by Elle Boon
Her words seemed to set something loose in him.
A groan of satisfaction had him increasing his thrusts. She stiffened for a second as she felt his lips at her shoulder, relaxing into the bedding when complete trust in him not to hurt her, invaded every inch of her soul.
“You’re perfect for me.” Arynn leaned up on his arms. His intent stare held her spellbound.
“No, we’re perfect for each other.” She met him thrust for thrust, wanting to feel him come inside her.
A wicked light entered his eyes. “You’ll come with me, stellina, I promise.”
She was sure it wouldn’t happen but didn’t say another word. The feel of his cock throbbing with each thrust had her reaching for that feeling anyway.
Arynn covered her mouth with his, deepening the kiss while his mind opened to her. At first, she was alarmed to feel what he was, then the sharp pleasure had her crying out. A wave of ecstasy swept over her, holding her and him in its grip. A slight prick, followed by more pleasure crested, keeping her on the edge for several mind melding minutes while his teeth locked onto her shoulder. Finally, he released her, their breaths mingling. Golden light emanated around them like a ring of sunshine, his wolf howling in his head. She felt as if the animal was welcoming her into his pack.
Dizzy and slightly shaken, her arms released their hold. “Wow, that was—I don’t even know what that was. Is that how it always is when—mating?” Saying the words made her giggle.
“You’re so damned adorable.” His cock twitched inside her. “I don’t actually know how it goes with mating, since this is my first and last. I’ve never asked the others about theirs, it’s kind of a private thing, I guess.” He gently pulled out of her.
He rolled to his back, taking her with him. “Damn, you wore me out.”
Slipping an arm over him, she nuzzled his chest. “I think you’re the one who wore me out.” A yawn took her by surprise. “How long before we have to go up for the barbeque?”
He ran his palm down her back, patting her ass. “We can take a power nap. Twenty minutes sound good?”
A couple hours sounded better, but she had two young girls who’d come looking for her if they took any longer. The thought of Rebel or Romie finding them naked and in bed had her attempting to sit up.
“Stay right where you are. I’ll hear them long before they get near the apartment,” he assured her.
Sheila fell back against him, curling into his side like a kitten. The thought had her snorting. “Twenty minutes,” she said, then sleep took her.
Arynn murmured a reassurance while he kept his arms securely around his mate. He’d let her sleep for twenty minutes then he’d wake her for a quickie before going in search of their girls. The thought of Romie and Rebel had him opening his mind, allowing the Omega in him to surface. He relaxed as he saw them playing with Lyric’s little girl, laughing as the small child giggled. He’d never made a secret of his dominant side in the bedroom to others in the club or pack. His need to be in control was a part of him he couldn’t shut down, mainly because the Omega in him needed it. Of course, with Sheila it was different. He could allow the powers that were so much a part of him freedom, without closing himself off behind the steel will that made him dominant, but damn, it felt good having her trust him to know what she needed and give it to her. Even knowing she had a child, hadn’t been a virgin, she was so tight when he’d entered her he feared he’d hurt her. He’d had a few virgins who weren’t nearly as snug as her, yet they paled in comparison. Hell, every female did. He tried to bring up the memory of when he’d been with Rebel’s mom but couldn’t.
His body relaxed more into the soft bedding with the mate he and his wolf chose, knowing she’d always been meant for him. With a slight shift, he pulled the sheet over them, covering her nakedness even though he was more than warm.
A disturbance had his eyes shooting open, wondering how long he’d slept. Looking at the clock on the wall showed he’d only been asleep for about ten minutes, give or take a few. “What the hell?” Not wanting to wake Sheila just yet, his words were barely louder than a whisper. Again, a tug on his bonds had him jerking.
Arynn opened his mind, searching for what was making him acutely aware of danger. Only another pack member could drag him from slumber. The twin golden links shocked him as he’d never seen the pair before, making him wonder if Kellen’s children were in trouble. Moving away from Sheila, he quickly sat, allowing his mind to follow the pair. Woods and towering trees rushed by as fear filled them. There was no way the tiny babies could be running in the woods.
