A lump formed in her throat, and her wolf retreated. No. No. A flash later, she lay beside Torin in human form. “Why?”
Torin’s body shimmered a second before he too shifted into his human body. “What’s wrong?”
She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t show him any more of her weaknesses. “She retreated.”
“Why?” he growled. Apparently, he had guesses as to why, but was going to make her tell him. How did one tell her mate she feared being rejected and left alone the rest of her life?
She opened her mouth, but he slapped a hand over. “Shh.”
Was he bipolar? Then she heard it. The sound of rustling leaves above them, along with the scent of humans and gunpowder. Her eyes widened as she searched his face, dread burning its way to her belly. Then her wolf rose up, alert to the pending danger.
“Can you shift back?”
She nodded.
“Good. We need to lead them away from the dens.”
Fear ran cold in her blood. “Split up?”
“Briefly. I know there is a strong huntress still in there. I want to see her in action.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before rolling away from her and shifting.
Taking a breath, she shifted. Dizziness knocked her off balance. Whoa, too fast, Cora. Shaking it off, she raced after Torin and up the side of a ravine less steep than the one she fell down. The hunters spotted them as soon as they emerged and fired a shot. The bullet hit the ground inches from her.
Fear exploded inside her, pushing her to move. Torin turned one way, so Cora went the other, hoping they were doing the right thing by spitting up. Yet there were two hunters, and they could separate and follow each of them.
Movement to her right spiked the burning fear within her. When she glanced to see what it was, relief washed over her. Ana in leopard form. Cora guessed the presence of the other female calmed her fear because Ana was a dominant and a superior according to the Pack hierarchy simply by being the Alpha’s daughter.
Ana stopped, and Cora did, too, and let out a whimper. Ana stomped her foot and growled. A warning to go. To run. Conflict whirled in her mind. She was frightened, but she was also scared for Ana’s life as well. The sentry let out another growl, this time with power. Giving her a yip, Cora turned tail and ran, all the while praying her new friend would be okay.
A few feet further, Cora slowed to a trot. No one followed her. Then the ground shook. She stopped and sank her claws into the earth. A moment later, the sounds of yelling filtered through the trees.
She crept back toward where she left Ana and noticed one of the voices was Keegan’s. When she was within viewing distance, she hid behind a tree and watched Keegan and Blaine stand protectively in front of Torin and Ana—both still in their animal forms.
Keegan stepped closer to the humans. “I’ll tell you for the last time. You are on private property and have no right to hunt here.”
One of the humans, the shorter one and a little younger she noticed, tugged on the other's arm. “We should go, Dad.”
After a few intense moments of "Dad" staring at Keegan, he finally looked away and nodded. “Maybe you should post signs to keep people out.”
Blaine stepped forward, but Keegan grabbed his arm. With a growl, Blaine said, “It’s a state park, asshole. There is no hunting, ever.”
Without another word the humans left. When they were out of earshot, Keegan called out to her. “Come on out, Cora.”
She made her way to them, head low. God, she was such a coward. When she stopped in front of Keegan, Blaine knelt beside her and took her head in his hands. “Welcome back, squirt.”
Her chest swelled, and she barked a laugh. Jason had always called her squirt. As much as it saddened her to think about her brother, she didn’t want to curl up at the memory of the nickname he had given her. She glanced at Blaine, but, before she could look away, he smiled and rubbed his nose against hers. A show of affection from an Alpha leopard to his packmate filled her heart. Her Pack, her Alpha. Well, one of her Alphas.
She licked his cheek to return the affection, drawing a husky laugh from him. He stood, looked to the stars, and sighed.
“Dad, you want your job back?”
Keegan slapped him on the shoulder and laughed. “Nope. I have my hands full with the Elders.”
Blaine’s lips twitched. “I was afraid of that. Torin, take your mate home and feed her. Alec mentioned she worked through lunch.”
Torin came over to her and leaned his black fur-covered body against hers, then nipped her on the ear in punishment for skipping a meal. She nudged him and snapped her teeth. He growled playfully, sending a fresh wave of desire over her, then ran.
Chapter Seven
Torin caught her at the rear entrance of the small two-bedroom home he stayed in while at MoonRiver. She was trapped between him and the back door, yet he sensed no fear in her. Shifting to human, he stalked closer to her. She shuddered, then shifted.
He drank in the sight of her standing at the door to his home, loving the way her creamy skin flushed and her nipples hardened under his stare. Her strawberry blonde curls framed her face and cascaded over her shoulders, begging him to run his fingers through them.
When he advanced, her breathing grew shallower, and she cupped her breast. Need shot straight to his cock, and he let a low growl. “Open the door, Cora, and run.”
She lowered her hand as if to obey his command, then stilled and stared at him. A slow smile lifted her full lips. “You come and open it.”
Her words were shaky and quiet, a hint of uneasiness laced within. She was learning to play with his wolf, push him in a way. A dominant male liked his female with claws. Good. He really liked Cora’s claws.
He climbed the steps and pressed his body into hers, flattening her to the door. The feel of her soft skin against him sent a shock wave of need crashing over him. Too long. He’d waited too long for this moment. Turning the knob, he opened the door and caught her by the waist to keep her from stumbling backwards.
