“How bad is it?” She closed the door and advanced to the bed. Cole noticed she nervously pulled at the bloody robe. Rushing things wouldn’t be good.
He watched the nurses work on Gerald, checking his vitals and cutting off his clothes. Finally, after a few minutes, he took a deep breath and gathered her in his arms to whisper the news to her.
“Marley, there were at least twenty people out there on patrol. Over half are dead or injured.”
Weight pushed against his arms as her body went limp and a gasp broke through her throat. Zachary opened the door, bringing both of their attention to him. Giving Cole a look, he shook his head no, once. Marley fell apart. Sobs echoed off the walls while she shook her head back and forth. Never before could he ever remember feeling so helpless.
“Cole, take her to my room and get her cleaned up. We’ll handle things down here. There’s really not much left we can do, anyway. I don’t want her seeing anymore of this. I’ll stay with Gerald and see if he wakes up.”
Marley broke away from Cole’s arms. Her eyes began glowing brightly while she retreated to the far corner of the room. A sense of dread surfaced while he looked at her small frame poised down like a startled animal. He suddenly had a really bad feeling things were about to get out of control.
Chapter 14
The walls felt like they were closing in. Marley couldn’t even identify what emotion she was feeling. Everything between rage, hate, and fear collided inside, leaving her grasping for a way to react. Was this even really happening?
“Marley, honey, come to me,” Zachary said soothingly. “I’m sorry for this. I really am. We all should have listened to you. It’s my fault. Please come here.”
Feeling the wall press firmer against her back, she realized there was nowhere else to go. “Zachary, tell me they’re not all dead because if they are…” She had no idea what she would do or think of it was confirmed.
“I’m sorry, Marley. Eleven died tonight.”
She let out a ragged breath. “Impossible. That would mean our woods would have been overrun with them. Our wolves are the best.” Marley sobbed, confused.
“Yes, we picked up a lot of different scents. There were at least thirty of them.”
Only one person came to her mind, and with it, an intense rage. Her body began to shake uncontrollably while she fought the wolf trying to take over. It made sense, and if her instincts were correct, she had been right about the twit from the beginning.
“She’s behind it,” Marley said, pointing her finger at the ceiling. “It makes perfect sense. I’m going to kill her.” She quickly advanced toward the door.
“Whoa, Marley, hold on. Talk to me,” Zachary said, stepping in her path. Cole quickly joined him.
“From the first day Josephine arrived, things have been happening. She said Colt was her friend. Maybe he knew something she didn’t want us to know. It could be possible. With her came trouble. I can feel something is not right with her story!”
“I thought we talked about this,” Zachary said, reaching for her. She quickly used her new senses and side stepped him, glaring into his eyes. “Are you saying you don’t believe me? If you’re taking her side, Zachary, then everything you told me about trust was a complete lie.”
Seconds turned into minutes while Zachary and Marley stared each other down. Marley wouldn’t break, she couldn’t. Everything she was doing was for the pack. She knew that now. It had nothing to do with Cole and everything to do with making sure no one else died.
“If I didn’t know better I’d think you were challenging me to be alpha.”
Marley was shocked by his words, but she couldn’t give up. “If that’s what it takes to make sure no one else ends up dead, I will. You told me earlier tonight that this was meant to be a partnership. We were both supposed to work together. I’m telling you what I feel to be fact, and you’re saying you don’t believe me.”
“No one is challenging anyone. I’ll get rid of Josie,” Cole said quietly.
“She’s not going anywhere until I get to speak with her first,” Marley snapped at him.
“Marley, you know I always trust your judgment, but I don’t want to overreact without proof.”
Zachary reached for her, but she was too fast. Marley burst through the door and ran as fast as she could up the stairs. The sound of the men advanced quickly behind her, but she pushed herself faster until Cole’s door came into view, and she slipped inside.
Gilbert jumped up from the chair, startled. Marley didn’t even look at him. She had Josie by the neck against the wall, just as the men came through.
“You did this, didn’t you? You killed my family, didn’t you!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she screamed.
“You’re lying. Do you know what?” Marley laughed. “I can sense your lies!”
“What is wrong with you? I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Josephine squeezed from her throat.
Marley wasn’t sure what she smelled, but something was radiating off of the girl, and it wasn’t fear. Her instincts told her it was lies, so she went with it. To her, it made sense. The deeper Marley stared into Josephine’s eyes the more something triggered. She knew those eyes. The tugging got worse just as she was grabbed from behind.
“Let go of me, dammit!” Marley screamed. “If you don’t let go of me I swear to you you’ll be sorry. They’ll kill us all!”
“Marley, it’s okay. No one else is going to die. I promise you I won’t let that happen. Cole, let’s take her to the room. We need to get her to calm down,” Zachary whispered quietly. “Josephine, I’m so sorry. My wife has just received some terrible news. I’m afraid she’s not herself right now.”
Looking behind herself at Zachary and Cole, she couldn’t believe how they didn’t trust her. An unfamiliar scent teased her senses for only a moment, and she felt herself grow cold. Her eyes flashed to Josephine.
