by Anya Nowlan
A giant of a man who’d kept to himself near the back of the room got to his feet, towering above everyone else.
How did he even fit through the door? Dayton wondered.
Eyes turned towards his hulking frame as he spoke.
“Are you serious?” he laughed, the sound deep and guttural.
“What are you, wolves or kitty cats? You want to share these lands with the bears? ‘Cause I sure don’t. Wait until David gets a load of this,” he scoffed.
His little speech was met with snarls and growls all around.
“Travis, what the hell?” Sam exclaimed, looking at the man with surprised anger.
“Your true Alpha isn’t stupid. He knew you’d try to pull some shit sooner or later. It’s not my fault you’re so trusting,” Travis sneered.
The other wolves crowded around Travis, fangs extending, and the very obvious ripple of change permeated the room. If he didn’t put a stop to it immediately, he’d have a room full of wolves in a moment. Glancing at Rachel, who looked pale in the face now that tempers were flaring, Dayton knew he couldn’t let that happen.
Not when her safety was at stake.
“Stop!” Dayton ordered. “There will be no violence here tonight. David was going to hear about this sooner or later. Let this little minion run home to daddy,” Dayton jeered, looking at Travis with disdain.
“Turncoat!”
“Traitor!”
“Liar!”
The wolves snarled as Travis lumbered towards the exit. He was unaffected, a grin spreading across his face.
This turn of events meant Dayton had to face David sooner than he would have liked.
Will I be ready? he wondered, looking at the men around him and then at Rachel.
I’m going to have to be.
Eleven
Rachel
As the men filed out of the house and disappeared into the surrounding dark woods some time after Travis had made his exit, Rachel exhaled, feeling like she’d been holding her breath for hours.
“That was something else,” she said, sinking into a yellow armchair in the middle of the living room.
“Do you still doubt my motives?” Dayton asked, studying her cautiously.
“No. In fact, I’m very proud of you. I’ve always looked at things from the Grimpaw perspective. This was very eye-opening. You’re doing a good thing here, at the expense of the life you’ve built in LA.”
She nodded, looking at Dayton with new appreciation.
“So no more running away?” he asked with a tentative smile.
“No more running away,” she confirmed softly. “What are you going to do next?”
“Continue kissing you,” he said, stalking towards her with measured steps.
Rachel felt like prey, accidentally stumbling into the wolf’s den. She couldn’t wait to be devoured, as confirmed by the smile breaking across her lips.
A shiver ran down Rachel’s spine as Dayton pulled her to her feet, his eyes intense and hungry. The way he consumed her with his kiss left Rachel with little doubt as to where this was going. His hands roamed her wildly, grasping at her as if he was dying of thirst and she was the last drop of water in the world.
Rachel moaned into his mouth as her hands slipped under the front of his shirt, exploring the smooth skin underneath. She ran her fingers down his sculpted abs before heading even more south to stroke the hardness straining against his jeans. A growl started in Dayton’s throat as his hips began to move against her, and he deepened their kiss for a moment.
Then, he stopped to stare into her eyes. What he saw there must have pleased him, as he gently pushed Rachel back into the armchair. He knelt before her, slowly spreading her legs and running his hands up her thighs. His touch left behind a tingling trail.
A crackling heat spread across Rachel’s body as he unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off. She raised her hips willingly as he tugged the fabric down, practically squirming to be closer to his touch.
What happened to taking it slow? she asked herself mockingly, completely ignoring the question a second later.
Dayton kissed up her legs, lingering at her inner thighs, slowly getting closer and closer to her wetness. Rachel was squirming, pure lust taking over. When he pushed her panties to the side and explored her with that first long lick, she thought she might scream in blind pleasure.
Dayton continued his assault on her clit, edging her closer and closer to climax. Rachel’s hands tangled in his hair as her hips bucked against his face. With one hard suck from Dayton, her mind exploded, her body swimming in bliss. He crawled up her body, holding her and kissing her neck as she gasped for air.
“Are you up for more?” he asked, a victorious smile in his voice.
Rachel nodded, already tugging at his shirt.
“Good, because I wasn’t about to stop.”
The snarl in his voice made her gasp. She felt a sudden need to see how far his tattoos went. Dayton pulled the shirt over his head, revealing his hard chest, also covered with intricate designs. As she ran her hands over his pecks, Rachel made a mental note to study them more closely later.
He relieved her of her shirt and bra, cupped her breasts in his large warm hands and teased the nipples into hard points with his tongue. Rachel’s back arched as new need built inside her.
“Oh my god,” she mumbled, her eyes rolling back in her head.
His mouth continued its exploration of her body as his hands went to work on removing his jeans. He grabbed a condom from the wallet in his back pocket before slipping out of his underwear. Rachel looked down to see his thick erection spring free, and all she could think was how good it would feel inside her.
Rachel scooted forward on the armchair, angling her hips towards his as he knelt closer. Dayton’s cock slid across her wet opening before he stopped to slip the condom on. His hands grabbed hold of her hips, and his mouth slanted across hers just at the moment he thrust into her in one smooth movement.
