by Janelle Peel
I looked down at our bare feet. The silver polish shone against the travertine as I wiggled my toes in thought. Heels or no heels?
“No heels,” we said at the same time and giggled at our synchronized words.
I rolled my shoulders and sighed, “Well, I guess I’d better go figure shit out with Jackson.”
Sora pinched my rear and winked when I gave her a glare.
“You’ll be fine,” she said. “I have to go get some food. Blaze should be here within,” she grabbed her phone from the marble counter and checked the time, “a half hour or so.” Her pink upper lip lifted in revulsion, “Then I have to check the ceremony preparations.”
I snickered, “Sucks to be you.”
She smiled and gave me the finger. “Later, Babe.”
After she’d gone, I procrastinated for another minute. I really didn’t want to fight with Jackson.
Squaring my shoulders, I stuck my tongue out at my reflection. Let’s get this party started.
I could hear music coming from the bathroom as I entered my room and shut the door. Hopefully, that was a good sign.
Walking awkwardly to the bathroom on the thick carpet to keep the fuzz off my freshly painted nails, I hesitated at the closed door.
Jackson
Placing his toothbrush back inside its case in the drawer, he cinched the blue fluffy towel tighter on his hips and opened the door.
Viv stood there with her knuckles poised to knock.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he drank in her appearance. Her hair wasn’t in its usual spiky style. The hot pink layers were artfully tousled, with the tips feathering against her creamy skin. Light blue eyeshadow highlighted her flecked orbs and her eyes widened. She inhaled deeply, drawing his eye down her bared shoulders to the swells of her breasts peeking up from the tight fabric of the dress. Christ, she looked like a sinner’s buffet.
Her eyes locked onto his naked chest.
As he scented her interest, an instant tent formed beneath his towel.
She blushed and stepped back while averting her eyes. “Hey.”
He frowned in disapproval, wishing they could past all of this nonsense.
Jutting out her small chin, she crossed her arms and squared her shoulders defiantly, “I’m going to the ceremony tonight.”
Jackson tensed. Rage lit his blood, instantly extinguishing any evidence of his previous arousal. His pupils dilated, blacking out the normal blue of his iris. “No,” he rumbled.
Viv bared her teeth in challenge as she met his gaze and barked a quick laugh. “Blaze said so.”
A growl began in his chest, filling the room with the sound of an angry wild beast. Curling and uncurling his fingers at his sides, he tried in vain to temper his fury.
She lifted a brow, clearly unimpressed by his loss of control. “That all you’re going to do? Growl at me?” She sneered and shook her head, “I expected more.”
His fangs snapped down at her mocking tone, puncturing his lower lip with their abrupt extension.
Her eyes widened in shock. Taking in short bursts of air through her nose, her own fangs extended.
He flashed, grabbing her bare shoulders in a crushing grip. She hissed in warning just before he sank his fangs into her neck.
Mine…
Viv
What. The. Fuck.
Then he pulled on my vein.
A delicious heat ripped through my body and I whimpered. Pushing against his unyielding arms, I tried to get closer to no avail. My hands found the low-slung towel on his hips, an obstacle that I quickly jerked away and dropped to the floor. The tips of my fingers explored the globes of his rear while I marveled at their perfection.
A deep purr emitted from his throat, vibrating my neck and zipping a line straight to my core. I moaned in delight.
Mine…
Moving my hands to the front of his hips, I found his engorged member. Palming his shaft, I squeezed lightly, causing him to loosen his hold on my shoulders with his quick intake of breath. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I pressed my breasts against his thickly corded chest; groaning my approval as my nipples hardened beneath the thin lycra material of my dress. God, he felt so damned good. I wanted more, but the height difference was making things incredibly difficult.
Intuiting my frustration, Jackson lowered his hands to my rear and lifted me with ease. As I wrapped my thighs around his hips, my dress hiked up and my bare heat met his groin. He froze instantly.
I crossed my ankles and chuckled. Couldn’t very well have panty lines in a lycra dress,now could I? Flexing my thighs, I slid up his hard length and waited for his reaction.
