“Silex, are you there?”
“Yes, I’m still here, Constance. I have a call on the other line. Do what you have to do in order to make any early guests comfortable. Everyone knows about the surprise. Just not Kalena. Not yet. Call the linen company and have them expedite the shipping.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thane switched over to the other call. “This is Thane.”
“It’s Jugkar. Are you seated?” Jugkar’s rushed tone came through the line.
“No, I was in the labs at Silex talking to some scientists about some of the old formulas. I’m walking out now.”
“Oh, man…you won’t believe what I uncovered.” The wolf’s giddy excitement flowed through the phone.
Thane stopped in his tracks. He knew Jugkar too well. When the man got excited, it meant he’d discovered some major dirt.
“What’s going on?” Thane asked.
“Man, I don’t even know if I can explain this in words. You’ve gotta see it.”
“I’m scheduled to be at UCON in thirty minutes. Can you sum it up, or should we schedule a meeting tonight.”
“It seems that Gavril recently bought a home down in Texas using a fake alias and the proceeds from a now defunct trust fund company. But get this…?”
“Yeah?” Thane pressed the cell phone tightly to his ear.
“There’s a woman living in the home by the name of Illene Northman. She’s been living there for years.”
“Northman? Why does that sound familiar?”
“Illene Northman is Upir’s stepdaughter. She’s one of us, Thane. She’s a shifter who can’t shift.”
Thane’s fingers shook and the phone almost slipped out of his sweaty palms. A dry lump rose in his throat. He had forgotten to breathe and his lungs burned. His phone buzzed again, but he didn’t even bother to check caller ID or answer this time.
“You there?” Jugkar asked.
Disturbing images from the day of Thane’s struggle with Gavril flashed through his mind. He could do nothing to erase them. All of the memories flooded back as the worst-case scenario played out before him.
Thane frowned and his blood quickened. “Gods, no…”
He dropped his arms to his sides, mustered all the power within him, and teleported to his home using the speed of light.
* * *
“Your lover?” Kalena shuffled backward. Her earlier suspicions were finally making sense.
“Don’t play stupid. You know very well who I mean,” Illene said.
“Gavril?”
“Bingo,” she said, taking several steps forward.
“Oh, God,” one of the maids cried out. Another raced for the door.
“Stop right there!” Illene demanded. “Take another step and I’ll claw both of your faces off.”
Kalena reached for the gun near her waistband.
“Don’t run now. Where’s that twin of his?”
“None of your business,” Kalena replied.
“Gavril and I really had a good thing going until his brother messed everything up. Until you put a bullet in his head. You two have ruined everything for me. All of my stepdad’s bank accounts were wiped cleaned by UCON after he was murdered and now I have nothing. That’s no way to honor a deceased Council member now is it?”
Kalena’s mouth dropped open and she felt nauseous.
“Oh, don’t look so shocked. The rumors always come around. You got involved and threw yourself into an argument between two brothers. You killed a legend. An innovator. We were to mate. We were to be together forever.” She frowned.
“I killed a murderer,” Kalena stated.
“No!”
Kalena didn’t miss the deep growl that erupted with Illene’s outburst. The woman’s eyes were still as black as coal.
“We finally came into our own and became who and what we were born to be, and Thane couldn’t stand it. He was no innovator like his brother. He let you kill Gavril and did nothing to stop you. His own blood brother.”
Kalena saw tears pooling in Illene’s eyes and it looked like the woman would cry.
“Illene…Gavril murdered his parents. You know that, right?”
“Why bring that up?” she shouted, her eyes bulging. “They favored one son over the other because of circumstances. They treated Gavril like an illegitimate child because he couldn’t shift. You have no idea what it feels like to be…so…different. Gavril’s parents deserved death. I was the one who nurtured Gavril all those years they cast him aside. He could have been anything he wanted. Anything! And you both killed him…so both of you will die. There will be no surprise bonding ceremony. I want you both in the ground.”
Illene growled and her body began to rumble uncontrollably. The whole situation was like deja vu to Kalena as she realized that Illene was about to shift. But into what? A wolf? Or a beast?
Kalena grabbed her gun and aimed it. She was tired of this. Tired of having to choose between life and death for herself…and for someone else.
Illene laughed hysterically as her body began to shape and morph into something ugly and animalistic. The sharp tone carried through the living space like an echo.
“Shoot it!” one of the maids yelled out.
Before Kalena could follow through, the beast slapped the gun out of her hand and it landed on the floor more than six feet away.
One of the maids dived for the gun. The beast lunged and clawed the innocent woman across the back, and she stayed down.
Without a weapon to subdue the beast, Kalena was pretty much toast. There were more guns in the storage ottoman in the next room, but she had to get to them first.
The beast was clumsy and slow, but she was big enough to eat up the distance to get to Kalena. The beast barreled into her and pushed her forcefully into the wall. Kalena’s teeth rattled in her mouth and she tasted blood as she bit her tongue.
