by Ramona Gray
Kane shook his head. “The tagen was easy to defeat.”
Reese snorted loudly and Theran grinned at her. “Hello, human.”
“Hello, Theran. Where are the others?”
“Not far. They are waiting for us. We had not lost hope that you were still alive, and so I came searching for you.”
Kane gripped Reese’s hand tightly and they followed Theran. The shifter was moving quickly as he kept up a steady stream of chatter and Reese smiled a little. Despite the fact that Theran had given her to the tagen, she was still happy to see him.
“We nearly starved to death,” Theran said as they passed a large bush dotted with yellow berries. “Hanif and I were forced to go out in the rains to gather plants for the humans. We got lucky and stumbled on a stag that was stuck in the mud. It was nearly dead anyway, but we put it out of its misery and dragged it back to the cave. Ghita and Adina skinned it and cooked some of the meat, and Hanif and I tried it cooked. You know, it wasn’t half bad. I mean, I wouldn’t eat it cooked all the time but – “
“You had fire?” Reese interrupted.
Theran gave her a strange look. “Aye. We built one to keep the humans warm. It was safe enough to build one in the cave that Kane found.”
“You know how to build a fire?” Reese asked.
“Of course we do. All shifters can build a fire. We are not simple. I told you before, we did not build a fire when we were traveling because it was too dangerous. But once the rains came, no creature would willingly go out in them.” Theran glanced at Kane. “Did the tagen addle her brains?”
Kane didn’t reply and he had the decency to blush when Reese gave him a dirty look. “Is there a particular reason you let me nearly freeze to death?”
“You weren’t going to freeze to death,” Kane protested. “I kept you warm enough.”
Theran sniffed at Reese. “That you did. She is covered in your scent, Kane. Dagon will not be pleased that you have fucked one of his potential mates.”
“You’re one to talk,” Kane snorted. “Do you think we didn’t notice you fucking the human each night before the rains came? Besides, who said I fucked the human? I merely kept her warm during the rains.”
He gave Reese a hard look and she rolled her eyes before looking away. It was obvious the shifter wanted to keep their fucking a secret. She had no idea why Kane didn’t want Theran to know they had sex but he hadn’t needed to warn her to keep her mouth shut. She didn’t particularly want the others knowing they had slept together either.
Theran shrugged. “The odds of Dagon choosing Ghita are slim, you know that. She is too shy for him. Once he has chosen Reese or Adina, I will take Ghita as my mate.”
“A human as a mate?” Kane blinked at him. “Truly, Theran?”
“Aye. She’s sweet and would make a good mother for my pups.”
“You barely know the girl,” Kane protested. “You should wait and be sure that – “
“I’m not waiting. If I do not claim her quickly, another in the pack will try and claim her. Not all of us have the hatred for humans that you and Radek do.”
“I don’t hate them,” Kane said quickly before giving Reese another darting glance.
Theran laughed loudly. “Since when? You’ve hated humans your entire life. No one blames you for it, of course, but you will have to learn to at least tolerate them.”
He glanced at Kane. “Do you not remember the time you and Radek snuck out as teenagers and raided the human’s farm? If Maven had not gone after you, you would have killed – “
“Hold your tongue, Theran!” Kane said sharply. “Or I will rip it from your mouth.”
Theran blinked at him in surprise. “What has gotten into you, Kane?”
“Nothing,” he snapped. “I am tired and ready to be home and in my own bed.”
Theran nodded. “Well, it is not much further now. A few more days and we’ll be home.”
Reese’s stomach clenched. She had only a little time to convince Adina and Ghita that they needed to escape. Although from the sounds of it, Ghita would not be willing to leave Theran. She would have to – “
“Reese!”
Hanif, Adina and Ghita were just ahead of them. Adina’s happy shout brought a smile to her face and she pulled her hand free of Kane’s and ran to the blonde woman. They embraced as Hanif pounded Kane on the back and Ghita wrapped her arms around Theran’s waist.
