Devour

by Susan Bliler

  “Why? You interested?”

  “No!” she answered too quickly. “Was just…” She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “Curious.”

  Wanda’s smile dipped, her expression going serious. “My brother’s been alone for a long time. I’d give anything for him to find his mate, to be happy. He’s worked so hard to earn this pack and then to build it up to what it is now.”

  “Earn the pack?”

  Wanda stopped slathering butter on the uncooked biscuits with the brush she’d reclaimed. “Our parents died in battle. Our last Alpha was a tyrant, always trying to take territory, take females. Take, take, take. It cost me and Modess our mom and dad. Dad fell in a territory dispute and Mom was trying to get to him.” She swallowed hard. “Because we had no blood relatives left, we were placed at the bottom of the pack.” Her eyes glistened when she looked at Hillary. “We were just kids. I can’t tell you how much we struggled, how hurt we were. I was lost, aching all the way to my soul, but Modess had a plan. From the second we were alone, he worked to take care of me, to grow fierce and strong. Once I realized what he was doing, I ate only two meals a day so he could have my dinner.”

  Hillary shook her head, not following.

  “He had to become a beast. He tried to refuse, but I wouldn’t let him. We both knew that if we were going to survive, it was what we needed. He had to become the thing that twisted us.

  The whole time our Alpha never stopped going to war. Our pack fought nearly every damn pack in the state and all the while, Modess grew and learned and waited. On his eighteenth birthday, he challenged for Alpha. It was unheard of.” She chuffed a watery laugh. “A teenager going after the Alpha.” Suddenly her tone was reverent as she looked directly at Hillary. “You should have seen him. He was vicious. He beat the Alpha in under a minute. Killed him,” she snapped her fingers, “Like that!” Her brows dipped in a scowl. “The Beta stepped up because there was no way he was going to answer to a teenage boy. Modess took him down too and after him, an enforcer. More stepped forward for challenge, but the pack refused to allow it. They wanted change. Modess was it, so they made all other challengers wait. For two weeks, Modess fought. Every single day he bled and battled. I was so damn scared that I’d lose him.”

  Tears streaked down her cheeks. “But every time he ended up on bottom, he’d find me in the crowd and be renewed into the fight. He refused to give up. He didn’t do that for the title, Hillary. He didn’t care about being Alpha. He did it so that I wouldn’t be a bottom feeder. He didn’t want me used and treated like shit. He killed and clawed his way to Alpha to save me and there isn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for him.” Swiping her cheek on her shoulder, she sniffed. “You asked if I was looking to make a match for Modess. Fuck yeah, I’m looking. He deserves all the happiness in the world and it’d be my honor to help him find it. I pray every day for a woman, worthy enough of his love, to find her way to our pack.”

  Hillary’s chest tightened and she wanted so damn badly to be that woman. Modess was, hands down, the sexiest man she’d ever seen, but to hear his story, to hear what he’d done to protect Wanda… Hillary wanted that kind of loyalty and love with a desperation that stole her breath. But she was a temporary fixture here at Blood Lust and besides, she knew she wasn’t Alpha mate material. She was plain old Hillary with wild hair and an excess twenty pounds. Alphas didn’t look for mates like her. No, they wanted power and sleek beauty, and while Hillary wasn’t submissive, she wasn’t overly aggressive either.

  “I’m sorry about your parents, Wanda. And I’m glad you had Modess to protect you. He shouldn’t have had to go through all that just to keep you safe. I can tell the pack is better for it, and whether you realize it or not, he’s better for it. Doing something like that had to give him back power that was taken when your parents died and he was too young to be able to do anything about it.”

  Wanda was staring at her intently and Hillary felt compelled to continue.

  “He needed to be able to do that. Men like him aren’t scarred from the fires of those battles. They’re built from them. What happened created this beast Alpha, this Alpha that would do anything to protect innocents and to defend a code. I know I’ve only been here a short while, but I can tell he’s like that. Isn’t he?”

  Wanda dipped her head in a nod.

  “He’s a good man. Any woman would be lucky to have him and I hope you find him what he deserves because he really does deserve happiness. You both do.”