Eyes as black as coals stared at her. Kalena barely recognized Illene in there. It was like the beast had taken over completely.
Kalena saw fireflies and blinding light. Sparks of red and black. Everything would be okay because she knew her babies were out of harm’s way. Nothing else mattered.
One minute it felt like the air was being squeezed right out of Kalena, forcing her to give up. In the next, a gust of cold air whizzed across her. The beast was no longer holding her to the wall.
She opened her eyes at the very same moment Thane clawed the beast in the gut.
The beast squealed, nearly shattering every piece of glass around them.
Kalena grabbed the wall and panted furiously as her lungs refilled with air.
Streams of blood cascaded down Thane’s arm where he had punctured through the beast’s gut. The beast shook violently until fur retreated and soft creamy skin began to expose itself again. Illene emerged once more as the beast faded away.
A horde of other bodies had rushed into the home. A mix of vampires and wolves. Kalena didn’t bother to identify any of them as she watched Illene let go of her beast and become a weak, docile woman.
“What are you?” she asked Thane.
“What does it matter?” Thane replied.
“Vampire…” Her lips parted and her eyes fluttered as if she would faint from the revelation.
“I am no longer inferior. Don’t you see what greatness Gavril has achieved?”
“No, but I will see,” he said and grabbed her neck. “The truth…”
“No…” Illene shook her head, quickly. “You can’t bite me.”
“I died once over this,” Thane said. “No more.”
Illene’s clothes were in rags about her body and she struggled against Thane’s iron-clad grip. His fangs doubled in length as he held her several feet off the ground. She gasped right before Thane sunk his fangs deep into her shoulder.
Illene’s feet kicked defiantly about as Thane drank her blood. He had searched for the truth about why his brother had done what he’d done for so long. His expression looked sour through the feedi
ng, taking putrid memories he didn’t want. But they were memories that would bring closure. When Thane pulled his fangs from Illene’s neck, he dropped her to the ground where she landed like a boneless waif at his feet.
“Get her out of my sight before I kill her,” he threatened.
Luxar, who must have teleported into the room sometime during the ordeal, stepped up to the woman. “Illene Northman, you’re under arrest. Until your punishment has been decided, you’ll spend your time in a vault.”
Four vampires lifted Illene up off the floor and shackled her with iron cuffs. As they carried her away, it appeared that she had no strength left to fuss or struggle.
Kalena rushed toward Thane and he instantly embraced her.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you,” he said.
“You would live on and take care of our children.”
Thane lifted his head. “Are they upstairs?”
“No, they’re with David. He got them out of the house in time. I couldn’t risk it. I didn’t recognize her at all.”
“Good. You did the right thing.” He kissed her lips. “I’m so sorry this happened.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she replied. “Now we have some closure.”
“Yes, we do.” Thane nodded.
Luxar who had stood off to the side patiently, moved in to stand near them. “What did you see?”
“Illene was Gavril’s main supporter. It had been her idea to introduce inner fighting in the prison rings. Collecting the dead bodies after the killings was their solution to overpopulation and suddenly they had unlimited access to shifter DNA without the threat of rumors being spread.”
Luxar rubbed his chin. “Makes sense. If the shifters were dead, they couldn’t ask why their blood was needed.”
“After Gavril created a successful formula, he used his abilities against innocents and murdered dozens in both human and beast form. Illene kept herself in check before she found out Gavril was dead, and then she just went berserk. The vampire we found slaughtered in the field is one of many she killed. It gave her a thrill to take down a creature she would never have been able to take down before if it weren’t for Gavril’s formula.”
“Are there any other beasts like Gavril and Illene?” Luxar asked.
“None that I could see. But Gavril was good at hiding things, even from those close to him.” Thane exchanged knowing glances with Luxar. He was certain this incident would result in lengthy discussions at a future meeting.
Luxar stepped back and excused himself. “I’ll leave for now while you comfort your family,” he said. “I’ll be back in a few nights, of course.”
“Thane?” Kalena lifted her gaze to meet his. “You forgot to tell me that we were expecting guests.”
His expression softened. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“A surprise of what exactly?”
“You’ll see.” He slid his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand gently. “Let’s give David a call and make sure our babies haven’t run him raggedy.”
Kalena smiled. “That sounds like something he would say.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Four days later…
Kalena tried to hold back the tears, but they spilled out and down her cheeks anyway. Her fingers trembled nervously against the bouquet of flowers, but her dad’s reassuring squeeze comforted her. When she looked up again, Thane’s grin became contagious and she returned the gesture. He was so happy, and it reflected in more than just his expression. She could barely contain her excitement over learning that Thane had planned a surprise wedding ceremony to coincide with the night they would bond. He’d invited dozens, taking into account her human family members, too.
Now all of Illene’s cryptic comments made sense. That woman had sent out to ruin everything Thane had planned for Kalena. But by circumstance and fate, Illene had been shut down. And because love had prevailed, she would now marry the man who she loved.
“Who gives this woman?” Brant said, looking up from the notes he was reading from.
