen now, it was everywhere, puddles all over the flooring and all over me.
I lay on the floor, panting and chest heaving as my body felt like Jell-O. I was exhausted, and tired beyond belief.
Then I was being dipped into the spa in strong arms as Nathan murmured sweet words of love and adoration.
The trio cleaned me up in the spa, and then Scott was heaving me up and out, wrapping a towel around me as he carried me out of the room.
My two other boys followed, carrying their clothes and mine, and I vaguely wondered where we were going.
I found myself being planted into my king bed, all three crowding around me as I nestled against the pillows.
“Shit, I thought that would never end,” Scott chuckled.
“It was like you were in heat,” Jaye said thoughtfully.
“She was,” Nathan groaned.
“Wait, what?!” I sat up quickly, nearly smacking my forehead on Nathan’s as he sat by me.
“You really think?” Scott frowned, pondering on it as he cocked his head at me.
“They say if you’re separated from your mate long enough, upon rejoining them, it can force you into a heat. I guess your mind or body believes us all to be your mate, and you’ve been without for a while,” Nathan said with a forming half grin. “The heat you go into isn’t like a normal one, so it doesn’t last as long. It’s meant to strengthen the bond with your mate.”
I just blinked at him, scowling at his words. I’d heard of heat being brought on like that, but I’d not taken any of my boys as a mate through ceremony. There was way these things were done.
“That’d explain it,” Jaye nodded as he lay down against the pillows, stroking my naked back as my towel slipped down.
“Great,” I growled. “Guess I’m off to the infirmary first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll take you. I could use your help tomorrow mustering. Warren will be taking the day off to move into his cottage, so I could use another body,” Nathan said as he, too, lay back on the bed on the other side of me.
I nodded, sleep rearing its head to remind me of how little I’d slept lately. I stifled a yawn, but Scott grinned at me from his seat at the foot of the bed.
“Sleep hun, I’ll head back and start cleaning. I’m not sure I want Bianca getting stuck with our mess,” he rumbled, that deep, throaty chuckle making me smile.
I nodded and allowed Nathan to ease me back on the bed. I rolled over, allowing him to spoon me as I coaxed Jaye into my arms. Their warmth flooded through my damp towel, and I wanted to toss it off the bed and lie naked with them, just enjoying their presence.
But before I knew it, sleep crept up on me, and I succumbed to it with a smile on my lips.
I awoke with the morning sun filtering in through my window. My body ached and groaned after last night’s exciting ride, but it only made me smile as I reminisced.
“Breakfast?”
I leaned up to peer at the form in my bedroom doorway, managing a smile as Nathan strode over with a plate in hand.
I was tucked under the blanket now, my towel hung up on my coat rack. My clothes were nowhere to be seen, so I could only assume they were in the hamper.
“Bacon, eggs, cheesy toast, all the good stuff,” Nathan grinned as he offered the plate to me as I propped myself up against the pillows.
The aroma of bacon made my stomach growl eagerly, and I accepted his breakfast.
“Scott got called down to one of the cottages. Frank was cutting down a pine that was too close to his house, and the stubborn old ‘wolf that he is, he didn’t get help. It fell and took out half his porch. Scott’s clearing it up and assessing the damage so he can get started on repairs. Jaye’s off painting again. Some rich woman has commissioned a piece from him, so he’s working on that,” Nathan filled me in as I ate, unable to resist wolfing it down too fast.
“There’s orange juice too,” he flicked his head at the glass of fresh juice on my bedside table. My chest squeezed at his thoughtfulness.
“Did my father call last night?” I asked, remembering how he’d been supposed to call.
“Yeah, we missed it because of… well, you know,” he smiled sheepishly as he grinned.
“Yeah, I know,” I chuckled.
“He left a message and said he’d call back at midday. Figured we could get you to the infirmary then get the mustering done and be back in time for his call. Sound good?”
I nodded as I reached for my glass, downing the juice in just a few gulps.