Dayton’s warmth filled her from the inside as he started to slowly move back and forth, his mouth still on hers, their tongues tangled in a passionate kiss. A part of her she hadn’t known existed roared, begging for more.
Rachel grabbed hold of him, her nails raking his back, urging him to let go. He knew exactly what she wanted. His thrusts grew more savage, pounding her center, reaching just the right spot.
Wild cries erupted from deep inside her as a new, deeper orgasm rolled over her, followed by a snarl from Dayton. She shivered as the room started to return to focus, the haze of desire slowly lifting as she clung to him for dear life.
Dayton slid out of her when her grip finally loosened and collapsed at her feet, his head resting on her thighs.
“I’ve been waiting to do that since the moment I laid eyes on you,” he growled huskily, looking up at her.
“I don’t think the other customers would have approved,” Rachel answered with an exhausted grin.
It didn’t take much convincing on Dayton’s part to persuade Rachel to stay the night. She was feeling too spent to go on another adrenaline-inducing motorcycle ride, and snuggling up next to him... well, it sounded like heaven.
Dayton made up the master bedroom and carried her to bed, wrapping her in his warm, toned arms. Rachel drifted off quickly, feeling safe and sated. Dreams flooded her and tucked her away in their grip.
Hours had passed when Rachel woke with a start and noticed that light was already streaming in through the windows.
Shit!
Dayton was still blissfully asleep next to her. She woke him with a couple of soft shakes.
“I’m awake, I’m awake,” he mumbled, shooting up.
“I’m late, I should have opened the store hours ago,” Rachel explained, rushing to the living room in a hurry to gather up her clothes.
Dayton padded after her.
“Where the hell is my bra…?” Rachel mumbled, pulling her jeans on while hopping about.
She turned around to see Dayt
on twirling it on his finger, grinning from ear to ear and looking far too smug for his own good.
“Okay, playtime is over, give it,” she said, tapping her foot and trying to look stern despite the smile on her face.
“I like you without it,” he countered, his eyes fixed on her chest.
The way he licked his lips when he said that was just unfair.
He was still totally naked and Rachel couldn’t help but stop and take in the sight. If there was ever anyone who had a true calling for underwear modeling, it was him. Dayton noticed her stare.
“Like what you see?” he asked with a teasing grin before giving her a little twirl and his best Blue Steel impression.
His back was also covered with ink. Rachel could pick out the larger designs as mostly depicting nature – starry skies and different night creatures. They suited him perfectly.
His spectacular ass also caught more than its fair share of her glances.
“Are you going to give me a ride back to town or not?” she asked, closing her mouth before Dayton’s head got any bigger than it already was.
He crossed the distance between them and planted a lingering kiss on her lips.
“Whatever the lady wants,” he said, and Rachel had a feeling he wasn’t just talking about transportation.
Twelve
Dayton
After dropping Rachel off at the store, Dayton went to grab breakfast at Maisy’s. People had thrown some suspicious glances his way when he first arrived in town, but now he mostly went about his business unnoticed, even if he could tell they were wary of him.
Maisy gave him a smile and waived as he walked through the door, and for some reason, it really touched him. The town had a longer memory than he’d predicted and a couple of the older residents had even approached him in the streets with stories about him and his mother from back in the day.
Is this where I was always supposed to end up? he wondered, the notion odd yet comforting in a way.
He ordered two slices of pie and two coffees to go as he’d promised to bring Rachel some breakfast to the store. They had been in such a rush for her to get to work that they had both gone without food. If there was one thing to avoid, it was a hungry wolf.
At least she had a good reason for having overslept. Dayton’s wolf floated to the surface as he thought of Rachel’s naked body twisting and arching beneath him. She always seemed to bring out the animal in him.
Maisy was just on her way to his table with his order when Alice came running into the diner, visibly shaken and out of breath.
“Oh, thank god you’re here. Some scary-looking dude came into the store and started threatening Rachel,” she explained as she practically rammed into Dayton, grabbing him by the arms and rushing over the words.
That fucking coward!
Dayton was on his feet within a second, blazing past Alice and heading straight for the store. There wasn’t any question in his mind who was behind this. He reached the door to find it locked from the inside. Peering through the window, he could see a bald man in his thirties hopping over the counter to get to the supply room.
With one swift move, Dayton kicked down the door, a snarl in the back of his throat. It burst off its hinges and landed on the floor with a loud thud. That got the bald man’s attention. He stopped banging on the supply room’s door and turned to face Dayton instead.
“You must be Dayton,” he said with a sneer.
Dayton could smell he was a shifter even before he entered the room.
“And who the fuck are you?” he asked, red-hot anger boiling in his veins.
Rachel must be safe in the supply room, why else was he banging on the door? he thought, looking around the empty store, trying to sense her.
“I’m Cody,” the man answered with a smirk, looking slightly hurt Dayton didn’t know who he was.