Reaching out to Kellen, he tapped into his mind. “How’s the cubs?” It was probably rude not to do a polite knock before popping in, but Arynn was experienced enough he wouldn’t be seeing or hearing anything personal like sex between the alpha and his mate.
“They’re alternating between being fed and sleeping. What’s up?” Like the man in charge he was, Kellen didn’t waste time on words.
Arynn showed him the vision that woke him.
“Hmm, that’s interesting, but rest assured they’re not my babes. Hell, even the boys are resting peacefully. I think they’re being good in hopes Jenna comes for a visit.”
The mention of the Fey Queen had him reaching out to her without breaking the link to Kellen. Between he and his alpha, the bond was easy. “Excuse me, Jenna, I was wondering if all was well with you and the babes?”
“Hiya, Arynn The Omega. Everything is fine except that I’m about to go stir crazy and smack a couple of wolpires. Why do you ask?” Jenna’s lilting voice didn’t soothe as much as send panic through him.
The only other females he felt the tight connection to were his girls. “Shit, Rebel and Romie,” he muttered jumping from the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Sheila asked, the sheet held tightly to her breasts.
He turned to face her, uncaring he stood naked. “Stay here. I need to go check on something.” He wouldn’t tell her what until he was sure exactly what was going on.
“The hell you say,” Sheila said, shoving the sheet off and getting up with speed.
Arynn strode toward the bed, stopping her as she bent to pick up her shirt. “Sheila, I need you to stay inside where I know you’re safe.”
Her brown eyes widened. “I know you think you’re protecting me, but if something is wrong with my babies, then I need to go.”
“Listen to your mate, Arynn. Trust me, if you attempt to leave her, or Goddess forbid, lock her inside while you go out and do what you men think is best, I promise you, all will not be well in your home when you get back. She’s stronger than you think,” Jenna said through his link.
Sheila covered her breasts with her hands, her head whipping around the room. “Who was that?”
Even though the situation was dire he felt his lips twitch. “That was Jenna, and she was obviously projecting to the both of us, or our bond is strong enough you could hear her.” He breathed a loud sigh. “Alright, Jenna has never been wrong, but I need you to obey me if I take you with me.”
His mate snorted but was putting her clothes on while he watched. Between one second and the next, he found them both clothed, shocking him and Sheila.
“Ps. You’re welcome.” Jenna’s voice echoed around them. “I’ll be there in a jiffy. I just need to take care of something here.”
Again, her voice was loud as if she stood in front of them with a megaphone. “Jenna, make sure your mates are aware,” he admonished but didn’t get an answer back.
“Come on, we need to go. I feel the girls moving away from us, and they’re scared. I need to reach out to Rowan. He wouldn’t have allowed either of them to leave, and I know there’s no way Lyric would’ve either. Something is wrong. Once we’re up at the landing, you must keep your shit together no matter what. Promise me, Sheila. I can’t do what I need to if my focus is divided.”
Sheila nodded, her emotions etched on her face. “I promise not to do anything to endanger you.”
> Arynn took her hand, leading the way through the doors and up toward the area he felt his pack was, where the girls should’ve been.
His mate never once hindered him, not even when they’d had to stop and punch in codes in order to gain access to the outside. Oh, he knew she’d want answers, but first their girls needed them. His wolf was snarling the closer they got topside, making his need to shift almost uncontrollable. He pulled his hand away from Sheila as he felt his nails lengthen, a phenomenon that had never happened. Losing control was a thing he’d fought his entire life.
Rowan turned from the huge stainless-steel barbeque, his blue eyes going to that of his wolf in an instant. The man cleared the space between him and his little family, placing himself between Arynn and Lyric who held Harlow in her arms. “What’s going on, Arynn?”
“Where’s my girls?” His voice was more gravel than humans could ever be.
The ex-SEAL whipped his head around, lifting his nose as he inhaled. “They were just here. Lyric, where’d they go?”
The tiny female cuddled the toddler in her lap, neither of them answering, both seemed to be in a world of their own.