Her blue eyes widened as he walked her backwards, slamming the door behind them. He claimed her lips in a mad rush, thrusting his tongue inside. She met him halfway, allowing her tongue to dance with his as their mouths moved against each other.
He gripped her ass with his hands and lifted her to sit on the kitchen counter. Breaking the kiss, he peered into her desire-drunken gaze. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. You caught me, now do what you will with me.”
Dipping his head, he kissed her cheek, then bit her ear lobe. She purred and tilted her head slightly to the side. He drew back and raised a brow. “You purr?”
A laugh burst from her. “I am part leopard, remember?”
Ah, yes. Her father had been a leopard, and so had Jason. “What other cat-like characteristics do you have?”
She shrugged and traced a finger around one of his nipples. “I can climb trees and get distracted easily. Oh, and I like to cuddle.”
“Wolves cuddle.”
She lifted her lashed to meet his stare, her lips pressed together in a failed attempt to hide a smile. “When they’re puppies, maybe.”
His lips twitched. “I can accommodate your desire to cuddle. How’s that?”
“Hmm…well….” He squeezed her hips, and she jumped. “Okay, okay.”
Without warning, he tugged her forward so her ass rested closer to the edge of the counter. Then he kissed his way down her torso, stopping to take a taut nipple between his teeth. She let out a small cry of pleasure as he teased the nipple with his tongue before moving to the other one.
“Tor, please….”
Her soft plea made his cock jump. He nipped his way down her belly where he spread her thighs wider and covered her clit with his mouth. Cora jerked slightly and fisted his hair, tugging as he teased the bundle of nerves.
He lifted his gaze to watch her come while his mouth was on her. Slipping a finger inside her tight pussy, he groaned and realized she was too tight.
A virgin. Damn. Although it made the wolf prance at the knowledge she’d never been with another, the man worried he would hurt her.
“Torin.”
Another soft plea fell from her lips, making him even harder. She was his.
He slid his finger out, then in, slow at first while he licked and sucked. Her slick pussy tightened around his finger, encouraging him to increase his rhythm. Easing a second finger inside, he watched how pleasure washed over her features, making her even more beautiful than he thought possible.
She came in a rush, screaming out his name as her body shattered under the rippling wave of an orgasm.
He rose to his feet, his fingers still inside her, slowly pumping. Soft moaning of pleasure turned into purrs as she met his stare and smiled. “That was wonderful.”
His lips twitched. “Your first orgasm usually is until the next.”
Her cheek turned pink, and she averted her gaze. Gently gripping her chin, he forced her to look at him. With her intelligence and everything she’d gone through, he sometimes forgot she was so young. Not that twenty-two was too young by shifter standards.
“Have you had your first heat cycle?”
“Yes.” She drew her brows together as if not understanding why he asked.
“Then how it is possible you are still a virgin?” As he understood it, a female needed a male during the two to three days of her cycle. A time when pregnancy was highly possible and using a condom wasn’t an option because she needed the male’s seed to calm the painful yearning of her cycle.
She lowered her gaze. “Sasha gave me meds to help me sleep through it. I didn’t want to take a male. You know, since my parents had died the year before. It didn’t feel right.”
“And you are sure you want this, now?”
Her attention snapped up to him. “Yes.” She framed his face in her hands. “Since the run, my wolf is alive again. She’s with me now, pushing me to….”
“Cora, tell me,” he cooed.
She flushed again and lowered her lashes. Damn, he wanted to look into her beautiful sky-blue eyes, but he couldn’t push her. She had to come to him on her terms. “She wants me to accept the mating and bond with you.”
Fuck, yeah. He’d waited what seemed like a lifetime for this moment. Waited for her to come of age and make the choice.
He gathered her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. Laying her down on the mattress, he held her gaze. Pride swelled up as she tried to keep the eye contact for as long as she could before her submissive nature forced her to look away. She did manage to hold it longer than she had before.
Progress. His wolf howled. They were finally going to claim their mate.
“Mine.” He kissed her lips, her jaw, and then the sensitive part of her neck. When he licked the area, she shivered and let out a soft moan. “Always and forever.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles together, closing the small gap between their bodies. The head of his cock slid into her. She gasped and dug her nails into his back. Still wet from her orgasm, she was ready for him.
“Relax,” he murmured as tenderly as he could in his lust haze.
He bit down on her throat where it met her shoulder, and she cried out. The slight distraction and the mix of pain and pleasure was enough, he hoped, to ease the pressure as he pushed deeper inside her.
When he stilled to allow her a moment to adjust to him, she started to move, making it impossible to keep hold over his control. He stared into her eyes. “Are you sure you want to bond with me? It’s a little permanent.”
She smiled at his teasing and nodded. “Yes. I open my heart and soul to you and will love you for the rest of my days.”
His heart swelled. He never thought he’d hear the words of her promise to him. “As I will also. I love you, Cora.”
She moaned softly and rotated her hips against him. “Tor, please. Move.”
He let out a low growl and did as she commanded. Each thrust faster and harder until they both scream out in release.