“Well, Cody, mind telling me what you’re doing here?” Dayton demanded, walking over to the man, his eyes glowing yellow.
“What I was told to do.”
Cody shrugged, and it took everything Dayton had not to punch his lights out right then and there.
A scared voice flowed through the supply room door.
“He was telling me I should stay away from you,” Rachel squeaked.
“Is that so?” Dayton queried, eyes locked on the man, a wicked snarl curling his lips. “David thinks I’ll have less reason to stay if she’s out of the picture, does he?”
Seems Travis had relayed more information than he’d suspected. Dayton’s insistence on having Rachel at the meeting had revealed a weak spot and put her in danger.
If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.
Cody’s expression told him he was right on the money. The man jumped back over the counter and faced Dayton.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
Rachel had unlocked the supply room door and was peeking at the men through a small crack. Cody’s attention quickly turned to her. Not wanting to give the man a chance to make a move, Dayton grabbed the back of his head and slammed it against the counter. Cody slumped to the ground with a gasp, holding his bloody nose.
“Stay away from Rachel unless you want me to break more than just your nose,” Dayton thundered, rage taking over. “Have we really stooped so low we go after our own now?”
Dayton added the last part more quietly and with incredulous acrimony.
“Our own? Who is she to me?” Cody countered, challenge in his voice.
“She is the mate of your true Alpha!” Dayton shouted, feeling the wolf come to the surface, fangs shooting out of his jaw.
Mine, the wolf side of him growled.
He picked Cody up by his shirt-collar and brought his sharp teeth close to the man’s throat.
“You want to die for David? Because he can’t stand to have someone around who could challenge him? Is he really a man you want to put your life on the line for?” he whispered with menace in his voice, fangs grazing Cody’s neck.
The man whimpered, a sign of submission. Dayton released him and dropped him on the ground, his teeth retracting.
Cody wiped his nose on a sleeve, the pale yellow of his eyes still firmly in place.
“I was just following orders. I wasn’t going to do anything, just scare her,” he explained, the bravado gone from his voice.
He was trying to make himself as small as possible. Dayton felt nothing but disgust at both the man before him and the methods to which David was reducing both of them.
“And what were those orders?” Dayton asked, glaring at the man.
“David said I had to do whatever was necessary. But I wouldn’t hurt a defenseless woman, I swear,” Cody responded, looking ashamed.
“So you have a brain of your own. Good to know. Now get out of here before my temper gets the best of me,” Dayton commanded.
Cody rushed out, clearly relieved to leave with his life. Dayton had to wonder if he’d been too damn kind.
“Wow, didn’t know you could be that scary,” Rachel said, emerging from behind the door.
“You’ve got to show them who’s boss or they’ll walk all over you,” he scoffed, regaining his cool at the sight of Rachel unharmed.
He pulled her into his arms for a quick embrace, planting a kiss on her forehead. Only then did he realize what he’d said.
My mate?
“Spoken like a true Alpha,” Rachel said with a smile. “But don’t think that means you’re not going to have to replace my door,” she added with a frown, looking at the entrance.
“I was saving you!” Dayton protested jokingly, trying to lighten the mood for both their sakes.
“Sure. Did I mention the supply closet is where I keep my gun?” Rachel asked with a raised brow.
That shut him up.
Full of surprises, this one.
“Hey, um…” Rachel started, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
“What is it?” Dayton asked, ru
nning a finger down the side of her face.
“Did you mean what you said? About me being your mate?”
Dayton fell silent.
So I guess it was too much to hope she didn’t hear that one.
“I know it’s a huge deal, me being friends with bears and all. It’s totally okay if you just said it to protect me,” she added quickly, staring at her hands.
Was she the one, his fated mate, the only woman he could ever love?
From deep inside his core, an answer came, immediate and unfaltering.
“Yes. You are my mate,” he answered, his voice thick with emotion.
Looking at Rachel, he hadn’t been more sure of anything in his life. He and his wolf both.
She, however, looked slightly nervous.
“It’s okay, I don’t expect you to throw yourself into my arms. People don’t have the luxury of an ancient internal force telling them what is wrong and what is right,” Dayton said with a laugh. “You don’t have to commit to anything you’re not ready for, I’m just telling you the truth, no strings,” he added softly.
Rachel forcefully threw her arms around his neck, almost making him stumble backwards.
“You silly man,” she whispered, nuzzling her nose against his. “And to think I was considering getting cats. Cats! I don’t even like cats!” she continued, rambling.
It was damn cute.
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me. I don’t like cats either, if that helps,” Dayton chuckled.
“I’m so happy you walked into my store,” she said, grabbing his face.
“Good,” he answered, planting a kiss on her lips. “Now all we have to do is overthrow my jerk of an uncle and take over a wolf pack, and we’re golden,” he added with a roguish smile.
“Oh, is that all,” Rachel said, rolling her eyes.
Dayton held her tight.
At least now I’ve got a very compelling reason to come out of this alive.
Thirteen
Rachel