“I do.” Her dad kissed her on the cheek and then let her go to join her mate.
The moment she fell in place beside Thane, she knew she’d always stand by him. No matter what. In that instant, a flashback came to her from the very first moment she had touched him. It was the moment when the ring leader of Area S2 had thrown her into Thane’s arms. The same feeling of warmth and security flowed through her.
The exchanging of vows went by quicker than Kalena had thought. She was grateful to have had the chance to live out one of her dreams and have the beautiful fairytale wedding she’d always wanted. It was perfect.
“Merry Christmas, love,” Thane said as they walked off the veranda and through the smiling crowd. An audience of their peers. Wolves, vampires, altered humans, and some of Kalena’s close family and friends. They’d all just witnessed them professing their love and commitment to each other. Their mating had been fully recognized by all. And soon, she’d be bound to the man she couldn’t live without.
* * *
“Looks like we’re snowed in for the rest of this week,” Thane said, placing his palm on her shoulder and then pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“That’s okay. We have everything we need. My mom and dad and the other out-of-town guests don’t seem to mind. My mom still can’t believe the home has two kitchens. They’ve been exploring all day, and she’s insisted on keeping the triplets while we do a little exploring ourselves.”
“Hmmm. Think we can move your mom and dad here?” Thane chuckled.
“Closer in this state, maybe? In the same home, no. I moved out for a reason. Let’s just put it that way.” She smiled.
“I get that. But they are family now. We’re a family, and we’ll build our future together here.”
“Good, because I love it here,” she said.
“We’ll need the space once the kids grow up.”
“We will, won’t we?” Time had flown past them, and would continue to do so. But Thane would never grow old and she would be forever altered. Unless…
Thane caught her reflection in the mirror. “Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“Giving me a family. And giving me life.”
“We did this together.” She turned around and he took her hand to help her rise from the stool. “But I’m so nervous.”
“About what?”
“Everything really. Being a new mom and your new wife. And now that it actually will happen, bonding with you.”
“I’m here every step of the way. I’ve never been married or mated, so I’m nervous, too. But I know that I love you and you look extremely sexy tonight.”
Thane took her face in his hands and kissed her. He covered her lips eagerly, and she nearly melted from his touch. She wanted to be skin to skin with him, so she pulled his shirt from his pants and pressed her palms against his rock-solid abs. He held her against him, his hands caressing the back of her neck as his lips roamed hot and hungry over hers.
He parted from her for a few seconds to help her unbutton his shirt and throw it aside. He undid his belt and let the pants fall to the floor. Once he was naked, they worked on ridding her of her white, see-through teddy. He was meticulous and gentle, pulling the light garment up over her head. He left her panties on, probably on purpose. He took her lips again and walked them back to the bed.
Kalena sat down on the edge and slid her panties down her legs. Then she laid back and spread her knees for him. She loved watching his cock harden like a rock before her eyes. This time, his cock pulsed as his eyes swept along her legs and he paused to admire her sex.
Thane crawled on the bed, moving between her thighs. His palms stroked up her legs and his lips left a heated trail on her skin. He slid his fingers between her wet folds, pushed his shoulders back against her legs to open her wider, and then took a hungry lick at her pussy. He played with her, dipping deep inside her and against her sex until she was
arching on the bed. Pushing his tongue against one side of her clit, he flicked her there until she was feverish with need. She let go of all control, released all restraints, and surrendered to him. Intense energy raced down her spine, tightened in her loins, and then pulsed out of her. She cried softly as she came against his tongue.
As Kalena came crashing down from her climax, Thane rose above her and fit his body tightly to hers. She laced her fingers through his hair and took his lips, thrusting her tongue into his mouth and tasting the sweet honey that was hers. She wrapped her legs around him. His soft, guttural groan filled her mouth. He held her in his arms and drove into her pussy. His thrusting was persistent and matched the rhythmic rise and fall of her hips. He made love to her tenderly and thoroughly.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered.
“You won’t. This is love, Thane. Not pain,” she said, sliding her hair away from her neck and exposing her throat.
As he always did, he pressed his face to the curve in her shoulder. His lips trembled against her skin. His pacing slowed within her as he prepared to deliver the bite that would bind them together. A vampire to his mate. He positioned his fangs against her jugular and drove them deep into the pulsing vein.
She screamed from the shock, but the pain lasted only a few seconds before there was immense pleasure. He withdrew his fangs and suctioned her blood from the wounds he’d made. He lapped at her skin, coveting each drop. She could hear him swallowing as her blood flooded his mouth. The feeding lasted for minutes. And with each pull from his mouth, she felt a little piece of her soul leaving her, binding her to Thane. One day, she’d give up her soul completely to be like her mate, but taking her as she was now was pleasure for him. She wouldn’t deny him that. She wouldn’t deny herself that. They weren’t exiled anymore or living off borrowed time. They had time to love and cherish. And grow and learn.
Bound (Wolf in Exile Part 5): Werewolf Shifter/Vampire Paranormal Romance Page 4
