Lucien opened the door and greeted his guests.
Zane looked guilty as he apologized for being late. Lucien noted the glow on Jackie’s face and smiled knowingly.
“No need to apologize, Zane. At least you had the common sense to take care of your mate’s need.”
Jackie’s cheeks colored, assuring Lucien that was exactly why they were late.
They followed Lucien into the living room. Lanie joined them a short while later. Lanie hugged both of them as Delia and Nicolai entered the room. Zane looked up and saw Delia, smiling brightly.
“Delia?” His happiness at seeing her was tainted by his guilt. Delia walked over to him and hugged him tightly. Instinctively, Nicolai growled. His wolf didn’t like seeing Delia in the arms of another male. Delia heard his growl and stiffened. Zane looked up at Nicolai in shock.
“Nicolai is your mate?”
When he hadn’t seen Delia at Jackie’s old house, he learned she had met her mate. He had no idea it was Nicolai. Zane held Delia by the arms and pushed her back gently so he could see her face. Delia smiled as she nodded.
“Nicolai is a soldier. He will be able to protect you from him.”
He refused to say her male’s name. He was glad Delia would finally have a safe home, one that he could never provide.
“Delia, this is my mate, Jackie,” he introduced proudly.
Jackie smiled and was a little surprised when Delia hugged her.
“Jackie, I’m so glad to meet you. Zane is a wonderful man. I’m so glad he’s found you. He deserves to be happy.”
Except for Lanie, they all caught the pungent scent of Zane’s pain. Jackie turned to Zane with a frown.
“Zane? Honey, what’s wrong?” Zane refused to look at Jackie. He looked at Delia and took a deep breath.
“I’m so sorry, Delia.”
“Don’t, Zane.” Delia’s smile was instantly gone.
“My life wasn’t worth it.” Delia turned to him and held his face.
“Zane, Honey, you are worth it.”
Nicolai clenched his fists and tried to stay calm. His wolf did not like her touching another male or calling him ‘Honey.’ Zane was mated to Jackie. Delia was his. His wolf shouldn’t be insanely jealous, but it was. Nicolai relied on his strength as a soldier to keep his wolf in check.
“If it wasn’t for your determination to become a tracker, to improve your fighting skills, none of us would be here. We would still be under Murdock’s rule. It was worth it, Zane.”
“NO! How could you say that? After what he did to you? I’m sorry I didn’t take my time in killing him. He deserved a slow and painful death, Delia.” Zane’s anger was palpable, the strong scent filling the room.
“Zane? Let it go, honey. It wasn’t your fault. I never blamed you.” Zane shook his head in denial.
“It was partially my fault, Zane.”
“How can you say that?” Zane was incredulous.
“I got caught after I had taken you the painkillers and set your broken bones. He took me to Murdock and he demanded to know why I helped you. I...I did a foolish thing, Zane. I told them we had been lovers.”
“WHAT?” Zane was shocked speechless. Nicolai was too stunned to say anything. “Why would you tell them that?” Zane asked.
“I know it was foolish. I guess I just wanted them to know that for once, I had a choice in who fucked me. Murdock would have raped me anyway, Zane. He did it all the time. You know that.”
“But never in front of the pack, Delia. He did that so I could see. He was trying to punish me. He hurt you because of me!”
Delia shook her head. “He didn’t rape me that night, Zane. You have nothing to feel guilty about. In fact, because of you, he never touched me again after that night.”
“Wha-What?...Why?”
“You don’t remember, do you?” Delia asked Zane. He shook his head. He remembered seeing Murdock beat and strip her, forcing her to her hands and knees. Then everything went black.
“You changed. Part man, part wolf, you howled and crawled over to us. Even with all of those broken bones. I don’t know how you did it. You reached us and your eyes were... I don’t know how to describe it, but there was something there. Beyond anger, far beyond rage. Murdock saw and he was afraid. Everyone could see the fear in his eyes, could smell it. He left me alone after that. He left all of us alone after that.”