  Wanda’s eyes filled with tears again as her trembling lips lifted into a smile.

  Wanting to change the subject, Hillary asked, “How’s Christian? You happy with him? Is he a good mate?” She already knew the answer because she’d seen Wanda and Christian together. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, but it wasn’t always sexual. No, there were frequent forehead kisses and tender hugs. They were always touching when they were near each other. Hillary longed for that type of affection.

  “He’s the best,” Wanda beamed. “At first, Modess refused to let us be together, but when Christian challenged Modess for me, well that was it.”

  Shock laced Hillary’s tone. “He challenged Modess?”

  “Yeah,” Wanda beamed proudly. “They didn’t battle, didn’t need to. That one act earned him my brother’s respect. Modess wanted someone who was willing to fight for me like he was willing to fight for me.”

  “Wow! That’s romantic.”

  Wanda scrunched her nose. “I always thought so.”

  The door to the kitchen banked open and startled both women who spun to find Modess’ large frame filling the doorway. His eyes shot straight to Hillary and held a moment.

  “Brother? What’s…what’s up?”

  Modess slid his eyes from Hillary to Wanda and just as quickly back. Wordlessly, he simply stood there and stared until Hillary felt her cheeks flame under the scrutiny. Her inner wolf sat up at full attention.

  “Lunch,” he finally said, but it was nearly unrecognizable with the animal growl polluting his words. “When’s lunch?”

  In her periphery, Hillary saw Wanda look from her brother to Hillary then back. For some reason, she couldn’t break his gaze though.

  “Noonish,” Wanda supplied. “Same time as every day.”

  Eyes still holding Hillary’s, Modess grunted and then turned just as abruptly as he’d arrived and disappeared out the door.

  “What in the fuck was that?” Wanda asked.

  Staring at the now vacant doorway, Hillary’s heart was racing a mile a minute. Her wolf was baying for her to follow the Alpha. Instead, she tore her eyes from the door and quickly looked down. “I-I have no idea.”

  Chapter 9

  Hillary and Wanda worked in the kitchen until lunch was finally ready, but their conversation had died down. Hillary was swamped by thoughts of Modess and his startling arrival at the mess hall earlier. She wondered what he’d wanted. She wondered what he would have said or done if Wanda hadn’t been in the kitchen with her. He’d had this look in his eyes, like he’d desperately wanted to tell her something, but he held it back.

  Wanda’s words drew her from her reverie. “You gonna take Simone and Bull lunch, or you want me to do it today?”

  Hillary didn’t want to leave the kitchen because she was expecting Modess back any moment now as the rest of the pack filed into the hall to line the cafeteria style tables. Part of her wondered if Wanda were delivering food and they were alone, if Modess would explain his visit earlier. She couldn’t do it though. Simone was injured and laid up because she’d come in some misguided attempt to save Hillary. She’d be damned if she didn’t go check on her friend at every opportunity presented.

  “I got it.” She jerked her chin toward the large pots of stew. “Everything’s ready. See if Christian will carry those out to the serving table for you. They’re gonna be heavy.”

  Wanda nodded and disappeared to find her mate while Hillary plated several biscuits and ladled some of the stew
into a smaller pot before loading it all onto a tray with two glasses of iced tea for Simone and Bull.

  Alone, she took a moment to rub at her sore neck. Damn bedless cabin! For Simone’s sake, she was thankful Bull had a guest room with an actual bed in it. Her heart fluttered at the prospect of Simone and Bull pairing up. It would be a good match and Simone deserved happiness. In Hillary’s eyes, anyone who stormed headlong into another pack’s territory just to check on a friend deserved the world.

  She passed Wanda and Christian on her way out of the mess hall and Christian rushed to hold the door open for her. She muttered a thanks and was halfway across the courtyard when movement caught her eye. Modess was stalking toward her, face all dark and broody, eyes all intent. She stalled to a halt and when Modess was towering over her with an angry look, she wondered what she’d done.

  Standing so close, his chest nearly brushed the tray she held, Modess didn’t speak.

