by Ramona Gray
She tried to struggle free from his arms but he refused to release her. “A pleasant life? As a maid and a nanny to the wolf babies in your pack? No thanks, shifter.”
He sighed with frustration. “Another in my pack will choose you as his mate.” His stomach tightened and he could feel jealousy threading through him at the thought of Reese in another’s bed.
She scoffed angrily. “If your pack mates are like you, I’ll pass on finding a mate among them.”
He blinked at her. “What do you mean, human?”
“Jesus.” She shook her head. “You really have no idea, do you?”
When he stared blankly at her, she laughed bitterly. “Never mind. I’ll continue to be your fuck buddy until we get to your home and then you can hand me over to your damn alpha.”
“Reese – “
“Forget it, shifter.” She slumped against him. “I’m beating a dead horse here.”
He frowned. “Why would you beat a dead horse?”
She barked harsh laughter. “It’s just a saying.”
Confused and feeling helpless, he hugged her tightly. “You aren’t going to die, Reese. I will keep you safe.”
“Yeah, thanks,” she replied in defeat. She squirmed free and huddled under the furs. “I’m tired. Good night, shifter.”
He curled up against her back and rested his large hand on her hip. He placed a soft kiss against her bare back. “Good night, Reese.”
Chapter 14
When she woke, it was lighter in the cave. Kane was sleeping beside her and she sat up and studied his face before tracing the line of his jaw lightly. He frowned and then relaxed. She pressed her lips together and sighed deeply. She wasn’t in love with the shifter, at least she didn’t think she was, but over the last two weeks she had started to care for him. It was impossible not to – for her, anyway. She had never been the kind of girl who could just sleep with someone without at least feeling some kind of connection and this was no different. Even knowing that he didn’t care for her and that he would hand her over to his alpha without a second thought, didn’t seem to make a difference. She cursed herself for being a fool. There was no point in having any type of feelings for the shifter. He felt nothing for her but lust.
Are you sure about that, Reese? Her inner voice piped up. He’s different now. It doesn’t feel like just fucking when you’re in his arms. If all he was interested in was sex, why does he keep asking about your world? Why does he keep asking you so many questions about your life?
She rolled her eyes. He thought she was crazy and his questions were just plain old curiosity. Nothing more. She was a fool if she thought he was starting to care for her. They were obviously compatible sexually but that didn’t mean he wanted more. He wanted somewhere to stick his dick and she was happy to oblige.
She stared out the entrance of the cave. She needed to come up with a plan for escaping the three shifters. She would speak with Ghita and Adina, share the information about Dagon, and let them decide for themselves if they wanted to come with her. She hoped they would. She was pretty sure that Adina would but Ghita was attracted to Theran. It would be harder to convince her to –
She suddenly gasped and threw back the pelts. The rain had stopped. She stood and ran naked to the edge of the cave, staring with delight at the sky above her. It was still mostly clouded over but in the distance she could see glimpses of blue sky.
“Oh, please,” she whispered. She had never been so desperate to see the sun and she clenched her hands into tight fists and tried to will the clouds to part. They stayed stubbornly still but she continued to stare at the small patch of blue in the distance.
When Kane’s warm arms slid around her, she jerked in surprise and glanced up at him. “It’s stopped raining.”
He nodded, resting his hands against her stomach and rubbing gently. She ignored the immediate flare of desire in her belly and continued to stare at the sky. “We should try and find the others.”
He shook his head and pulled her back against his hard body. “Not yet. It may rain again. We will wait until the sky is clear.”
He dipped his head and placed a warm kiss against her neck. “You need to eat, Reese.”
“I’m not hungry.” She scanned the sky anxiously, searching for more blue.
He grunted his disapproval. “You grow too thin, human. You’re not eating enough.”
She laughed. “Hardly, shifter.”
“Kane,” he said grumpily. “I have a name.”
She giggled, the first sound of genuine amusement he had heard from her in days, and an answering smile crossed his face before he nuzzled her throat affectionately.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She giggled again. “It’s just ironic that,” she paused, “never mind.” She patted his hand and then pushed him lightly away before leaning against the wall of the cave and staring outside.
“Go and have something to eat, Kane. I’ll eat later.”
He shook his head. “No. You will eat with me.”
She sighed irritably. “I told you I’m not hungry.”
He pulled her away from the wall before bending and hoisting her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She squealed in surprise before slapping him on the bare ass.
“Put me down, you Neanderthal!”
He cupped her bare ass and squeezed it firmly. “No. You will eat and then you – “
He roared with surprise when she bit him on the back and he dropped her to the pelts with a hard thud. She rubbed her ass and grinned up at him as he felt the faint indents from her teeth in his back.
“You bit me.”
“You’re not the only one who knows how to bite,” she replied saucily.
He grinned at her. “Someone deserves a spanking.”
She scrambled to her feet, her eyes lit up and her face flushed. “You’ll have to catch me first.”
He made a low growling noise and she felt a rush of desire and excitement when his eyes turned green and glowed brightly at her. “The cave is small. I will catch you easily.”