Zane shook his head in disbelief. He had protected Delia?
“It’s all because of you, Zane. You made our lives bearable, so it was worth the beating I received. I’m just sorry you had to suffer so much.”
Delia hugged Zane tightly and Nicolai nearly lost control. Lucien growled a warning, keeping Nicolai’s wolf in check.
Jackie remembered something Zane had shared with her when they were first mated. His pack mates had attacked him and beaten him severely, leaving him near death. The reason? Simply because he was smaller than they were.
“Delia?” Delia turned to Jackie.
“You were the one that helped him when his pack mates attacked him?” Delia nodded.
Jackie hugged her tightly and said, “Thank you, Delia. Thank you for helping him when no one else would.” Jackie swallowed then asked, “Why? Why did you help him, Delia?”
Delia seemed surprised at the question. “Didn’t Zane tell you?”
Jackie shook her head.
“Zane lived with us for a short time when he was a child. He’s my stepbrother.”
Her stepbrother? That seemed to calm Nicolai’s wolf. He finally strode over to Zane and stood before him.
“I guess this means we’re related?” Nicolai asked.
Zane stood and stuck his hand out to Nicolai. Nicolai smiled as he shook Zane’s hand.
Delia smiled and moved closer to Nicolai, slipping her arms around his waist. He released Zane’s hand and kissed his mate.
Lanie suggested they head into the dining room where they enjoyed a pleasant meal. During dinner, Lanie noted the way Nicolai gazed at Delia, the gentle way he touched her, as lovers often did. Lanie was satisfied that Delia was happy with Nicolai and her transition to their pack was going smoothly.
~ Chapter Ten ~
Dinner was over and they left the Alpha house. Delia could barely keep herself from trembling with need. She didn’t understand it. Nicolai had pleasured her four times earlier that day and still she wanted more. Feeling restless, she suggested they go for a run in the Alpha’s forest. Nicolai heartily agreed. They walked to the edge of the forest and undressed.
Their bodies contorted, bones popped and reconfigured into the shape of their wolves. Nicolai stared at his mate in awe. He had never seen her wolf before. A beautiful white wolf stood in front of him, eyes glowing eerily in the darkness. Her arousal hit him full force and his wolf growled. The need to fuck his mate was overwhelming. It was so powerful it terrified his human self. But the wolf licked its lips in anticipation.
Sensing the danger, Delia took off, racing through the forest. He followed her, leaping over fallen trees, skidding on loose leaves, jumping over rocks and exposed tree roots. His feet carried him at a fast pace as he chased his mate through the woods. She dodged him several times, leaping out of the way just when he thought he had her. He put on a sudden burst of speed and pounced, tackling her in a clearing. Their bodies rolled and she quickly rose to her feet. She stared at him with her wolf eyes, growled low, turned around and lay on the forest floor. She positioned herself in a submissive pose, moving her tail out of the way. He mounted her and fucked her in a lustful frenzy. Their wolves howled when they climaxed, the sound echoing throughout the forest.
As soon as he was done, he rolled off of Delia, transforming into his human self. He panted, trying to catch his breath. Delia also transformed and walked over to him. He pulled her onto his lap and held her tightly, stroking her back.
“I’m sorry I lost control, Little One. Are you alright?”
Delia kissed him gently, stroked his face.
&n
bsp; “That was amazing!” she confided with a satisfied smile.
“I think I know why we’ve been insatiable today.”
She looked at him with a puzzled expression. So he felt this clawing, aching need too?
“You’re in heat.” Delia gasped. Now she understood why she wanted Nicolai inside of her, seemingly every minute. Since only true mates could breed, she had never been in heat before. Delia couldn’t get enough of her mate. It made sense. Her body wanted him to fuck her multiple times a day so that she would get pregnant.
Nicolai placed his hand on her abdomen, where their baby could grow.
“Delia, you’ve been through enough the last few days. I… I would love to have a pup with you, hell, I’d love to have a dozen with you—”
She arched her eyebrows.
