by Renee Rose
The wolf lifts its upper lip in a growl, showing its teeth.
Knowing there’s a human behind the fangs, Charlie drops the gun and lifts his hands. “Easy. I just came to make sure you got the boy back. I’m not part of this operation.”
The wolf advances, still growling.
A week ago, he might have shot the wolf first and asked questions later, but not now. Not after what he just saw. After what he felt.
Watching the men change into animal form did something strange to his body. His cells heated and rearranged, like they knew the pattern. Like they wanted him to change, too.
“I’m not with Santiago. I gave you guys the coordinates to find this place.”
The wolf launches itself at him.
He throws up his forearm to block the bite, but it never comes. The wolf knocks him to his back and stands on him but doesn’t go for his throat.
In a flash, the wolf transforms into an angry man.
Charlie’s nose smashes under a brutal punch from Jared Johnson, the fighter he picked up in Tucson.
“What do you know about the boy?” Jared demands.
Charlie uses his legs to throw Jared off him and springs to his feet, hands up at the ready. He has another gun at his hip, but he doesn’t go for it. Jared isn’t trying to kill him.
“I saw them take the boy.” The two circle each other. Jared’s fists are up like a boxer’s. “I was too far away to stop it, but I felt obligated to follow up. Make sure you got him back.”
Jared lunges in for a punch, but Charlie dodges it and slips back without retaliation. It might be the first time he’s fought a naked man.
“You work for the government,” Jared accuses.
“I’m not on the job.”
“Why are you here?”
“I just told you.”
Jared drops his fists as abruptly as he first attacked. “Bullshit.” He lifts his chin. There’s a challenge there that sends the prickles of ice up and down Charlie’s spine. “Shift.”
Charlie doesn’t understand the command, but his body heats again, the queer sensation of cells moving and rearranging happening again.
“Shift, asshole.” Jared’s voice carries more power than it should.
It seems to echo in Charlie’s ears, go through his torso. A twisting, wrenching, shattering sensation tears his body apart. His clothing grows too small and rips on his body, and then he’s closer to the ground, staring down at a pair of giant, white paws. The pain in his broken nose disappears.
What... the fuck?
But even as his mind reels, some small inner voice whispers I knew it.
He lifts his head and stares up at the human.
There’s a triumphant gleam in Jared’s eye. He crosses his arms over his chest. “Is this what you really wanted to know? Hmm, Agent Dune?”
Of course, Charlie can’t speak to answer. All he can do is growl.
“Shift back,” he commands again.
Just as inescapably, his body transforms again. Charlie’s on his ass on the ground, his torn clothing twisted around his limbs.
“Stay off our trail. You want answers, come and ask me directly. You know where I live.” And with that, Jared blurs and drops to all fours, loping off into the jungle on giant wolf paws.
Charlie lifts his hands and examines them. No trace of paws remains. “Well,” he mutters aloud. “That was fucking weird.”
An uncharacteristic smile creeps across his face and something, some animal part of him, celebrates.
A werewolf.
“No shit.” He chuckles as he packs up his gun.
15
Nash
“It’s not like I was actually there,” Kylie’s voice crackles on the microphone. We’re back at the hacienda and the place buzzes with excitement, even though plenty of wolves are getting treated for wounds. Denali and Nolan are safe in their suite—I left them to do the rounds and debrief with the alphas before bed.
“I wouldn’t put myself at risk,” Kylie continues. Sam has her on screen on his laptop, Jackson is bent over him, frowning at his mate. Kylie doesn’t seem too concerned, examining her nails which are all lengthened to claws. “I couldn’t just sit back and let you rush into danger without me there.”
“Nearly gave me a heart attack when I heard your voice,” Jackson growls and waves a hand around the room at Garrett and his pack. “Do you see their mates rushing into battle?’
“Amber is human,” Kylie points out. “And, knowing Tank, he chained his mate up so she wouldn’t follow him.”
“Tied her to the bed,” Tank confirms, without looking up from the weapon he’s cleaning.