He turned and settled me on the head of the wingback. Disengaging his fangs, he sealed the punctures with a swipe of his tongue. His sapphire eyes held a vulnerable expression as they found mine. Tipping his head to the side, he offered me his neck.
Without hesitation, I sank my fangs in deeply and sighed in contentment when the first notes of his blood hit my palate. Absolutely delectable; better than chocolate and almost as good as sex.
I swallowed, and he began to purr once more. I rocked my hips against him, shooting pure pleasure throughout my body with the motion. His hands traced my bared shoulders, trailing along my neck and back. I pulled him closer, greedily pressing myself harder against his rigid length.
He moaned when I pulled on his vein again. A shudder of ecstasy trembled his shoulders in tandem with my swallow.
Tilting my pelvis, I balanced on the tip of his member; teasing us both. I wanted him so badly that my core ached with need.
A loud knock on the door startled us both; popping my mouth from his vein with a sucking sound as I nearly fell from my precarious perch.
With wide eyes, I looked at Jackson.
His face shuttered and he locked down his emotions.
My brows drew low in confusion at the abrupt change.
Tapping his neck, he waited stoically for me to seal the small punctures.
Sighing in annoyance, I quickly closed the wounds with the flat of my tongue and hopped down from the head of the chair. Straightening my dress, I brushed past him to the door without a second glance. Pausing with my hand on the handle, I took a deep breath to compose myself and opened the door.
Sora stood there, her eyes wide as the scent of her fear hit back of my throat.
“What’s happened?” I asked.
Tears welled in her light blue gaze and fell down her cheeks. “Blaze called. There was shouting.” She grabbed my shoulders and her voice cracked as she continued, “Then the line went dead. Something’s happened…”
Jackson jerked the door open wider, fully dressed in his usual black combat gear. His face was a granite mask, “Where?”
Sora shook her head, clenching her hands harder on my shoulders. “I don’t know,” she whispered, dropping her hands to her sides. “He should have been here by now.”
Jackson growled in frustration, “I know the route he was supposed to travel.” His eyes assessed us both. “Change, now. You have one minute, then I leave without you. Meet me at the armored van in the underground garage.”
Then he was gone.
I looked to Sora’s terrified face. She lifted a shoulder and flashed to her room.
Chapter 4
Sora
Using my enhanced speed, I changed into my black tank and fatigues in record time. Pulling on my low heeled black boots, I grabbed my leather jacket off the hook and mentally thanked Julian for replacing it after my last encounter with the Pack. Slinging it over my shoulder, I zipped down to the garage with seconds to spare.
Jackson nodded for me to get in while we waited for Viv.
I sat on the leather seat, clenching the armrests to stop the frantic trembling of my hands.
In a small voice, I asked Jackson, “Is anyone else coming?”
He jerked his head no, “We will be faster on our own.”
I nodded as Viv appeared in the van next to me
and slammed the back door.
We drove out of the garage and into the night at a breakneck speed.
Twenty minutes later, we were racing up the 5 Interstate with our eyes peeled for anything unusual.
Jackson tossed his phone to Viv in the backseat and barked, “Call Mason.”
Viv scrolled through the contacts and swiped her thumb over Mason’s name.
Why hadn’t I thought to call the Protector that had gone with Blaze? Goddess, I was losing it.
She hit the speaker function and we all listened as the phone rang once, then emitted a fast-busy tone. Viv tried three more times with the same results.
I squeezed my eyes shut. This could not be happening! What the hell was going on?!
Jackson’s deep growl forced me back to the present. “Something’s going on about a mile up there.” He lifted a finger and pointed North, just off the freeway. “I’m going to exit and ditch the van. We can travel faster on foot.”
Relieved that we were finally doing something, I nodded in unison with Viv.
Sucking in large gulps of air, I tried to calm my racing heart as we exited the freeway. Viv grabbed my hand and uncurled my fingers from their death grip on the armrest. Squeezing once, she looked at me and whispered in a fierce tone, “Calm the fuck down. You’re no good to him if you freak out.” Her eyes softened, “You are a unicorn, dammit. You’ve got this.”