“Well, you shower and get ready, I’ll meet you out at the barbecue area,” Nathan said as he kissed my forehead and took my now empty plate and glass.
“Okay,” I murmured. I could’ve gone back to sleep for a few hours, but I knew I shouldn’t. A glance at the clock on my bedside table informed me it was eight in the morning. Too early for a night owl like me.
I sighed as Nathan left, and forced myself out of the warm, comfy sheets to drag myself to the bathroom. Once under the cool water, I woke up more. I was eager to hear from my father, on what he’d been able to do about this damned proposition. It made my blood boil every time I thought about it. Goddamn ‘wolf, thinking he can claim me like that.
I washed every inch of my body thoroughly, and briefly wondered how Scott had gone with the cleanup of the spa room. God, that was embarrassing. We’d made one hell of a sexy mess in there.
Moments from the night before seeped into my mind, and I moaned as my body flared to life.
“Damn,” I growled, forcing the hot and heavy images from my mind. But the damage had been done, and I reached for the soap to clean my lady parts yet again.
I joined Nathan at the barbecue area, spying some of the teen ‘wolves playing some football down on the grassy area further towards the river.
Nathan led the way as we walked down to them, and I watched the group of eight dodging and weaving, using pinecones to symbolize their goal posts.
We veered to the left, slipping into the woods and trudging along the worn dirt track as the small white building came into view.
The cottage beside it had smoke spiraling from the chimney, and Nathan praised her being home.
Nathan took over as we reached the cottage, knocking on the door and waiting until the old she-wolf peered out, her dark brown eyes curious as she glanced over us. Her greying ashy brown hair was done up in a messy bun, and she held a mug of coffee in one hand as Nathan greeted her.
“Morning Vanessa, we need to get a morning after injection, please,” Nathan gave her a dazzling smile.
“You know, you’re old enough to have a pup if you want,” Vanessa peeked around Nathan to inspect me.
“Yeah, we know, but she’s choosing to be a huntress, no pups yet,” he said.
“Right,” she nodded.
“And…well…we wouldn’t know who… Nathan pondered his words, but Vanessa just cracked a wide grin, chuckling as she eyed me and shook her head.
“She went into heat, when we were all there,” Nathan defended himself, and she just snorted.
“Now, now, Tay. This group of three partners sure is interesting. But for them to have to be together to force you into heat, now that’s something,” she chuckled. “You sure are an interesting young lass.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I frowned. I couldn’t distinguish if she was having a go at me or not. But her friendly smile told me she wasn’t as she strode out the door, mug still in hand as she waved us over to the infirmary building.
“It sure is an interesting concept, three partners to one she-wolf. But it’s a growing way of life due to the low numbers of females born. I know Packs
closer to the cities or even in them are taking up such ways, and some have been doing it for generations, it’s a part of who they are as a people,” she mused as she sipped her coffee.
I gave Nathan a pointed look, and he just rolled his eyes. He wasn’t sure what to think of it when I kept telling him that it was more common than he thought.
Vanessa unlocked the infirmary and beckoned us in.
I took the seat as she shuffled around, gathering up a strap and injection from the locked cabinet. She did the strap up around my arm, tightening it as I looked to Nathan for support. He just gave me a reassuring smile.
Vanessa flicked my arm to draw the vein, and before I knew it she’d jabbed the needle it and the injection was done.
“There, not so bad, is it,” Vanessa beamed as she withdrew the needle and packed everything away.
I rolled my eyes and Nathan thanked her.
“Well, you two have a good day, I’ll be going back to my Nat Geo show,” she said as she waved us out.
“Thanks again,” I shot over my shoulder, but she just waved me off.
“She’s always been big for the National Geographic channel,” Nathan said as we started back towards the mansion.