“I am so glad you’re okay.” Adina smiled at her and Reese gave her an impulsive kiss on the cheek.
“I’m happy to see you, Adina.”
Kane pulled his pants from a leather bag that Hanif handed to him and slipped into them as Hanif gave the bag to Reese. She rummaged through it and found her skirt. It was dirty but dry and she pulled it up her legs and over her hips but didn’t bother to change from Kane’s shirt to her own. Despite the cool air, she knew he would be warm enough without it. Besides, she was a little surprised that he wasn’t shifting to his wolf form.
Adina studied her closely. “Are you all right, Reese? Did the tagen – did he hurt you?”
Reese shook her head. “No, Kane saved me before he could do anything.”
“Good.” Adina squeezed her arm affectionately as Hanif shifted to his wolf form. “I really am glad you’re not harmed. I was – “
She stopped when Kane took Reese’s arm and pulled her back to his side. “We must keep moving, humans.”
Reese frowned at him and tried to shake free of his grip. “I want to walk with Adina.”
“No, you will stay by my side.” He took her wrist in a firm grip and pulled her forward. She sighed loudly and trailed after him.
* * *
“It is odd that Kane hasn’t changed to his wolf form at all today,” Adina said in a soft mutter. They had stopped for the night and after eating a meal of charkas and plants, the two women were huddled together in the growing darkness. Ghita was sitting on Theran’s lap and she kissed his thick neck lightly as he stroked her thigh through her skirt.
Kane and Hanif were talking in low voices and Reese put her arm around Adina’s shoulders and rubbed the woman’s arm briskly. The air was cold and they were already shivering madly. She was kicking herself for not thinking to bring one of the heavy pelts from the tagen’s den.
“Don’t you think?” Adina raised her eyebrow at her.
“It is,” Reese agreed briefly.
She knew why Kane hadn’t shifted to his wolf form. He hadn’t wanted her to speak to Adina and the easiest way to stop her was by keeping her with him the entire day. This was the first time he had left her side since they had met up with the others, and she gave him a quick glance before squeezing Adina’s shoulder.
“We need to speak, Adina,” she said in a soft mutter. “Dagon is dangerous and we cannot stay with the shifters. He has already – “
“Reese!” Kane was suddenly standing in front of them and he held his hand out toward her. “It is time to sleep.”
“I’m speaking with Adina, just give me a minute.” She gave him a defiant look and he scowled at her before reaching down and lifting her to her feet.
“No. You need to sleep. We have a long day of travel tomorrow.”
He pulled her away from Adina as Hanif shifted and barked softly. Adina, frowning a little, moved to Hanif and curled into his body as Theran kissed Ghita lightly before removing his clothes and shifting. He laid on the ground and Ghita laid down beside him before throwing her arms around his fur covered body and burying her face into his neck. He chuffed softly and spread his tail over her lower body before closing his eyes.
Reese waited for Kane to shift. When he didn’t, she frowned at him. “Are you not going to shift?”
He shook his head. “No. I can keep you warm enough in my human form. Lie down.”
He stretched out in the grass and patted the spot beside him.
She glanced dubiously at his naked upper body. “It’s cold and you’ll be warmer and more comfortable in your wolf form.
You should shift.”
“I’ll be fine. Lie down with me, Reese,” he said impatiently.
“This is ridiculous.” She glared at him. “Why aren’t you – “
She gave a soft squeal when he sat up and grabbed her around the hips. He hauled her downward and she landed with a hard thud on his half-naked body. He shifted to his side and wrapped his arms around her before pushing her head against his chest.
“Go to sleep, Reese.”
“This can’t be comfortable for you,” she argued as she squirmed against his body. The sun had shone all day today and she was thankful that the ground was no longer wet but it was cold. She touched Kane’s bare back. The skin was toasty warm but after a few hours of lying on the cold ground, he would be freezing.
“Be quiet and go to sleep, Reese,” he muttered into her ear.