  “Uhh…hi?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “O-kay.” She looked down at the tray in her hands. “I’ve just gotta…”

  “Yeah,” he bit out, taking the tray from her. “I got it.” Turning, he headed toward Bull’s cabin. “Come on.”

  Hillary followed cautiously behind him, her mind racing. At Bull’s cabin, she rushed to get the door, but Bull was already opening it. He planted his wide frame in the open doorway and crossed his arms over his chest like a bodyguard refusing to let them pass.

  O-kay! Hillary looked from Bull to Modess while the two men glared at each other.

  “She’s still hurt,” Bull declared, staring down his nose at Modess. “Can’t have you near her right now. It’ll set off my wolf.”

  “Don’t wanna be near her,” Modess growled lifting the tray. “Just brought lunch.”

  Bull’s eyes narrowed on the tray before lifting to Modess. “Don’t need you providing for her.”

  “I’m not,” Modess ground out. “I was just helping Hillary carry the damn tray, and I’ll remind you one more time that I’m Alpha here, Bull. I don’t answer to you.”

  “When it comes to her, you do.”

  Hillary’s head bounced back and forth as she watched the two men exchange words. They were both acting strange. Modess looked like he was ready to punch everything and Bull had clearly lost his damn mind because everyone knew you didn’t speak to Modess like that.

  Quietly, she offered, “I can take the tray in, if…”

  At the same time, both men snapped, “NO!”

  Hillary jerked back and at her reaction, Modess’ wolf started rattling his chest with a weighty growl.

  Bull lowered his hands and fisted them. She was sure they were going to launch into each other at any moment.

  “Bull?”

  Simone’s soft voice called from inside, the effect was like magic. One second, Bull was going all tense like readying for a fight and the next he was half turned, face all morphed into concern.

  Simone called out again, “Bull, I’m hungry. Let them in.”

  Reluctantly, he turned back to Hillary and Modess and grudgingly stepped to the side. Hillary was going to enter the cabin, but Modess’ words halted her.

  “Like I said. Don’t wanna be near her. Here!” He shoved the tray into Bull’s chest, sloshing some of the tea over the rim of the glasses. With hands empty now, he lifted a hand and punched a finger into Bull’s face until it was practically touching his nose. “And I’ll tell you this once! You will not give Hillary a hard time when she comes to see Simone or when she delivers food. You understand?”

  Bull’s response was a grunt, which apparently wasn’t sufficient enough because the air around them suddenly grew heavy.

  “Say the words,” Modess commanded with a lash of authority.

  Bull’s shoulders tensed and slowly, his eyes lowered. His head tilted slightly to the side showing throat as he grunted, “I under…stand.”

  “Good!” Modess bit out. Without another word, he grabbed Hillary’s hand and she let him lead her away from Bull’s cabin. They were halfway across the compound when Modess growled, “We need to talk.”

  You already said that. But she kept her mouth shut because he was clearly pissed and she didn’t want any of his ire coming back on her. She had to jog to keep up with his long strides and her heart thundered as she wondered what it was he needed to speak with her about. She was worried she’d done something wrong, but as he led her up the stairs to her cabin and shoved her door open, her anger rose. Why was she the one who was worried? She knew she hadn’t done anything and he certainly had no right to be dragging her through the compound grounds like she was…his!

  Stopping just inside the door, she jerked her hand from his and snapped, “What. Is. Your. Problem?”

  Modess spun her so fast she gasped. He grabbed her hips and lifted, pressing her against the wall. The Alpha settled his big body between her legs and rested his forehead against hers. His breathing was ragged and she knew her heart rate had to match his because she was panting. She waited, tensed up and afraid to move too quickly. Slowly, she peeled a hand, finger by finger, from where it was gripping his shoulder.

  “Don’t,” he snarled in warning. She kept her hand in place.