“Nash.” Sedona stands in the door, signaling me. A fat, beautiful baby sits on her hip, chattering away in baby language. I nod to both Garrett and Jackson and follow her out.
“Laurie, Declan, and Parker are asking about you, but I thought you’d want to see them.”
“Thanks. How’s Carlos and your pack?”
“Six wolves sustained bad wounds, but Carlos and most of them are fine.” She suppresses a smile. “They’ve already started celebrating. I’m sure you’ll hear them setting off fireworks later. The fiesta will probably last a week.” She stops at a door and lowers her voice. “Layne and I checked them over and got their wounds cleaned up. Parker and Declan weren’t shot, but Layne and Laurie found them passed out on the ground. Pulled them out of the action and got them back here.”
“That was me,” I say. “I got wounded defending Denali and called on the pack bonds to heal me up fast.”
“I thought so,” she nods. “Well, they’re fine. Just a bit weak. We told them to rest, but they wanted to see you—”
“Of course.”
She steps aside. I pause with my hand on the doorknob. “Sedona? Thank you.”
I wait until she smiles and pads away before opening the door to a dimly lit room. Sedona’s smart, hosting the wounded well away from the healthy members of a pack. It’s not the nature of a predators to show compassion to the weak. Sometimes blood just makes shifters think of meat.
Inside, Laurie sits with his arm bandaged. He’s the only one sitting up. Parker and Declan lay on their beds, looking pale. They bore the brunt when I pulled power from the pack.
The three of them straighten as I enter.
“Don’t get up,” I order and they all relax. I grin to myself at the sight of them actually following my commands. Guess I really have taken on the mantle of Alpha now.
“How’s Nolan?” Laurie asks.
“Safe,” I confirm. “Healthy. Probably a bit shaken but he’ll be fine. Denali’s getting him to bed.” My son couldn’t stop talking about the helicopter ride. Apparently, Sam promised him flying lessons. Denali was not pleased.
“And Santiago?”
“Gone. Denali and I turned him over to Carlos.”
My pack nods their approval. They know Carlos’ pack had the biggest score to settle with the evil wolf.
“So what now?” Parker asks just as Laurie blurts, “Are you our alpha?”
“I’ve always been an alpha,” I say. “I just didn’t know it. I’d be honored to be yours.”
“Alpha,” Laurie and Declan mutter. Parker angles his head, showing his throat with a grin.
“I know I pulled some power from you during the fight.” I squeeze Declan and Parker’s shoulders and they relax even further. “You good?”
“All good, boss,” Parker confirms.
Declan puts his hand over mine for a second, smiling weakly.
I tighten my grip, letting my strength flow into them. By the time I take my hand away, their cheeks are flushed, and their eyes are brighter.
Parker struggles to sit up.
“Oh no you don’t.” Layne hustles into the room, pushing him back down. “You need to rest. I’ll dose you with a sedative.”
“Sleep,” I order, and Parker and Declan’s eyes close. Laurie’s head droops and Layne helps him back onto the pillow.
&
nbsp; “I’ll stay with them,” she whispers.
“Thank you,” I tell her and slip out.
Whoops and shouts dog my steps as I head through the hacienda. The courtyard is full of shifters and the smell of meat. A Mexican wolf staggers past, grinning broadly and drinking something alcoholic straight from a dark jug.
“Amigo!” He toasts me, angling his head slightly in respect to my lion’s dominance. I smile and wave off his offer to drink. I’m wide awake and pumped on adrenaline, but there’s only one place I want to be.
I head toward the quieter part of the hacienda, hastening my steps until I come to the suite of rooms marked with familiar cinnamon scent. Denali and Nolan are inside. My family. I hesitate only a moment before I open the door.
The three rooms—two bedrooms adjacent to one sitting room—are dark. Denali sits on the bed in the smaller room, watching Nolan sleep. I lean against the doorframe and watch them both. My mate and son. My family.
Denali stands up and walks toward me. Even in the dark, I see her eyes glittering grey-blue. Her lioness is showing.