Her words did what my own psyche could not. She was right. I was a freaking Magical Hybrid. I would take out anyone who threatened me and mine. Squaring my shoulders, I tipped my head in thanks and squeezed her hand back.
Jackson stopped the van in a park and ride lot. We got out and softly closed the doors behind us. Each of us scented the air through our noses in short puffs.
I smelled Shifters… and blood. The thick copper tang nearly gagged me as it slid down the back of my throat.
Viv bared her teeth and issued a low growl, “Mel, the Pack’s Alpha. I’d know his scent anywhere.”
Jackson lifted his fist for silence and twitched two fingers, motioning us to follow. We began flashing through the deserted lots and shrubs at regular intervals as we tracked the scents.
I could hear nothing. Only the beating of my pulse sounded in my ears. Why was it so quiet?
I snagged Jackson’s shoulder. Lifting my hand to my ear, I tugged on my lobe in silent question.
Viv caught up and looked back and forth between us with a curious expression on her face.
Jackson tipped his head down as we crowded closer and whispered, “Their Mage probably cast a bubble, it would inhibit sight and sound. Scent is not so easily covered.”
Bobbing our heads, we continued.
The small hairs rose on the back of my neck and I tapped Jackson’s shoulder again.
He turned and widened his eyes in annoyance.
I called to my well and ignited a tiny blue flame on my index finger.
He nodded in understanding. We were close. With a sweeping motion of his arm, he gestured for me to take point.
Viv silently kept pace between our single file line with her eyes constantly scanning every nook and cranny for danger.
The feeling of ants marching across my skin made me stop. My brows lowered in confusion as I squatted to the ground and placed my palm on the warm asphalt. Magic trickled up the tips of my fingers; a vivid green in my mind’s eye. It wasn’t a ward, but it was something. Maybe the bubble?
I looked to Jackson’s frowning face and he nodded. Standing, we moved on. The sensation intensified for a moment before disappearing entirely. Sound came rushing back as screams and growls rent the air.
Flashing, I moved to find cover behind a smoking overturned suburban to assess our surroundings. We looked to one another, then shimmied onto our bellies and peeked through the busted-out windows.
No less than fifty Shifters growled and snarled, circling something between their pony sized forms. A flash of silver was all I saw before a black Wolf whimpered in pain and collapsed to the ground. More snarls ripped through the air in agitation.
I scanned the surrounding area, searching for their Mage.
There. Hidden by shadow, with a red Wolf and a black Bear as guards, she sat on the ground with her hands buried in the soil. Red chin length hair blew around her thin face in an unseen wind and her eyes were closed tightly in concentration.
Jackson tapped my thigh and jerked his chin toward the woman. Lifting a finger, he ran it across his throat and pointed at me.
Kill her? My brows lifted in response.
He bobbed his head, wiggled his fingers and pointed at me again.
Ah, she had magic so he couldn’t do it. I gritted my teeth and tipped my head in acknowledgment.
How the hell was I going to kill this woman?
A deep scream sounded, drawing my attention back to the circling Shifters. They danced enthusiastically and yipped at one another. The mass of bodies shifted, and I could finally see the cause of their excitement.
Von, one of our best Trackers, lay in a limp bloody mess on the ground. The large beasts moved again as they attempted to find an opening to get at his prone form.
Everything slowed down.
A black shitkicker came into view and snapped out kick at a multicolored Dingo that was boldly moving in for the kill. I focused my eyes harder and watched the thick sole connect with its massive maw; sending the Dingo tumbling backward into its brethren with brutal force. My gaze tracked a black clad thigh that led to narrow hips.
Squinting, I tried to see more through the mass of bodies. A flash of matted blonde hair, cobalt eyes, and a strong jaw.
Blaze! My heart squeezed painfully in my chest.