“I know you’re behind this. Watch yourself, because the moment you slip, I’m going to rip out your throat, wolf,” Marley spit out.
A smile flashed across Josephine’s face but vanished as quickly as it appeared. “Whatever are you talking about, Marley?” Josephine asked sweetly.
Just the tone of that bitch enraged her. She was right, she knew she was! “Let me go, Zachary. Can’t you smell her? She’s a wolf, dammit! Cole, you can smell her, right?” Marley asked, trying to see them better from her awkward angle.
“I’m sorry, Marley.”
“What in the world is all this talk about wolves? Has she really lost it? I mean, no sane person walks around talking about wolves as people. That’s ridiculous.”
“Please excuse us,” Zachary said angrily.
Marley was pulled out of Cole’s room and into theirs. As soon as her husband slammed the door shut her anger only intensified. She looked at Cole, and he quickly let go of her. Without thought, she advanced forward.
“I can’t believe you’re not going to believe me. You’re my husband, Zachary!”
He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. “Listen to yourself, Marley. Josephine is not a wolf. I can’t believe you accused her of it. You could have blown our cover. You’re in shock from the events you witnessed. I think you need to take a shower and try to calm down.”
“I fucking smelled her. How she’s containing her smell, I don’t know,” Marley growled, “but the moment she lied to me, I knew it. I could sense her lies. Her skin let off some kind of odd scent. I’m telling you the truth. I may be in shock, but I am thinking clearer than I ever have.”
“Zachary, I think we should listen to her. She was right about before, and I believe her. Josephine smiled when she was called a wolf. You were looking at Marley at the time so I know you didn’t see it, but I did, and I don’t trust her.”
Quickly, Marley spun around to look at him. “You saw that,” she whispered. “Oh, God, Cole, I thought I was the only one. Thank you for believing me.” She ran into his arms,
placing her cheek against his chest.
“I can’t think,” Zachary said, sliding down the door, resting his head in his hands. “Marley, maybe you should take over the pack for now. I…”
Quickly, she rushed to her husband’s side. “Look at me. You are not handing your responsibilities over to me. We just have to work as a team like you said before. We need a plan. If Josephine is a wolf like I believe she is then we have to find out who she’s working for. We have to beat them at their own game.”
“How do we even know she’s working for anyone,” Cole asked. “I approached her on the street and asked her for a date. It had nothing to do with her hunting me down.”
“I don’t know, but I’m telling you she’s a wolf. Good genes, remember. She kept repeating that. Of course werewolves have good genes.”
“Shit. We can’t let her leave,” Zachary said quietly. “I’m going to make this right. Marley, I’m sorry for not listening to you. Sometimes I think if I can’t see or smell something then it isn’t there, but I should have known your senses are already stronger than mine. Please forgive me.”
He pulled her into his arms, cradling her to him. “Of course I forgive you. I love you.”
They smiled at each other, and some of the anger settled. Multiple expressions passed over her husband’s face while he thought, but the moment he smiled, she knew he figured out something genius.
“All right, this is what we’re going to go do.”
Chapter 15
Now that they had a plan and her husband made it up to her deliciously before they went to bed, Marley felt so much more at ease.
The moon shone brightly across the clear, dark sky from her bedroom window. It would be full in a couple of more days, and she could feel the pull throughout her body even though she wasn’t in it. Being in projection proved to be the only way she could truly watch over the surroundings even when she wasn’t awake.
Everything remained quiet outside. Guards patrolled around the estate but steered clear of the edge of woods. She knew the rival pack was through for tonight, but she’d make sure she put a stop to it if anything happened again.
“You know, I don’t think it’s healthy to always be in projection. How does your mind get any rest?” Cole asked from behind her.
Marley continued to look out of the window. “My mind is fine, Cole. What are you doing here? I thought you would be with Josephine.”
Large hands gripped around her waist pulling her back against his body. The hardness nearly made her moan. God, he felt so good. His warmth sent a blazing heat throughout her.
“I don’t want to be with her. I want to be with you.”
Slowly, his hands ran upward until they rested just below her breasts. Heaviness settled in Marley’s stomach. She could feel her pussy become wet at his words.
“You know how much I love you, don’t you?” Cole said, nibbling on her neck.
A shiver ran down her body. “I thought I was an obsession.” Turning around, she looked into his eyes. “That’s what you said.”
Cole’s arms gripped around her tighter, molding the front of her body to his. She arched her back, leaning away, to get a better look into his face. The motion only brought his body leaning down toward hers.
“Obsession, love, addiction, I feel all of those for you, Marley. Nothing I do or try can get you out of my head. You stalk my thoughts and my dreams. Every waking moment, you’re on my mind. I’m going to talk to Zachary. That’s what I wanted to tell you. It’s the reason I came. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, and it’s the only thing that makes sense.”
One of Cole’s hands slid up her back while the other one supported her arching body. Fingers wrapped into Marley’s hair, pulling her face to his. The taste of his mouth sucked her into a world of lust, and all she could think about was his blood. She had to taste him.