Hips swaying, she peels her t-shirt off over her head.
My cock punches out against my jeans. I force myself to keep my arms at my sides, though. Denali’s making the move. I’m going to let her.
“Have I told you how much it turns me on to see you fight?” She slides her hands up under my shirt, then digs her nails into my chest.
A snarly-purr issues from my throat. “I might have noticed last time.” My voice is impossibly deep. I pull off my shirt to give her full access to my chest. She scrapes her nails over my nipples, clawing lightly down my hard abdomen.
She pushes me backward, out of Nolan’s doorway and shuts the door behind us. One hand on my chest, one hand unfastening my jeans, she propels me into the other bedroom. “Mm hmm. I’m going to need some of this big lion cock tonight.”
Lord help me. How could I ever have walked out on this spectacular female? I can’t even contemplate what I would’ve given up.
The backs of my knees hit the bed and I sit down. Denali has my zipper down. She drops to her knees at my feet and frees my length.
It’s all I can do not to bury my fist in her curls and fuck her lush mouth like a maniac. Instead, I squeeze my hands into fists at my sides, letting her drive.
And she definitely seems to have torture in mind, because she takes her time flicking her tongue around the head.
“Denali,” I growl. “You’re playing with fire.”
She releases the head of my cock with a pop of her lips and smiles. “Oh yeah?” She bites my inner thigh. “How is that?”
“If you’re not going to take my cock deep into that pouty mouth of yours, I’m gonna pin you to the floor and pound between your legs until you beg for mercy.”
She kisses up my inner thigh, then sucks my balls.
My knuckles crack under the pressure of my clenched fists.
“You wanna show me who’s boss?” she teases, turning her lips inside to shield her teeth as she pumps her mouth over just the tip.
I growl. “You have five seconds. Five... four…”
Her beautiful eyes widen and her gaze locks with mine, but she doesn’t take me deep, keeps on teasing.
“Three-two-one,” I rush and pick her up by her upper arms. I toss her onto the bed on her back and yank down her bra cups. I go to town on her right breast, sucking the nipple while I squeeze and knead the other breast roughly. She tears at my hair, claws my arms, her pelvis bucking up for friction.
I slide my hand down between her legs. “You showing me where you want my cock, baby? Or where you want my mouth?”
She arches up. “Your cock,” she rasps.
“My cock? You sure?” I rub a knuckle against the seam of her jeans, working it against her clit. “I thought you wanted this slow.” I graze her nipple with my teeth.
She rolls her head from side to side. “Not slow. No.” She already sounds wanton and needy. I can’t wait to make her scream.
“No?” I crawl lower and slowly peel her jeans off her legs.
She reaches her fingers into her panties, working them between her folds.
“Nuh uh.” I grab her wrist and pin it beside her head. “That’s my pussy. Only I get to touch tonight.” With my free hand, I yank her panties off, tearing the fabric in my haste.
Denali moans and reaches with her legs to pull me in. I chuckle because her legs are strong, and I can’t hold down both her hips and her wrist. I roll her over and pin both wrists behind her back, then give a light slap to her ass. She moans again, and I want to slap it more, spank her harder, but I’m afraid of waking Nolan.
Instead, I pull her hips up until she rests on her knees and I taste her.
Fuck, yes.
That cinnamon mating scent of her lioness permeates the room, tingles on my tongue. I work my tongue between her lips, tracing along the inside, flicking against her clit. I make my tongue stiff and penetrate her.
She bucks and fights for control of her hands. “Nash… Nash.”
“Not yet, baby. I’ll fuck you when I’m good and ready. Right now, I need to taste your pussy.”
“You tasted it,” she moans. “Fuck me, already.”
I slap her ass, then lick from clit to anus and back again. Her thighs tremble, breaths drag in and out with a shudder. I want to tease her all night, but I’m losing control, myself. The need to claim her is far too strong.
I shove my pants off. Denali waits in position, face pressed into the mattress, hands still held at her lower back. I have a condom in my wallet, but I don’t go for it. Instead, I rub the head of my cock through her juices and say, “When you get this cock it’s going to be bare-back, baby. Nothing between us. Because I missed you carrying my cub last time, and I’m dying to see what it looks like.”