  She tried to ignore the sudden heat that pooled between her legs and the searing need that coursed through her as Modess panted against her. She had an inexplicable urge to lean her head to the side and run her tongue up the side of his face, but she held back. She was afraid to taste him, afraid to keep on touching him, afraid to move. Because pinned between the unforgiving wall and the unforgiving Alpha, she felt something she hadn’t felt in…well, ever. Safe. She knew that in the circle of Modess’ arms, no one would harm her. Hell, no one could harm her because he was a beast of an Alpha, the fiercest she’d ever known, and right now all his focus was on her. She wasn’t afraid, just so damn aroused that it was becoming difficult to breathe.

  “You’re…” he started then stalled. A few deep breaths and he tried again. “You’re going to stay away from other males here. Understand?”

  His words shocked her. What? Who? She shook her head, her nose brushing against his and his hold on her hips tightened almost painfully.

  “You will!”

  She wasn’t denying that. Swallowing hard, she offered a tremulous, “I didn’t… I don-don’t know what you’re talking about, Modess. I haven’t been…”

  “Henry,” he snarled.

  She felt all the blood drain from her face. She hadn’t seen Henry since he’d attacked Simone. “He’s…”

  She was about to tell Modess that whatever in the hell Henry had told him was a lie, but she didn’t get the chance. Her body went rigid when Modess moved his chin, using his nose to force her head to the side. Her neck was exposed and she supposed that was what he was after because he was riled up and it was a show of submission. When he pulled his head back a fraction, she kept her head where it was in a willing display. She thought it’d get her brownie points, but she wasn’t expecting the deep growl that vibrated from his chest to hers. The sound was sexy and heady. She’d pulled that sound from him and goddamn it was empowering.

  Leaning forward again, Modess ran his nose down the satiny column of her neck evoking goose bumps. Now Hillary was the one making sexy sounds. Modess rolled his hips and the unmistakable bar of his erection pressed against her, but when his lips parted and he leaned into her neck again, she tensed.

  “Stop,” she breathed and he did instantly.

  Pulling back, he looked at her with a frown. Now her heart was working triple what it had been earlier, which was saying a lot. Afraid she was going to have a panic attack and pass out, she quickly blurted before she lost her nerve. “You need to ask!”

  Modess jerked back, releasing her just as quickly as he’d grabbed her. She staggered when her jelly legs hit the floor.

  Ffffuck!

  “Ask?” he demanded in a tone laced with incredulity.

  Swallowing hard, she fisted
her tiny hands and steeled herself. With one dip of her head she gave the best nod she could. “Yes. Ask!”

  Chapter 10

  Modess’ expression went from lust-filled to enraged in a second flat. “You toying with me, woman?”

  “No!” Hillary shook her head hard.

  “You’re just getting me all worked up and…”

  She cut him off. “You brought me here! You didn’t even ask me! No one asked me!”

  His frown slipped a little but he simply stared at her and waited for her to continue.

  “I couldn’t prepare. I wasn’t ready. I-I needed to ask Simone to water my plants and watch my cabin. I needed to say goodbye. She’s my only friend! I didn’t even get to pack for myself!” She waved a hand toward her suitcase. “Dalton and Lee packed for me. They don’t even have mates or sisters. How in the hell could they know what a woman would need?” Tears pricked the backs of her eyes now and it was grating. To mask it, she just kept on talking.

  “I didn’t have to come. I could’ve sent recipes with detailed instructions. I could’ve video-chatted, or…” she was shaking her head. Finally finding the courage to look up at Modess, he was watching her intently like he was having difficulty understanding where her sudden outburst had come from. “Simone had to come find me and she got hurt because of it! And my plants are gonna die!” she cried, a tear finally slipping free and tracking down her cheek. “And I know it’s stupid to someone like you just like it’s stupid to every other member of my pack, but I raised those plants. I named them! And now there’s just this fucking ache in my chest filled with the memory of how beautiful and vibrant they were and how they’re going to wither without me and how those plants are the one thing on this stupid planet that actually needed me!” More tears spilled over and Hillary turned and gave Modess her back, lifting her hands and scrubbing at her tear-stained cheeks. “He should have asked. You should have asked.” More quietly she muttered, “Someone should have asked.” Wrapping her arms around herself she whispered, “It’s all I’m saying.”