“What the fuck?” Rowan kept his body between Arynn, Lyric and Harlow, yet he knelt so he could touch Lyric’s shoulder. “Darlin, speak to me. Harlow, come to daddy.” He held his arms out for his daughter.
The air felt thick, heavier than if a fog had rolled in, yet it was clear and sunny. “Shit, this ain’t good.” Through the link to his alpha he made the call no father ever wanted to make, knowing his girls were in trouble. Kellen’s instant answer was reassuring. Worry for the quads had him holding his hand up. “Kellen, what if this is a ploy to get to Laikyn and the babies?”
Kellen was the alpha of the Iron Wolves. He’d fought his mating with Laikyn for years, thinking she was too young, too soft for his needs. Once he’d accepted the fact she was the only female for him, they’d wasted no time creating one of the strongest bonds Arynn had ever felt. Now, they were blessed with not one or two infants, but four. Twin girls and twin boys. Having the Fey Queen for a bestie was a gift only the Iron Wolf Alpha could claim, and Arynn would let him have it. The woman, although only five feet and a stone was the most powerful being next to the Goddess herself.
“No worries, Lula’s here to save the day.”
Arynn blinked at the pink haired female who appeared out of thin air. “Um, Lula, is Jenna okay?”
Lula, the dragon shifter waved her hand. “You need to worry about your girls. I gots the wolfies. Now, go.”
He watched her approach Rowan and Lyric, the rumble coming from the big man would’ve scared most, but not Lula.
“Who’s that?” Sheila asked.
Taking a deep breath, Arynn let it out. “That’s Lula. I need you to stay here. She’ll protect you and—well, everyone.” Of that he was one hundred percent sure.
“And who’ll protect you?” Sheila asked.
He fell to his knees as pain hit him in the chest. It was a phantom injury but felt too real to be ignored. “I can’t argue with you right now. You said you’d obey me when it came to your safety and our girls. Right now, I’m wasting fucking time with you when they need me.” His words were harsh, maybe too harsh, but dammit he needed to get through to her.
Her chin dropped to her chest. “Fine, but don’t you dare leave me out.”
The bond flared, a golden glow radiated from her. He needed to ask his alpha if he saw the same thing when he looked at his mate. He gave her a quick kiss, then strode for the woods, stripping his clothes off before he remembered what Jenna had told them. With a thought, his clothes disappeared and then he shifted quickly, landing onto his four paws. Everything became clearer in his wolf form. Raising his head, he howled, letting his pack know he was on the hunt. Kellen would be heading toward him along with all who could.
The pain he’d felt while human disappeared as he raced to where he felt Rebel and Romie. Why they’d left the safety of the clearing when they were told not to would be something he’d find out once he had them safe. His paws itched to—no, he could never raise a paw or hand to his children in human or wolf form in anger. However, he would be teaching them a lesson about following rules, once he had them safe in his arms.
Arynn didn’t allow the thought of not getting them back to enter his mind as he raced across the leaf strewn ground. He leapt over fallen trees, zagged between huge pines, and came to a sudden stop as he scented an unfamiliar smell. He wasn’t their best tracker, yet the heavy smell was leading him in the opposite direction of his girls. His wolf wanted to follow, but the man needed to go toward the girls. The confusion was making him dizzy, a sensation that had him sitting back on his hind legs, a slight whine escaping his throat. He had to shake his head. The Omega in him forced the wolf back, straightening his spine. Ignoring the urge to follow the other trail, he followed Rebel and Romie, their golden link calling him like a bright blinking sign. Oh yeah, his girls were near, and they were in danger.
Rebel narrowed her eyes at the man who’d came for them. She could smell the offensive odor of her grandmother’s perfume, the floral smell of her preferred perfume cost way too much and always made her want to sneeze. “Where are you leading us, and why the ruse that Harlow was out here?” She still couldn’t believe they’d been tricked.
One minute they’d been playing with the adorable little girl who was way too smart for a toddler, watching her do little somersaults and laughing when she’d flop onto her back and giggle like a loon, and then the child was up and running into the woods. Romie was the first to chase after her, screaming at Lyric but the woman had sat there smiling as if all were fine.