I wait, because I’m not really asshole enough to make that decision without her consent.
Denali rolls her head to the side to look back at me. “Y-you want more cubs?”
“Yeah. Do you?”
Denali rolls her face back to the mattress with a sob and I’m on top of her in a flash, both of us flattened against the mattress, my body blanketing hers.
“Baby. Talk to me. I’m sorry. What is it?”
She rolls under me and turns her wet face into my neck. “It’s good,” she chokes. “I’m happy.” She sinks her teeth into my flesh, like she’s marking me.
I jerk when her fangs punch through my skin, more out of surprise than pain. She laps the wound with her tongue as her hand slides between us and grips my cock. “Give me that lion cock,” she purrs. “I’d have a million cubs with you.”
Oh Christ. A lion’s roar shakes the walls. I surge over her, plow in deep. She wraps her strong legs around my waist and pulls me in at the same time her arms twine around my neck and yank me down for a kiss.
I take her mouth with the same ferocity I claim her, lips bruising, tongue lashing between her lips. My hips thrust, sending me home, home, home with each spectacular stroke. I’ve never known bliss before this moment, and I’ll never forget it—Denali, devouring me in equal measure, pledging her body and soul to me, to our family.
Happiness pours through my lion, who I embrace. We’re are one, working together to please our mate. No longer do I fear him or imagine he will hurt the people I love. It was only me hurting him that made me sick.
I ride Denali until we’re both slick with sweat, gasping and panting. I never want to come, and yet I’ll die if I don’t. I can tell by Denali’s keening cries, she’s close, too. There’s something more that’s needed. Something I’m supposed to say.
“I’m yours, lioness. You marked me. I’ll never leave your side again,” I pledge.
She orgasms, nails digging into my back, pussy squeezing like a tight glove around my cock.
As soon as she starts, I go off, too. I slam in twice more before burying my cock deep inside her and releasing. I seem to come and come, as if my lion knows my inte
nt was to breed her and he’s released a lifetime of my essence to fill her.
Denali’s still shaking beneath me and squeezing me, mouth closed on my shoulder again. I rock slowly in and out, caressing her battered channel with my manhood now.
“I haven’t touched another since the day I met you.” I want her to know. She’s always been mine.
“Me neither,” she whispers into my ear. “I’ve just been waiting for you all this time. I knew you’d come.”
A shudder of rightness runs through me. I ease to my side and gather her against me, our bodies still connected. “I never should’ve held back. I just… didn’t want to hurt you any more than I had.”
“You never hurt me. All you did was protect and give. And look at the gift it became.” She smiles in the direction of Nolan’s room.
I stroke her curls back from her beautiful face. This time I kiss her softly. “All I did was rut and mark. You—” I stop because my eyes suddenly burn, and I have to blink. “You healed me.”
Denali wraps herself around me, tightening her hold until our bodies become one living, moving thing. I breathe in our mingled scents. We’re one now, an entity all on its own. There’s an us. A we. After a lifetime of being alone, of pushing everyone away, I’m connected. To Denali. To Nolan. To my rag-tag motley pack of misfits. To their extended circle of friends who came through for me—no, for us—in our most dire hour of need.
It’s unbelievable. And beautiful.
Living—my life—is a joy.
Thank fate. Thank God. Thank my lion. Thank Denali. Gratitude tumbles through me and out of me as I slip into my first peaceful night’s sleep in ages. Maybe ever.
I am whole again.
Epilogue
Denali
A breeze blows through my kitchen, carrying the scent of wildflowers. They wave on the slope, thousands of them, multi-colored blooms that blossomed overnight, after the rains.
I stand barefoot at the counter, shifting my weight from side to side as I stir a batch of peanut butter cookies. The timer dings—the first batch is done. I set it out and give the dishcloth a little wave, sending the scent wafting out the screened door—a scent no man, or lion, can resist.