She inched to her right. “We’ll see about that.”
He growled again and she stuck her tongue out at him. His cock was hardening rapidly and she gave it a quick glance, her cheeks flushing, before she looked away.
He grinned again, a predatory grin, and her heart thudded against her chest. The rain stopping, the glimpse of blue sky, had lifted her spirits for the first time in days and she couldn’t stop her cheeky grin at him. “What are you waiting for? Is the big bad wolf afraid of a little girl like me?”
He lunged forward so quickly that she felt his fingertips brush against her arm as she shrieked and skittered away. He stalked her as she circled around him and he winked at her. “Give up now, Reese, and I’ll go gentle on you.”
She stuck her tongue out again in reply and he made another hoarse growl. “I can think of a much better use for your tongue.”
His cock was so hard it was aching and he stared at her breasts as she glanced behind her. Her nipples were rock hard and he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He could smell her desire for him and it flamed his higher, turning his need for her into an uncontrollable burn.
Her eyes glanced to the left before she made a break for the right. Her ruse didn’t fool him and he dodged to the right and caught her around the waist as she sprinted for the back of the cave. She shrieked and laughed, smacking him on the chest and shoulders as he lifted her and carried her back to the pelts.
“Mine now, human.” He gave her another predatory grin that turned to surprise when she threw her weight against him and knocked him to the pelts. Quick as a flash, she tried to scramble free and laughed again when he grabbed her by the ankle and dragged her back toward him.
He flipped her onto her back and she squirmed and twisted and laughed when he started to tickle her. He tickled her mercilessly for a few minutes until she was panting and pleading with him.
“Stop, Kane! Stop! I can’t breathe!�
�� She laughed as he tickled her ribs.
He grinned down at her and brushed her hair back from her face. She returned his smile, her face flushed and her breasts heaving. He leaned over her and kissed her thoroughly on the mouth. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back enthusiastically.
When he pulled away and flipped her to her stomach, she squeaked in surprise and tried to wiggle free. He pressed his hand into the middle of her back, holding her down, and she pouted up at him.
“Let me go, shifter.”
He shook his head. “No. I told you – you deserve a spanking.”
Her nostrils flared and a fresh wave of her desire washed over him. His cock responded and he groaned softly before staring at the pale globes of her ass. After a moment, she cleared her throat.
“I thought you were going to spank me.”
He shook his head. “No. I cannot. I will never hurt you, Reese.”
He stroked her ass gently, his fingers caressing and touching the firm flesh and she moaned and arched her back. He rubbed her ass until she was twisting beneath him and then slid his hand between her legs. She was soaking wet and he growled in approval before sitting back and stretching out his legs.
“Ride me, Reese,” he demanded.
She climbed into his lap eagerly, spreading her legs and resting her knees on either side of his hips. He guided his cock into her wet opening, both of them sighing with need when he entered her.
“Ohhhh.” She groaned softly as he pulled her legs around his waist. She clung to his broad shoulders as he put his hands on her hips and easily lifted her up and down.
“That feels so good, shifter,” she moaned as his thick cock slid in and out of her.
“Kane,” he demanded.
He pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist and thrusting back and forth as he cupped her head with his other hand. He kissed her mouth, relishing the taste of her sweetness as she slipped her tongue into his mouth and licked at his tongue.
“Say it.” He pulled back and looked at her, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone. “Say my name.”
“Kane,” she murmured.
“Good girl.” He pushed his thumb into her mouth. His eyes darkened when she sucked at it and he continued to plunge in and out of her. She sucked firmly on his thumb but when her eyes closed, he growled deep in his throat.
“No, don’t close your eyes. Look at me, Reese.”
She opened her eyes obediently and he stroked his thumb in and out of her mouth as his cock slid in and out of her warm, wet pussy. He pulled his thumb free and ran it across her swollen, bottom lip.
“Tell me you belong to me,” he demanded.
She shook her head and he gave a grunt of frustration before sliding his hands around her back and cupping her shoulders. He thrust roughly in and out of her and she made a soft moan of submission, her head falling back as she clung tightly to him.
“You’re mine, Reese,” he muttered into her ear.
“I’m not!” She gasped out as her fingers dug into his back. “Stop saying that, shifter.”
“You are. Say it!”
“No!” She reached between them and rubbed frantically at her clit. “I’m not yours. I’m not, I’m…”
She trailed off as her body began to tremble wildly.
“You’re mine!” He nearly snarled. His lust and his need to claim her was out of control. His eyes glowing and his fangs lengthening, he bent his head and sank his teeth into the soft meat of her shoulder.
She gave a startled cry as her blood filled his mouth and then her entire body was shaking around his, her pussy clamping down on to his cock as she came wildly. He tore his mouth away and pointed his head to the ceiling. He howled loudly as his hips thrust against her and he came deep inside of her.
Reese clapped her hands over her ears as Kane howled again.
“Kane, stop!” She shouted. He fell backward on to the pelts, his chest heaving and his face pale. He stared at the bite on her shoulder and at the blood trickling down her chest, and she touched his chest tentatively.
