“So quick to kill after escaping your own execution, Liam?” Logan asked sadly.
“No,” I sighed, “But I must protect my pack. What alternatives are there?”
“He may be inclined to accept bribes for his silence. Either human money or...” He looked at me, face unreadable. “He may require that Kris bond him.”
Jen stiffened beside me. “No! We can’t force her into that!”
“And instead have him talk? Or murder him simply because he witnessed a shifter break one of our most sacred laws and reported it?” Logan grew angrier with each word he spoke. “He did nothing wrong, you are the criminals. And he was heartbroken from what had happened with Kristen.”
I nodded slowly, reluctantly. Logan was correct but I wasn’t required to like it.
“Good. Now, I must run ahead to prepare the feast.” He grinned suddenly. “We have a new alpha and his mate to welcome into the clan.” He smiled at us warmly and, after regarding us both for a moment, turned back to the path ahead and began walking away, moving to catch up with the other elders.
Jen and I stood for a moment before following some distance behind. As we left the sacred site I began to laugh, Jen joining in immediately. We suddenly had our whole lives together ahead of us, and even though we faced some troubling problems immediately, I would apparently live to face them.
It truly was a good day to be alive.
Chapter Eleven
Jen
Kristen hugged Liam for what seemed an eternity, but I couldn’t blame her. A few hours ago he had been walking to his death. An insane roller coaster ride later and we left the sacred site hand in hand, alive...
And him now an alpha.
“I had hoped,” Kris said, releasing him and stepping back to smile at us both, “But I didn’t really think it was possible. Only you.” She poked him in the chest. “Could get away with bonding a human!”
“You are to keep that a secret.” He smiled down at her. “Only the elders, Ian, you, and Troy know of the bond. To all others I took a mate without permission and was reprimanded for it.”
“And apparently all we have to do is say ‘true pair’ and everyone will believe it.” I smiled as I spoke. I couldn’t stop smiling if I had to.
“Yeah,” Kris nodded, chuckling as we began to walk back to our cabin. “It’s the perfect catch all and nobody will question him getting away with an unauthorized mating.”
Mmm, mating.
Now that everything was looking up, I was going to work out the past few days’ tension and stress in a very fun way. Liam looked at me hungrily and I knew his thoughts were following the same route as my own.
But first, a feast.
The village was already a flurry of activity as we left the trees behind and followed the trail to the road. Men, women, and children ran every which way smiling broadly. Apparently shifters really enjoyed any reason to celebrate.
There was also a noticeable difference in everyone’s attitude towards me. When I had first arrived in the village I was just the human that Liam had taken as a mate without getting permission first.
But now?
Now I was the newly minted alpha’s mate, complete with the elder council’s stamp of approval. The rumors of my being a mind reader didn’t hurt either.
For a moment, I wondered how we would be able to hide or stop those rumors, but then I decided to just let it go. We would just say ‘true pair!’ to any questions. A human-shifter true pair was apparently rare to the point of being mythical.
Who knew what super powers it would give us?
The activity intensified as we made our way towards the heart of the reservation, the village green. Tables were already laid out everywhere, streamers were going up, there were even musicians tuning instruments on a stage.
A figure came trotting towards us and I tensed slightly as I recognized Aaron. Surprisingly he was smiling at us, not glaring. It changed his whole appearance and made him look even younger. He had traded in his pelts for a far more modern wardrobe as well.
“I just wanted to apologize for how I acted yesterday,” he spoke quickly, blushing. “You were right of course. One heartbreak isn’t a reason to hate all humans.”
“It’s ok, matters of the heart can screw with the best of us.” I smiled at him and Liam barked a laugh beside me.
“Could,” Aaron began weakly, “Could I have your blessing? Please? If, if it’s not too much to ask of course!” He added the last when he mistook my confusion for anger.
Doing a quick read of him, I was able to get the gist of what he wanted and I smiled, easing some of the tension from the jumpy boy.
I reached up and put a hand on his shoulder and said simply, “May you be successful in whatever you hunt.”
Smiling, he stammered another quick thanks before returning to the preparations for the feast. I caught Liam and Kris sharing a grin as I turned back to them.
“Get used to that,” Kris chuckled, “A pack’s alpha female is seen as a spiritual leader, mystical.”
“Even though we aren’t bonded?” I looked pointedly at her and got a grin in return.
“Since shifters can’t bond with humans, being his mate is as far as law allows. It might not be enough to see you as a pack alpha usually but,” she laughed, eyes twinkling, “Since you’ve demonstrated actual magical abilities I think most will overlook your human handicap.”
“Magic? Hardly,” I laughed, shaking my head.
“Oh?” Liam hugged me close to his side. “If not magic, then what?”
“Well.” I looked between the two of them. “You know how you can look into a puppy's eyes and know he’s been up to no good? Just like that, but easier.”
Kris swatted my arm as we all shared a laugh and began walking through the milling crowds again. Liam took the lead as we approached a small group of alphas I recognized from earlier. Catching sight of us as we approached they parted, revealing Ian in their midst.