Yet the mating bond wasn’t there. What had he done wrong?
****
She stood in the forest surrounded by the foul smell of mutants. Her heart pounded as fear froze her in place. The smell was everywhere. There was no way for her to tell which direction they came from.
Leaves rustled on either side her, spiking her need to run. Her wolf whimpered and shook, too scared to release her claws and fight. A twig snapped behind her, and she whirled around to see nothing but trees, fallen leaves, and thinned underbrush.
Breathing became more difficult with each passing moment and at every sound in the forest. God, please help me.
Another snap of a twig followed by the crunch of leaves under foot came from the dark patch of brush in front of her. She swallowed and stepped to the side with hands fisted, her nails digging into her palms.
Suddenly, the largest mutant she had ever seen emerged from the shadows. Saliva dripped from his enormous fangs, and his eyes glowed an eerie blood-red. She screamed and darted to her right, but it was too late. They had her surrounded, she realized, as six others stepped forward circling her, trapping her. Each of the new monsters possessed the same color eyes and were equally as large as the first.
As a unit, they advanced on her, grabbing her arms and legs. She kicked and clawed, desperate to get away.
“Cora.”
Torin? Where was he?
“Cora! Wake up.”
She flung her eyes open and stared into the most beautiful silver gaze. Scanning her surroundings, she sagged in relief at the sight of Torin’s bedroom. A dream. It was only a dream.
“Hey.” He spoke in a hushed, cooing tone as he stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “I’m here. You’re safe.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Mutants….”
“They will never harm you, I’ll make sure of it.” Rolling to his side, he gathered her close, wrapping her in his arms.
Cora’s fear faded as she cuddled against Torin, absorbing his strength as her own. One day, she’d have to learn to chase her own nightmares away.
He pressed his lips against her temple, then her cheek, as he squeezed her tighter against him. “I will keep you safe, Cora. You must believe that. The Pack will keep you safe as it does all the submissives.”
She nodded, not trusting her voice to work with the onset of hiccupping sobs. “I’m so weak.”
He rose above her, forcing her to hold his gaze. “You are the strongest person I know. Strength comes from within, from the trials we lived through and the drive to become better. You have more passion and drive than anyone I know. That, my mate, is power.”
My mate.
Those two words should spark delight in her heart, but the truth was she couldn’t feel him as a mate should. Even though she accepted him into her heart and they spoke the words, the mating bond never snapped into place. She didn’t understand why. Usually it was up to the female to make the choice, and, once she committed wholeheartedly, it was done.
She frowned and let out a soft sigh. Torin tightened his arms around her and kissed her temple. “Stop. It’s not your fault. There are mates inside the Pack who don’t have the mating bond, and they are as close and in love as much as those with the bond.”
“I don’t understand. We are mates; our wolves know each other. I’ve known since I first went through my heat cycle.” She clamped her mouth shut. Fear chilled her because she had shared too much.
After several moments of painful silence, he spoke. “You knew since you were eighteen?”
She nodded and studied her fingernails. “Are you angry? I didn’t know how to handle you or anyone outside of my family then.”
He took a breath, but kissed her forehead. “No. I’m not upset. I knew then as well, but you’d lost your parents. You needed room.”
“I never told Jason.”
“Me neither. He was so protective of you and trying to deal with his own grief. I’m not that b
ig of a jerk. Believe it or not, I can be patient.” He lifted her chin with his index finger. “You are worth the wait. You know as well as I do, once the wolf finds his or her mate, there is no other.”
Her cheeks heated like they always did when he complimented her. “We finally accept it, and fate has other plans.”
He kissed her lips. “We’ll work it out.”
He was right. Besides, they had a lifetime together. “Tell me about your childhood.”
For a moment, she thought he would avoid the question, but he laced his fingers with hers and lifted them to his lips. “My parents were killed during the first attacks by Onyx. I was two months old.”
She gasped. “Oh no. You never knew them.”
“Luna took me in and raised me as her own. Royce and I never got along though, so, when I was sixteen, I joined the junior soldiers and stayed in the apartments designated for them. Back then, things were different. Royce believed the soldiers should be strong and therefore isolated them at a young age to strengthen their will and heightened their senses.” He made a growl-like noise in his throat.
Cora could imagine how frightened the kids had to have been. Left alone and conditioned into good soldiers or assassins. “Rumors drifted around that Royce was actually connected to Onyx and Luna killed him when she found out.”
“People need to mind their own business. It’s true, and I’m grateful for it. Royce would have turned the whole Pack over to Felix, and we’d been killed or turned into mutants.” Pausing, he took a breath. “Luna changed everything that day. The junior soldiers were returned to the families, and, with my and Hayden’s help, she put the Pack back on a healthy track. Yet we were still too weak and vulnerable to Onyx.”
“She merged her Pack with Keegan’s.”
“Yep. It was rough at first, but we learned to live together for the most part.”
She shrugged. “I think we do pretty well. We are a strong Pack.”
“Yep.”
They fell silent, and Cora traced circles on his upper thigh. “You were friends with Jason.”
Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology) Page 24