“Kane, are you all right?”
“What have I done?” He whispered. He gave her a look of stark despair and she patted his chest soothingly.
“It’s okay.”
He shook his head and eased her off of him before jumping to his feet. He nearly ran to the shelves in the wall and she flinched when he knocked a few of the bottles from their perches. They shattered on the stone as he grabbed the jar of salve and hurried back to her.
He used one of the pelts to wipe away the blood and then smoothed on a heavy layer of salve. She winced and he made a soft sound of hurt in the back of his throat. “I’m so sorry, Reese.”
“It’s fine. It was an accident.” She gave him a warm smile and his stomach churned.
She relaxed against the pelts and he quickly laid down beside her and pulled her into his arms. He stroked her hair and then her back.
“I’m fine, Kane. The salve will heal it and it’ll be back to normal in no time.”
That was where she was wrong, he thought miserably. The salve would heal it but she would be marked forever. He shuddered and she squeezed his arm reassuringly as he stared blankly at the ceiling of the cave. The bite he had given her was a claiming bite. It was meant to mark, to show other shifters that she belonged to him. His stomach churned again and a low whine slipped out before he could stop it. Shifters only bit a partner when they intended to claim them as their mate. Not once had he even considered claiming a woman and now he had just claimed Reese, the potential mate of his alpha. If Dagon chose Reese as his mate, the moment he saw the mark - when he realized that Reese had been claimed by another…
He shuddered again as he had a vision of Dagon taking Reese’s head in a fit of anger. He had put Reese in terrible danger and he had no idea what to do. He realized Reese was speaking to him and he forced himself to look at her.
She was staring up at him, concern etched across her face, and she patted his cheek almost timidly.
“What did you say?” He asked hoarsely.
“I asked if I was going to turn into a shifter,” she said softly.
He stared blankly at her for a moment. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you bit me. In my world if a werewolf bites a human they turn into a werewolf.”
“What is a werewolf?” He frowned at her and she shook her head.
“Never mind. Am I going to become a shifter now? Is that why you’re so worried?”
“No.” He pushed her head down to his chest and stroked her hair again. “You are not going to become a shifter, Reese. I am worried because I – I feel bad for biting you.”
She squeezed his waist. “I told you, I’m fine. Just maybe next time try and keep your teeth to yourself. Okay, big fella?”
“Okay,” he whispered. He stared at the ceiling of the cave again as Reese sighed and closed her eyes.
Chapter 15
“Just a few more steps,” Kane said reassuringly. “We’re almost there.”
Reese nodded shortly. She was using all of her concentration to cling to the slippery rock and she lowered her foot and pressed it firmly into the indent in the rock before moving her other leg.
It was three days later. The sun had finally appeared the day before yesterday but despite her impatience to leave the cave, Kane had refused. Now, as Kane’s strong hands circled her waist and lifted her down to the ground, she finally realized why. It had been two full days of sunshine but the air was still cold and the ground was wet beneath her feet. She stared around in silence at the trees that had fallen and the branches that littered the ground.
“Come. We must find the others, quickly.” Kane was giving her an impatient look as he held his hand out to her.
She glanced behind her and Kane stepped forward and took her hand. “Reese, let’s go.”
She stared at him solemnly. “Kane, please.”
He shook his head immediately.
“I will not, Reese.”
“This is my only chance. You know that,” she said quietly.
“You will die in the forest,” he responded harshly. “Do not ask me to set you free knowing your fate.”
She sighed and allowed him to lead her into the trees. She glanced behind her, staring a little wistfully at the side of the mountain. She was happy to see the sun again but a large part of her mourned the loss of her time with Kane. Once they found the others and he brought her to his alpha, she would never be with him again.
He had taken her this morning before they had climbed down the mountain. He had held her close, licking the mark on her shoulder repeatedly as he had slid in and out of her in a slow, gentle motion. The salve had healed the wound from his bite quickly but she had been left with a scar. She slipped her hand under Kane’s shirt and ran her fingers over the raised skin.
“We must move faster, Reese.” Kane tugged on her hand and she gave him an irritated look.
“Give it a rest, shifter. I haven’t seen the sun in days and I’m going to enjoy it.” She lifted her head to the sunlight filtering through the trees and took a deep breath. Kane had been uncharacteristically slow and tender in his lovemaking this morning. He had whispered in her ear that she belonged to him and she hadn’t argued, just clung to him tightly and closed her eyes.
She wasn’t his. She knew that and so did he but it still brought a sweet warmth to her insides. She wanted to be his, wanted it desperately in fact, and she blinked back the tears. Kane had made it perfectly clear that he would never disobey his alpha. She needed to forget about a life with him and concentrate on finding a way to escape the shifters. Kane tugged on her hand again and with a soft sigh, she followed him through the trees.
* * *
“Kane!”
They had been walking for only ten minutes when Theran appeared. He growled happily and hugged the shifter. He pounded him on his back and stared up at him. “I was certain you were dead.”