“A dozen?”
He grinned.
“At least two. Maybe three? Honey, I’ll take whatever you decide to give me.”
He caressed her face.
“But we don’t have to rush into anything. I don’t want you to feel…We don’t have to get pregnant right now. Because you are in heat, you will need sex often and I will happily provide it. But I don’t always have to fuck you with my cock. I enjoy using my tongue and fingers on you. Hell, I’ll even buy some condoms so that I can fuck you when you want me to. You don’t have to worry about getting pregnant now, if that’s what you wish.”
Delia thought for a moment. She remembered the way he gazed at the Alpha’s daughter earlier that evening.
“Why not let fate decide? Fate brought us together and if fate wants us to have a couple of pups, then we will.”
Nicolai kissed her, ran his fingers through her hair and lay down on the forest floor with his mate on top of him. She laid her head on his chest and toyed with his nipple.
“Besides, I would rather be surprised by a pregnancy. To ‘plan’ a pregnancy just seems unnatural.”
If they planned a pregnancy and it failed, she feared it would be heartbreaking. She turned to gaze at her mate, blushing.
“Nicolai.…”
He grinned back at her.
“I know, Little One. You need to be fucked again. Ride me?” he asked.
She rose up and reached between them, grasping his already hard cock and slid it inside of her. She rode him fast and hard, orgasming a short while later.
Temporarily sated, she suggested they go for a swim. They returned to their wolf forms and trotted towards the lake. Their wolves swam in the lake, enjoying the freedom only found in nature. Her need built again and once more, he fucked his mate in wolf form. Before her need struck again, they decided to return home. They trotted back to their clothes and transformed into their human forms. They dressed quickly and Nicolai drove them home as fast as he dared.
~ Chapter Eleven ~
Nicolai scented his mate’s need. Her arousal grew and her scent filled their car. His cock had stiffened minutes ago and throbbed in his jeans. A few more minutes, a few more minutes, he chanted over and over in his head. He refused to look at his mate, or he would pull the truck over and fuck her in the middle of the road. He tried not to listen to her tiny gasps and pants as she tried to control her need.
Delia prayed they would be home soon, or she might make Nicolai pull over so she could ride him in the car. Already she was tempted to pull of her jeans and panties, beg him to fuck her. Or maybe she would satisfy herself? She clenched her fists to keep from doing just that. Delia bit her lip to keep from moaning, knew that it would push Nicolai over the edge. Out of the corner of her eye she had seen his erection grow and she was desperate to touch him, stroke him. She would even take him in her mouth again, but it wouldn’t satisfy her aching need. She desperately needed him between her legs.
He pulled up in front of their house and they both exited the car as if it were on fire. Nicolai’s hand trembled slightly as he put the key in the keyhole. Moments later they were in the house and he shut the door behind him, forgetting to lock it. Delia unbuttoned her jeans, slid down her jeans and panties then leaned over the couch arm. Nicolai unzipped his jeans, withdrew his erect cock and slid into her in one deep thrust. Delia groaned loudly, calling his name. He pounded into her and Delia moaned, begging him to go faster. She didn’t want slow and gentle. She needed fast and rough. Nicolai plunged into her and she came close to orgasming. Suddenly Nicolai stilled and slumped over her. His sudden weight on her tiny frame pushed the air out of her lungs. Nicolai slid to the floor, unconscious. At once, a familiar and sickening scent reached her nose. Before she could react she felt a sharp sting on her bottom as a belt connected with her ass.
“Look at you, bent over like a slut, begging him to fuck you! You’re nothing but a WHORE!” her male yelled and she froze in terror.
He swung the belt again and hit her ass. She jumped and yelped in pain, tears forming in her eyes.
“I’ll teach you to fuck another male.”
He had given her to his Alpha numerous times, had watched while the Alpha fucked her, and it had always turned him on. But seeing her with this male infuriated him because she enjoyed it.