She was quiet for nearly fifteen minutes, listening to the soft even breathing of the others as they slipped into sleep before tapping Kane on the back.
“Why aren’t you shifting?” She refused to go to sleep until he gave her an answer. “You’re going to freeze to death in the night and then I’ll freeze to death!”
He grunted in frustration before reaching down and slapping her lightly on the ass. “I am just as warm in my human form.”
“I doubt that,” she retorted quietly. “I want to know why you’re not shifting.”
A low growl escaped his lips and he wrapped his hand in her long hair and tugged her head back. “If I am in my wolf form, I cannot do this,” he kissed her deeply as her arms tightened around him, “nor can I do this.”
He slipped his hand under her shirt and cupped her bare breast, kneading it roughly as she bit back her moan of pleasure.
“I’m not fucking you in front of your friends, shifter,” she muttered in a low whisper as she glanced at the others.
“I know that,” he breathed into her ear. “Now go to sleep.”
He stroked her nipple with his thumb and ground his erection against her soft center when her pelvis arched against him.
“Stop doing that!” She hissed softly at him.
He squeezed her breast once more before moving his hand higher. She rested her head against his chest as he repeatedly traced the scar from his bite with the pads of his fingers. He had been doing that almost obsessively since it healed, and she pressed her hand against his.
“It’s fine,” she whispered.
“Do not show the others the scar,” he whispered abruptly.
“Will you get in trouble?”
“Aye,” he lied. “Promise me, you will keep it hidden.”
“I will, shifter.”
“Kane.” He scowled at her.
She stared quietly at him before stroking his cheek. “Go to sleep, Kane.”
* * *
Reese finished peeing and stood, pulling up her panties and dropping her skirt before moving back toward the camp. She was tired, her back hurt and she had a bad feeling that she was about to get her period. She sighed inwardly. Not that she wanted to be knocked up with a wolf baby but there had been a small part of her that had wondered what would happen if she was. Dagon wouldn’t want her if she was carrying Kane’s baby, and perhaps Kane would take her as his mate if she was pregnant with his child.
She snorted to herself. Wishing to be pregnant just to avoid being mated to a murderous wolf wasn’t exactly the best reason for bringing a child into the world. Besides, did she really want to have a baby in a world that she knew very little about? She felt a wave of homesickness for her own earth and she leaned against a tree and blinked back the tears. She would never find her way home again and she needed to stop pretending that she might. It didn’t do any good. She stretched before rubbing her aching abdomen. Her menstrual cycle was always long and painful and she was dreading the long day of walking tomorrow. They had spent all day trudging through the never-ending forest and once again, Kane had stayed in his human form and left her no opportunity to speak to Adina. If what Hanif had said earlier was correct, they would reach the shifter’s home before the end of tomorrow. It would be too late for her to warn Adina and Ghita. Perhaps she could wake Adina after the shifters fell asleep and –
She stiffened when she heard the branch crack. She was suddenly aware of just how far from the camp she was and as her heart began a jittery beat in her chest, she looked around frantically for a weapon of some kind.
A shadow loomed to her left and she whipped around, sagging against the tree with relief when Kane appeared next to her.
“You scared the hell out of me, shifter!” She snapped at him.
He didn’t reply and as the moonlight caught the hard features of his face, adrenaline rushed through her veins again. The look on his face was one of pure lust and her body reacted immediately. Her nipples hardened, the ache in her abdomen faded away, and her pussy began to throb and pulse. She hated to admit it but after days of doing nothing but fucking the large shifter, she was nearly frantic with need for him. It had been almost two days since he had taken her and she licked her lips as he drew closer.
“Kane, I – “
He pushed her up against the tree and covered her mouth with his. As his tongue slid into her mouth, she wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss with eager abandonment. His hands slipped under her shirt and he cupped her large breasts, rubbing and caressing them firmly as she rocked her pelvis against him.