“Well lad.” He extended a hand to Liam who clasped it firmly. “It looks like my pack has lost one.” A small smile cracked his lips. “But I knew it was only a matter of time before you pulled your head out of your ass and started a pack of your own. Well done.”
Liam stood taller, smiling at his old pack alpha and shaking his hand. “Thank you, old man.” The group chuckled as Ian laughed softly.
Standing beside Liam, I basked in the wonder of a new page in my life, our lives. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but we would be meeting it head on.
****
Liam closed the cottage door as Kristen left, moving to a cabin of her own nearby. It had been an amazing evening full of music, dancing, and so much food! Everything had been wonderful and Kristen’s prediction had come true, I had been approached by more shifters than I could keep track of asking for blessings.
But now, finally, I was alone with Liam and we didn’t have the worries over our fates weighing in on us any longer.
It was time to celebrate.
Liam turned to face me and my heart skipped a beat before coming back in force, setting my pulse racing. His eyes were lit with lust as a slow grin found its way across his face.
When the heavy click of the door’s deadbolt falling into place sounded in the silence around us I turned to run. Thinking to draw this out slightly, playfully, I barely made it across the room before he appeared in front of me and caught me in his arms.
A breathless second later he had me pressed to the wall nearby, trapping me with his body against my own. The feel of him, all muscle and desire, set my own desire skyrocketing and I whimpered softly as he leaned in to nuzzle my neck.
“Not so fast love.” The breath of his whispers caressing my neck sent chills down my spine. “I haven’t forgotten the torment you put me through just the other day.”
My pulse rang in my ears and sang between my thighs as his hands began to caress my sides lightly. He kept me pinned to the wall with his body alone as his hands found their way under m
y sweatshirt and his fingers passed lightly up and down any exposed skin they could find.
“You will repay me for that, and I promise to collect soon.” He pulled back only far enough to look into my eyes. “But right now you are mine to take.”
My reply died only partially formed in my mind as he wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me forward. His other hand found the clasp of my bra and ripped it apart with ease using only a few fingers, completely destroying it in the process.
Not that I could care.
Sliding both of his hands back up, he removed everything between him and my chest. He brought the clothes up my arms, over my body, and tossed them aside blindly. As the fabric passed over my face I found his lips pressing against my own, hungry to taste me.
My hands fumbled uselessly at his sides, any attempt they made at removing his shirt failed as my thoughts kept melting in the heat of his kiss. I found myself needing his support against the wall as I lost myself in the force of his passion.
I gasped for air when he pulled back slightly, removing his own shirt to expose the ridges and hard planes of his perfectly sculpted body. A wave of heat flared within me as he kept me pinned to the wall using only his waist.
The shape of his rock hard cock was pressing against me and I wouldn’t have moved, even if I wasn’t pressed to a wall.
He leaned back in to kiss and nip at my neck and collarbone and I gasped in pleasure as one of his legs came up between my own. Grinding my pussy against his thigh quickly had me panting in lust, my muscles gripping at nothing, wishing he was filling me.
Pressing his chest to mine, crushing my breasts between us, sent more pulses to my already scorching desire as my nipples rubbed against him. His hands danced their way down my sides to the waistband of my sweatpants and he pushed them and my panties down enough for them to fall to my ankles.
He brought his arms back up slowly and grasped my wrists, raising my arms just over my head where he pinned them there with one hand. His other hand raced over every inch of skin they could reach, leaving fire in their wake.
I let out a gasp as his fingers found my womanhood, and a finger began tracing the line from top to bottom and back again, spreading my wetness. A moment later he pressed a finger inside me while deftly using his thumb on my clit.
I was quickly at the cusp of orgasm.
His mouth kissed a slow trail down my neck towards my breasts and with each brush of them against my flesh I came that much closer to release. Bringing one of my nipples into his mouth and caressing it with his tongue had me climaxing on his finger.
He continued his ministrations, never slowing, while my body rode out its ecstasy, gripping his finger. Still held against the wall by his other hand I trembled as the waves of pleasure slowly receded.
He smiled at me hungrily as he pulled his finger out slowly, savoring the twitches my body rewarded him with. “My turn,” he growled softly before leading me from the wall by my still clasped wrists.
I quickly kicked off my sweatpants and sneakers as he guided me forward towards the couch, bending me over one of the arms when we reached it. My own arms were brought behind my back and held again by one of his hands.
The sound of his pants hitting the floor reached me a moment before I felt the head of his twitching cock pressing lightly against my opening. A low moan escaped me as I tried to press back onto him, but wasn’t able to at this angle and with him holding me down.
I heard him chuckle throatily at my futile attempts as he began to rub himself against my pussy. I felt another wave of heat and wetness taking over as he slowly pushed forward, spreading me wide and filling my hunger inch by slow, teasing inch.
“Gods you’re tight,” his voice was raw with passion as he pressed himself fully into me and held himself there, enjoying my heat.
I clenched down on him and heard a groan of pleasure in return. “You like that?” My own voice was just as raw as his had been.