“Yeah, she’s interesting,” I nodded. Vanessa was someone the whole Pack valued deeply, and I was glad we had her. A few of the other she-wolves had practiced some nursing at the Alpha’s request. He believed more should know the basics of care for those sick or injured and had people come in to train some of the Pack. Always wanting to take care of everyone, that was the main quality of a true Alpha.
My mine jumped to Richard and all the ugly things I heard about him and his Pack. He ruled them with an iron thumb, a tyrant, not an Alpha. Many of them worked hard to give him his fortune, and they rarely saw anything for their work. He took mated females from their mates when in heat, forcing them to bear his own children, and no one challenged him due to his position.
How could such a man think he could have me? The way of his Pack was so wrong and old, I hated it. He was a smug, self-centered ass who only cared about his power and money, nothing else.
Taking our Pack and our lands had always been something he wanted, and now he was getting close to having that.
“Tay, everything okay?” Nathan asked as he frowned at me.
“Yeah, why?” I asked, snapping at him a bit too much.
“Your eyes went yellow,” he murmured, his brow furrowing more at my snappiness.
“Sorry, I’m just worried about this Richard thing,” I sighed.
“Don’t. He can’t have you. The Council can’t just hand you over to him. If they think it’s for the best, I’m sure they’ll give us options.”
“I hope so, I’d challenge him to a fight for it,” I said.
“I wish you wouldn’t,” Nathan groaned.
“I beat both Jaye and Scott, and you said you’d give me a spar this morning too, remember?” I shot back, remembering his words from yesterday.
“Yeah, I know,” he chuckled. “Fine, but if I win, you throw away this idea of fighting Richard. Let your father handle it.”
I glared at him, weighing my options. I could beat Nathan. He was the best fighter of the three, but I’d been training hard the past two years.
“Deal.”
10
Nathan gave me a good fight. We chose the same grassy area as yesterday with Jaye, and got right to it. Nathan was fast and strong, a deadly combination that made such a fine fighter. But he didn’t know everything I’d learned. We exchanged blows, kicking and punching, striking out with nothing held back, landing heavy blows on one another and blocking.
At one point he flipped me onto the ground, sweeping my legs out from under me, but I rolled away and shot to my feet, striking him in the shoulder with a harsh kick and sending him tumbling backwards. The spar probably only lasted a few minutes, but by the time I slammed him to the ground and had his arm locked in an arm lock and his neck jammed under my boot, I was hot and a thin line of sweat had beaded on my brow.
He tapped out, scowling at me as he sat up.
“Now do you think I can kick Richard’s ass?” I asked sweetly as he grumbled and stretched his arm that I’d locked.
“Maybe. He’s still an Alpha. You’ve learned much with Neema, but a battle with an Alpha is so much more,” he said as he turned his face to the sky. The sun danced across his features, drawing a smile from me as he relaxed and soaked up the warmth.
“I know, but this is my family, my Pack, my home. I won’t lose it to him. I will fight for my right to choose my partner, well, partners,” I winked.
“I know. You’ve always been a fighter. So stubborn. It’s one of the things I love about you,” he sighed.
I moved closer to snuggle into his side, and we sat for a few moments, his arm around me as we enjoyed the morning sun.
“How’s your body this morning? After last night?” he asked softly.
“Sore, aching, tired,” I laughed. “But worth. Oh so worth it.”
He grinned at this and stood up, helping me to my feet as well.
“Well, if you think you’re up for it, we need to help the others move the Angus herd from the bottom field to the northern field. You think you can do that?” he checked. “I was meant to work with the new mare, but that’ll be postponed to tomorrow.”
“Of course, just because we had some crazy sex doesn’t mean I’m suddenly incapable of anything,” I brushed him off. Besides, it’d been ages since I’d gone riding.
“Well, if you’re keen,” he shrugged and took my hand, smiling as he led me towards the stable.
I got given a cowboy hat as soon as we strode in, and some of the other ‘wolves had brought in the riding horses for today’s work.