I inhaled sharply as a rage I’d never known before overcame me and my blood heated. Blue flames broke out on my hands. They slowly trickled up my arms beneath my leather jacket.
Viv touched my shoulder.
I hissed in response.
Lifting her hands in a supplicating manner, she gestured to the Mage.
I followed her fingers. Yes, she was mine.
Silently, I backed out of my position; leaving Viv and Jackson on their own.
MINE, a growl started at the back of my throat. My azure flames danced higher, flickering in and out of my vision and lighting the scene around me in a blue glow.
I prowled toward the Mage with a sinister smile on my face. Thunder rolled across the sky in response to my fury.
Boom!
Her eyes opened, green in the moonlight. Silence reigned as everything quieted and her mouth opened and closed in shock.
My hair loosened from its previous twist and snapped around my face in silver whips. Lifting an arm, I called on the storm. Lightning flashed; arcing down from the sky to my hand and hitting my outstretched fingers. I stopped and let the bright light zip around the tips for a moment. Retribution coursed through me as I directed the bolt toward her seated form.
Crack!
The shockwave sent the Wolf and Bear tumbling. Black ash lifted and skittered from where the Mage had been; all that was left of her existence before it was quickly carried away by the wind of the storm.
Turning, I found Blaze’s gaze. Pride shown from their depths, instantly warming my chest. Rain began to pour. The Shifters slowly backed away; cowering at my approach. Lifting a brow in question, I tipped my head at their slowly retreating bodies.
Blaze jerked his chin to the biggest Wolf.
Golden eyes met mine. He flattened his large ears and lowered his head.
My voice rumbled and I lashed out with an invisible burst of magic, “Shift!”
Faster than I could track, a naked man knelt on all fours where the large brown Wolf had been. Mel opened and closed his mouth in confusion as he lifted human hands that were once paws.
I stalked closer. A deep growl came from my throat and I bared my fangs.
His eyes widened in terror. Instantly, he tipped his head to his shoulder and bared his throat.
I sto
pped before him. Reaching out with one finger, I traced a line of blue fire from his chin to his collarbone, directly over his jugular. He barely flinched as the skin sizzled and charred; almost instantly extinguished by the downpour. Grabbing his chin, I met his eyes. My words rumbled from deep within my chest, “You are mine.” Lifting my other hand, I swept the area and screamed into his face, “They are MINE!”
Thunder boomed, further punctuating my words. I looked like a madwoman in the reflection of his chocolate orbs. My pupils were fully dilated, shimmering with white specs of power as they swirled in circles where my iris should be.
Squeezing his cheeks with my thumb and fingers, I forced his mouth open. Simultaneously, I pierced the palm of my other hand with a canine. Making a fist, I dribbled my blood into his mouth until he swallowed or risked spitting it into my face.
Satisfied when his Adam’s apple dipped, I dropped to my knees with his face in my iron grip.
Gazing into my eyes, he tipped his head in submission once more and bared the line of his muscular throat.
With a hiss, I reared back and sank my fangs into his charred jugular.
Wild earthy notes danced on my tongue when I swallowed, followed by the musk of a damp forest. Power swelled in my center, causing my eyes to close as a bright green light pulsed from my dancing flames.
The Pack was mine.
Sealing the wound, I tipped Mel’s face up. Softly, I brushed his cheek with my thumb and released him.
His eyes opened, flashing once as they changed from brown to ocean blue and back again.
“Mine,” I growled fiercely.
Somewhat dazed, he answered, “Yes.”
I stood and pivoted on the ball of my foot, leaving him in the mud. Everything was quiet. Every Shifter lay on the ground, their soft bellies bared to the night.
I popped my thumb into my mouth and approached Blaze as he stood guard over Von. I crouched down and placed my hand on Von’s chest. Blood trickled from a bite wound on his ravaged neck. Tears blurred my vision, mixing with the rain and tracing salty lines down my cheeks to the corners of my mouth. Reaching to my center, I called on my flames. Tethering them, I threw a line straight to his heart. It beat once; then stilled. I pushed my magic harder.