In lieu of answering me with words, he began to pump himself in and out languidly. I gripped him in time with his own steady movements as he withdrew to his tip, paused a moment, and slowly pushed back in to his fullest.
I felt my ecstasy building again as he continued to use me to fulfill his own needs. With as large as he was it was impossible for him not to hit every point of pleasure within me.
Building with every thrust of his perfect pace I found my climax nearing as his cock began to stiffen even more. It was a race to see which of us would come first.
I was the lucky winner.
Body rocking with my first ever G-spot orgasm, I heard Liam groan as my spasming muscles massaged his sensitive length. I was rewarded with one last thrust before his hot seed filled me, flaring in time with every twitch of his manhood.
It seemed I had won a second time as well.
He released my hands and held tightly to my waist as he pumped slightly back and forth, milking every drop of cum out of his body. I felt filled to the brim and craved more.
Amazingly, we now had the time for it.
“Aren’t you ready to go again yet?” I said breathlessly over my shoulder, grinning.
I was given a smack on my ass and a smile of his own. “Love, for you, I am always ready.”
Chapter Twelve
Liam
It had been two days since the celebration, two glorious days of take or be taken with my mate, and the time had flown by. We would need to pause in our activities, unfortunately. Kristen had been yelling up to our window for quite some time, saying they had to get back to their lives in town.
And I was going with them.
Living in the human world was something I had never considered, but that was before I had met Jen. I’d follow her to the ends of the earth.
“I wouldn’t mind living out here if it was like this.” She gestured around at the human guest cottage. “The only problem is that none of my family would ever come here to visit.”
Family was important to her, and she insisted that I meet them soon after we returned to town. For reasons I couldn’t explain, the thought of meeting them made me uneasy.
“Oh relax you big baby.” She smiled up at me as she finished getting dressed. “You’ll be fine.”
We stepped out into the early morning light, well, late morning light, to find Ian and Kris waiting impatiently for us. Kristen’s face was the picture of irritation and anger.
“I apologize for the delay,” I said to her, not wanting to start a two day hike with her angry at me. “It’s no excuse, but we truly lost track of the time.”
“That’s not it, lad,” Ian spoke softly as Kris’s face darkened.
“What is it? What happened?” Jen asked, watching Ian and Kris both.
“Nothing we’re sure of...” Ian began, but Kris cut him off.
Anger gave her words a hard edge. “I’m sure.”
“Sure about what?” Something was eating at her and I needed to find out what.
“When we asked a returning hunting party about trail conditions, they mentioned catching the scent of a cougar in the area.” Ian shrugged, but Kris stiffened.
“Troy,” both Jen and I said simultaneously.
Kristen nodded and whirled on Ian. “See?! I’m not overreacting!”
“None of you know it’s him!” Ian threw up his hands, exasperated.
“I do,” Kris said through clenched teeth. “And when I catch his scent I’m going to track his whiny ass down and beat some sense into him.”
“That could take a few weeks of beating,” Jen said.
Kris barked a laugh. “Fair point.” She sighed, some of her anger bleeding away.
Ian was all business again. “We will need to find him at some point. We need to ensure he will stay quiet about events.”
Jen fidgeted beside me. Troy was a wild card right now. We could likely discredit anything he’d say as just a jealous ex of my sister, but it would be far better to prevent him from talking at all.
“Either way, le
t’s begin. Jen and I have held us all up long enough,” I sighed.
Ian nodded at my words and wasted no time before turning and walking back out of the village. The rest of us fell in behind as we made our way past the last few cabins and into the woods proper.
“I think I’ve walked more in the past few weeks than I did in the decade before.” Jen shook her head, smelling of resignation and determination both. “I might actually be starting to enjoy it.”
“Walk all you wish love.” I smiled at her. “Just so long as you keep that excellent figure of yours.” She laughed at that, thinking I was joking, but I looked at her curves appreciatively as we moved on.
She was amazing, even in a sweat suit.
The rest of the morning passed tranquilly as we kept a relaxed pace. For the first time, Jen was able to really look around and take in the beauty. Watching her look on in wonder at the vista, breath misting in the cool air, was quickly becoming one of my favorite things to see.
Shortly after our lunch stop, the event Kris had been waiting for occurred. We caught scent of a cougar’s trail; about a day old, crossing over the path we walked on.
“It was running, and avoiding the trail itself.” Ian looked at the ground to either side of the path, picking up on the small details that spoke the story of its passage.
“Take my things.” Kris began to undress as she spoke. “I’m going to catch up with him and resolve this.”
“You don’t know it’s him, Kristen.” Ian’s words fell on uncaring ears.
“I spent a year with him, I know his scent.” She handed me her clothes, bundled in the sweat shirt like a backpack. She then handed me her locker key from the gym which I put beside Jen’s in my pocket.
I felt something was off, Troy’s scent didn’t seem right. “Go with her, Ian. I don’t like this.”
“No,” Ian and Kris both responded together.
“I was sworn to follow you Liam, keep an eye on you,” Ian said simply.
“I don’t want anyone’s help or interference.” Kris stood naked and looked at us each in turn, “This is my issue to resolve.”
Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2) Page 9