I chose the fiery little grey dapple mare. I’d ridden her a few times before I left, and she was strong and quick on her feet. A mind of her own at times, but a good mount. Belle was her name.
Nathan had his barrel racing mount ready, a bay gelding with a blaze down his face and two white socks on his back legs. Dasher was his name, and it suited him perfectly.
We saddled them up and led them outside the stable before mounting, and I relaxed into the soft, black, western saddle.
Dasher pranced and played with his bit as he begged to be given the rein so he could take off like a bullet. But Nathan held him firm, circling him to calm him down.
Belle waited patiently, but I could feel her excitement at being out of the field, the ripple of her muscles, the perked ears as she looked around.
Once Dasher was behaving, Nathan led the way, and I pushed Belle into a gentle trot to keep up with Dasher.
Being on horseback was something I’d loved and growing up on a ranch had sated that young girl’s horse love. I’d had my own horse since I was young, a black gelding that was named Beauty. A tribute to the movie I’d watched a number of times as a child. He’d passed a few years before I left, his age finally catching up to him. He’d been almost thirty when he’d passed, and the suddenness of it had broken my heart. I still remember going out to ride and noticing his movements were slow and sluggish. We had a vet come out to look him over, and we were simply told his age was the culprit. It all went downhill after that.
I tightened my grip on the reins, urging Belle to slow as she began to pull, wanting to move into a canter to overtake Dasher and Nathan.
She snorted in frustration when I wouldn’t allow her, and I settled into the saddle as I soaked in the sounds of the forest around as. The birds diving through the overhead branches, their songs and calls filling the air along with the steady clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the worn dirt track.
Nathan pulled Dasher up so that Belle and I came up beside him. We continued on, side by side.
“Feels good to be back in the saddle?” Nathan asked.
“Yeah, it’s been a while. I missed it,” I sighed as I reached forward to stroke Belle’s grey-white mane.
“I’ll tell you what,
I’ll race you to the cattle fields,” Nathan grinned.
I didn’t get a chance to answer as he shot off, Dasher firing off before me.
Belle pulled to follow after him, and I let her have her head, loosening the reins as she took off in pursuit.
The pair were surefooted and quick, shooting through the trees like bullets. I caught up with Nathan despite his fast mount. Belle had been a competitor too before she came to our ranch from memory, so she was always eager for a challenge.
I laughed as my cowboy hat flew off, my hair done up in a ponytail thankfully as it whipped out behind me.
I leaned forward, driving Belle on, her hooves pounding on the earth with power and speed that any ‘wolf would envy.
I listened to her deep breaths, the way she snorted and shook her head as she raced onward, the smell of her excitement and her sweet horse scent. I held on tight with my legs, not needing a fall to ruin this freeing ride.
I barely had to steer her, Belle knew where we were headed, and I took the few moments to just enjoy the incredible ride.
Then we were shooting out into the clearing, and I leaned back, tugging lightly on the reins as the fenced field came into view.
“Whoa, Belle, whoa,” I calmed her, and she pulled up into a brisk trot, eager to continue her mad dash.
Nathan joined me, Dasher snorting and shaking his head as he pranced, not pleased that he’d been pulled up.
“Damn, Belle’s fast,” Nathan wowed.
“Yep, she used to do cross-country stuff I think,” I grinned as I patted her neck.
“The boys have used her for mustering, I’ve been using Dasher lately. Never seen her take off like that though, maybe you’ve just got a special touch with her,” he chuckled.
“Maybe,” I said.
We joined a few of the others waiting patiently at the gate as they talked, laughing and joking before waving to us. I recognized all of them.
Beth’s father, Carlos, sat atop a huge bay gelding, an ex-racer. He was a sweet horse whom always found his way into the musterings. He was dopy and usually slow to ride, but when he was around cows, his whole demeanor changed. Brayden was there, a tall, slender man with a toothy grin and bright blue eyes. His usually long brown hair was tied up in a ponytail that hung down his back, and he had on a cowboy hat as well.