“No,” she said, pulling back. “Cole, you have to stop. I can’t control myself with you.”
“What are you talking about? Marley, don’t stop, please. You don’t have to control yourself with me.”
“You don’t understand. I want your blood.” She hesitated on the last word. Her body nearly went into spasms just thinking about what Cole’s essence did to her.
He stared into her eyes for a long time and then smiled. “Finish the blood tie, Marley. I want you to.”
“Blood tie? But I can’t read your thoughts, Cole.” Confused, she tried wiggling out of his arms. If she didn’t get away fast, she would submit, and having his permission was only making things a million times harder.
“Marley, with werewolves the third mark seals the deal. I guarantee if you bite me again, you’ll hear almost everything that runs through my mind. With the tie complete, we can hear each other. Our bond will be so much stronger than human and werewolf. I want you to bite me. Share this with me. Join us and make us one. Make me your mate, truly.”
Cole’s lips eased down on hers, applying the smallest amount of pressure. “Taste me, Marley.” Just at his touch, his flavor, she lost it. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she ravished his lips. At her urgency, she felt him lose control. His hands frantically began to roam all over her body.
“Are you sure you want me to do this?” Marley asked between kisses.
“Yes, I’ve never wanted anyone but you.”
They ripped each other’s clothes off greedily. The feel of hard muscle beneath her hands drove her madness to another level. Breaking her mouth from his, she ran her tongue along his throat down to the hard plains of muscle covering his body.
For the first time she recognized his scent, the part that made Cole himself. She never smelled anything more hypnotizing. Well, maybe Zachary’s cologne, which she noticed had gotten stronger lately. The moment she thought it, she realized it wasn’t cologne at all. She’d always been able to smell Zachary’s scent. She took one last deep breath and descended to her intended spot.
The fact they were several inches off of the ground didn’t affect Marley’s balance. This was second nature to her now. She floated down, kissing his defined abs. Fingers buried in her hair while his breathing deepened.
The length of Cole’s cock brushed against the inside of her breast, causing him to tighten his grip of her hair. Looking up, she grabbed around his width and watched while he shut his eyes. The moment her tongue ran across his tip, he inhaled deeply.
“Marley, you have no idea how much I love you.”
She took a small fraction of his length into her mouth, caressing him with her tongue. The sweet yet salty taste urged her on. She began to take in more, suctioning so she could get any pre-cum inside of her that she could. Tightening her lips slightly, she gauged his features for responses in his expressions.
The need to see his usual reserved personality unhinged drove her to bring him to the brink of pleasure. Little by little, his features tightened. The heavy lids of his eyes remained closed longer, no matter how much he tried to look at her. His breathing went from deep to inhaling through his mouth. He was so close she could taste it.
Cole pulled her up, and she let him. His lips connected with hers while his fingers traced her wet folds. The direct contact with her clit caused her whole body to convulse. Marley didn’t want to wait any longer. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling his lower body closer.
* * * *
The heat of Marley’s pussy burned into his stomach. It teased him, taunted him to enter her. He could already imagine her wet heat enveloping him. If he didn’t penetrate her soon he wasn’t sure what he would do. Her mouth preformed miracles. He had to have her now.
Cole reached around her thigh and traced her wet folds with his tip, teasing her clit. The breath disappeared from him completely as Marley locked her legs tighter around his waist and plunged down, taking his cock inside of her entirely. She went into an instant orgasm around him, tightening to the point of pain.
“Fuck,” Cole groaned, plunging into her hard.
Marley mo
aned while he began to thrust a fast, steady rhythm. The taste of her mouth combined with her overpowering scent kept him under a spell. She was his, his true mate, the love of his life, and if Zachary agreed, she’d be both of their mates. That, of course, might pose a problem. Alphas didn’t share mates. Just because Marley marked him didn’t mean Zachary had to let them continue. He could still make Cole look for a mate to mark himself.
Nails dug into his back while he sucked Marley’s nipple into his mouth. A cry poured through the room as she began to tighten again. The need to shoot his come deep inside of her was almost unbearable, but he knew he couldn’t. Zachary would surely kill him. It was true they were in projection, but Marley had become pregnant while she projected with Zachary, so he wasn’t taking any chances.
“Bite me, Marley. Taste me and make us one.”
It took everything Cole had to hold off his release. Marley’s teeth sunk deeply into his skin, and he pulled out just in time to shoot all over her stomach. Every time she bit him things never felt more right. This was supposed to happen. They were meant for each other. If Zachary kept them apart, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do.
Chapter 16
The sound of her son cooing through the voice monitor woke up Marley. Looking at the clock, it was close to seven in the morning. She smiled, getting out of bed. Zachary was already gone, probably to make the bottle. He was good about that. The eeriness of when he knew their son awoke was still a mystery to her.
Slipping on a fresh robe, she walked to Demetri’s room. Her beautiful son looked up at her, smiling and waving his arms around. She let out a giggle and quickly changed him. Warmth from arms wrapping around her waist made everything perfect. She knew exactly who it was. The scent was unmistakable.
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