“Your grandmother knew you both would follow a child anywhere. Something about you being too soft hearted like that one’s mother.” His head tilted toward Romie.
Romie stiffened. “My mother is amazing, jerkoff.”
The man twisted Romie’s arm, making her cry out.
A growl rumbled out of Rebel, the man releasing her sister and backing away. “What the hell?”
“I suggest you never touch her again, or I’ll bite whatever part of you that’s closest to me and keep chewing ‘til I have to spit out what’s in my mouth,” she growled. Her body shook with anger.
“Fine, but both you keep your mouths shut ‘til we get where we’re going.” He moved away from them another foot.
Romie had tears in her brown eyes. “I hate him,” she whispered, holding her arm against her chest.
Rebel looked down at her hands, realizing her nails had grown longer and were black. She quickly shoved them behind her back, not wanting to alert the jerk to the new development. Romie never missed a thing. Her head whipped side-to-side, but she kept her lips sealed shut.
“So, the old lady has the ability to project images, huh?” Rebel asked. Shoot, they needed to stall for time. Already, she could feel her dad getting closer, and he was angry. The thought sent pride through her. He was coming for them and he was going to save them. Reassurance washed through her at the thought. Whether it was real or wishful thinking, she didn’t know, or care. Seeing a huge downed tree, she got an idea. With the itching beneath her skin becoming more intense along with an insane urge to fall onto her hands and knees, she didn’t need to pretend to stumble when they reached the log. Her body fell, a cry left her as her hands scraped against the rough bark.
“Rebel,” Romie yelled.
The man leading them turned at the commotion but didn’t come toward them. “Get up, you two. Come on, your grandmother is on the other side of the next rise.”
Her back arched as pain wracked her. Staring down at her hands with the long black nails, hair popped out over every inch of skin she saw, making her shake in fear and wonder. “Romie, run back the way we came. Don’t look back,” she whispered. The words came out garbled.
“Oh my gawd, what—what’s happening?” Romie inched away, crab walking backward.
Rebel couldn’t take her eyes off the
man coming toward them. With the huge log in the way, she knew most of her was hidden, but she wasn’t sure what he’d do if he saw her changing. The thin T-shirt ripped along with her favorite pair of shorts, the silky material unable to hold up against her increasing size. A growl came from out of her, sounding like an animal. Her head swung around to see Romie still crawling backward, but the approaching footsteps were loud as if amplified.
She stood, shaking out her fur. Oh, she had fur and everything looked different. Sounded different. Loud and not quite as colorful. She blinked twice, bringing the jerk who’d hurt Romie into focus. Her jaws opened and closed, she wanted to yell at him, but the noise that came out was another growl, which had him coming to a hard stop. As she made a move to go toward him, she stumbled. Huh, four legs were harder to walk on than two, but she’d adjust. Getting back up, she moved slower, not liking the slimy smile on his face.
When his hand went to the back of his body, she leapt at him. Her mouth latched onto his arm, shocked he now held a gun in his hand. She locked her jaws, feeling the bones breaking beneath her teeth. His yell of agony didn’t make her stop, not even when he punched her in the side with his free hand. They fell to the ground, rolling in the dirt and leaves. Still, she kept her grip on his arm, knowing she had to, or he’d kill her. The gun dropped at some point. She thought she heard Romie screaming, but her focus was on the man. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth, making her want to gag.
She was wrenched away, her body rolling at the force of the action. Rebel wished she knew how to spit in wolf form. She got up on all four paws, stalking toward the downed man who was crawling away. Again, she heard Romie yelling, but her wolf was in control, wanting to stalk their prey, needing to show them who was the top of the food chain in these woods.
A few feet away from him, she prepared to leap. He spun, the gun in his uninjured hand. “I wasn’t supposed to kill either of you, but I’ll tell her I had no choice. My injury will be my proof. No way can we dilute the bloodline with the likes of a—beast.”