“Do you know what I’m going to do to you, bitch? I’m going to tie up your mate and I’m going to make him watch while I fuck you.”
He leaned over Delia and pulled her hair, forcing her head up.
“And you will beg me to fuck you, Delia, or I will kill him. Do you think he’ll want you once he sees you begging for my cock? He’ll give you back to me and I will punish you for fucking him, for begging him to fuck you.”
He made a sound of disgust and pushed her head down, releasing her hair. He stood up and moved to Nicolai, who groaned and was starting to regain consciousness. He was thinking about how he would move the heavy male, securing him so he could force him to watch while he fucked Delia.
Something inside Delia snapped. Now that Nicolai had shown her kindness and love, she would never go back to being with that male. Because of Nicolai, she knew she didn’t have to put up with abuse or pain. She thought about what Lucien had said about Lanie the night he severed her ties with this male. Lanie, a human, had fought three males and won. Delia was timid and meek as a human but her wolf was strong.
She wasn’t going to give up her mate. She loved him and would protect him with every fiber of her being. Not once did it occur to her that she could protect herself.
Delia changed instantly and jumped on the back of the male, biting sharply on his neck. She severed his jugular and he dropped to the floor. She fell with him, refusing to release his neck until his body stilled in death.
Nicolai regained consciousness and felt an ache on the back of his head. He sat up, holding the back of his head, finding a large knot that throbbed in pain. Movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned and observed the scene before him. A white wolf lay across Delia’s male. Her jaw was locked on his neck, blood dripping slowly to the carpet while he lay still. The wolf raised its head.
Blood dripped out of its mouth and onto the male’s back.
“Delia?” Nicolai was confused.
The last thing he remembered was being buried inside of Delia, who had bent over their couch.
How did he get on the floor? Why did his head ache? Why was the male lying dead on the floor?
He shook his head and cleared it. Everything shifted into place. They had been so engrossed in each other, so desperate to have sex that he had forgotten to lock the door. The male must have slipped in and attacked him from behind, knocking him unconscious. Delia had killed the male, defending both of them. His timid Delia. He smiled and reached for her. Delia trotted over to him and he hugged her, ran his fingers through her soft white fur. She shifted into her human form and they held each other.
“My Heroine!” Nicolai said before he kissed her. “Are you alright?”
Delia frowned as her fingers found the knot on the back of his head. He winced slightly.
“I’ll be okay. I just need some ice.”
She stood and turned to get him some ice. He noticed two large welts on her ass and he swore loudly.
“What did he do to you?” Nicolai demanded.
His body tensed and he clenched his fists. Delia turned around and walked back to him, held his face and assured him, “He used his belt on me. Twice. That’s all. I swear he didn’t do anything else, but he was planning on it. I stopped him before he could hurt us.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded and he calmed down considerably. Though he was glad the bastard was dead, a small part of him wished he was still alive so he could kill him. He glared at the dead body as Delia left the room. She returned a few minutes later and placed a bag of ice on his head. She helped him get up and sit on the couch. She went upstairs to get some clothes while Nicolai called Lucien. Within a half an hour, the body had been removed and the living room cleaned up. The area of carpet that had been stained with blood had been cut out and removed.
Cyril assured Nicolai that he would have the carpet replaced soon. He would put in the order tonight and within two days, the living room will look as if nothing had ever happened. Nicolai thanked him and closed the door behind Cyril and his team.
Upon his insistence , Dr. Mallory was in their bedroom, examining Delia. Nicolai walked upstairs and found her lying nude on her stomach. Dr. Mallory was applying something to the ugly red marks on her bottom. Nicolai frowned at the marks. It was comforting to know the male would never hurt her again. But he was angry with himself for allowing the male into their home.
Dr. Mallory left and Nicolai double checked all of the locks on the doors and windows before going to bed. He took a quick shower and slipped into the bed next to Delia. She stroked his face, tracing the frown, noting the way his jaw was set. His whole body seemed tense and she scented his anger.
Protective Mate Page 5