He reached between them and unbuttoned his pants, pulling out his erect cock and rubbing it against the soft fabric of her skirt. She reached down and stroked him firmly. His back arched and he shoved her skirt up around her waist before yanking her panties down her legs. She kicked them off impatiently as he lifted her and braced her against the tree. His hand slid between her legs and a feral grin of satisfaction crossed his features when he discovered how wet she was. Without a word, he pulled her thighs apart, hoisted her a bit higher and sunk his cock deep into her warmth.
She moaned loudly and he pushed in and out of her as he clamped his large hand over her mouth. He buried his face in her neck, licking and sucking at her soft skin as he surged back and forth. She moaned again and he quickened his pace. She wrapped her legs around his waist and clutched at his shoulders as he slammed in and out of her. Her entire body was on fire with pleasure and she screamed into his palm when he slid his other hand between their bodies and pulled roughly on her clit, bringing her to a hard and immensely satisfying climax. He groaned her name and bucked his hips against her as the familiar warmth flooded through her.
Panting harshly, he continued to hold her against the tree as he pulled her shirt to the side and licked the scar on her shoulder. He kissed it lightly before raising his head and staring at her. “Are you all right, Reese?”
She nodded and he eased out of her before setting her down gently on the ground. He helped her into her panties, pulling them up around her hips, and straightened her skirt as she smoothed down her hair.
“We need to get back,” he said quietly as he buttoned his pants. “Before the others come looking for us.”
“Right,” she whispered. He squeezed her hand and kissed her mouth gently before leading her back to the camp.
Chapter 16
“Reese? What’s wrong?”
It was early the next morning and Adina crouched next to Reese. Reese had rummaged through the leather bag and pulled out her shirt, and Adina watched as she tore it into long flat strips before folding them neatly. She paused with her face drawn down in a moue of pain before pressing her hand against her stomach.
“Are you sick?” Adina asked.
Reese shook her head. “No, not really. It’s just that time of the month. Bad cramps, you know?”
“You’re very pale.” Adina placed her hand on Reese’s forehead.
“I’ll be fine.” Reese gave her a faint smile. “Excuse me for a moment.”
Carrying one of the folded strips of fabric, Reese disappeared into the trees. Adina waited patiently for he
r to return and put her arm around Reese’s shoulder when she reappeared a few minutes later. “I will look for tappin root as we walk today. Ground up and boiled in water, it makes a tea that will help ease your cramps. All right?”
“Sure. Thanks, Adina.” Reese glanced around nervously. Oddly enough, Kane had gone hunting for the shifter’s breakfast this morning instead of sending Theran or Hanif and she was alone with Adina.
She grabbed Adina’s arm as the woman began to walk away. “Adina, wait. I need to speak with you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“This alpha of theirs, this Dagon, he’s dangerous. He’s had four mates in the past four years and all of them have died. And it was under very suspicious – “
“I know, Reese,” Adina interrupted.
Reese blinked at her in surprise. “You know?”
“Aye. Hanif and Theran told us all about Dagon while we were in the cave and waiting for the rains to end.”
“Then you know we can’t go with them to their home,” Reese said quietly. “We have to escape, Adina. We need to get away from the shifters today.”
Adina didn’t reply and Reese gave her a hard look. “Adina? We can’t stay.”
“We have no choice, Reese.”
“Of course we do,” Reese whispered. “We can come up with a plan to distract the shifters and escape into the forest.”
Adina shook her head. “You know that’s not possible. Even if we did manage to get away from them, they would find us quickly. We cannot hide our scent from them.”
“So what? We just march with them to their home and wait to see which one of us Dagon chooses? If he chooses you, Adina, he might kill you like he killed his other mates.”
“He didn’t kill them. They were accidents,” Adina replied.
“Do you really believe that?” Reese asked.
Adina hesitated. “It doesn’t matter, Reese. We have no way of escaping our fate.”
She glanced at Ghita. “Hanif says Dagon will probably not choose Ghita. She is too timid for him.” She turned her gaze back to Reese. “And you are too mad. Which means that I will most likely become his mate.”
