The woman wanted to rule like a tyrant, and he wouldn’t let her.
Forcing him to mate because of age-old customs was only a small part of her arsenal. He was afraid to see what else she could come up with. The woman was up to something—he knew it. Or, if it wasn’t her, something else was coming. The ache in his bones told him so. He wasn’t an Alpha for nothing.
Brynn let out a yip behind him, and he growled. He turned, only to find a group of dominant juveniles come to Brie’s side. Before he could growl, one of the wolves pounced on Brie, teeth bared and claws out.
Brie let out a growl as the other wolf clawed her. She moved, but not fast enough to escape another wolf latching on to her side.
The others weren’t helping her. No. Instead, they were standing back with pain in their eyes, as if they wanted to help but couldn’t.
What the ever-loving fuck.
Gideon growled then clawed at the wolves who’d dared touch his mate. He reached for another wolf but found him whimpering as Brie bit down on his neck. Surprised, he looked down at her, but she turned away, leaving the other wolf on the ground.
Hell.
He’d failed her.
He’d promised her she wouldn’t get hurt, yet that’s exactly what had happened. The scent of her blood on the ground beneath him enraged him, and he threw back his head and howled. There was no way he could complete the hunt now. Instead, he growled at every wolf nearby then went to Brie’s side, nudging her so they were near a tree he knew would hold clothes that some of them left for emergencies.
With his gaze on hers, he started to shift back, needing to feel her and check her wounds.
She sighed as only a wolf could then shifted as well.
As soon as he stood, he looked down at Ryder who had come up to them. “Go back and finish the hunt. I’ll deal with all of you later. What the fuck were you thinking? She’s hurt, and we all let it happen.”
“Gideon.”
He twisted around so fast he almost lost his footing. “Brie.” He moved toward her, kneeling down so he could check her wounds.
She panted, her eyes bright with pain. “I’m fine. They were only doing what I asked them to do. Remember? I need to fight on my own.” She sighed as he put his hands over the bite marks on her side. “You shouldn’t have stood in the way. I could have handled the two of them. Now I’m going to have to start over to prove I’m worthy.”
He growled out a curse then reached for a shirt in the pile at the base of the tree. “Put this on. I’m taking us home. We’ll deal with what you were thinking there.”
“Gideon.”
“Not. Another. Word.”
She raised a brow but didn’t speak. Instead, she pulled a shirt over her head. He tugged on a pair of sweats and figured that would be enough to get them home. The others could deal with his and Brie’s clothes at the clearing. He needed to see Brie home and check her wounds. His wolf growled, pushing at him and craving vengeance.
It shouldn’t have surprised him that wolves would want a fight for dominance. None of the marks covering Brie’s body were too deep, and they were all within the realm of reason. She should have to fight to prove herself. If she’d been any other wolf, he’d have applauded her. However, she wasn’t.
She was his.
Only he didn’t know what to do about that.
Without speaking, he picked her up and cradled her to his chest. They made their way to the house without uttering a word, his anger rising with each step. With one hand, he opened the door then slammed it behind him once they were inside. Instead of setting her down, he put her on the dining room table, his body shaking.
“Shirt off. Now.”
“How about you use complete sentences? Hmm?”
“Fuck, Brie. Just take off your goddamn shirt so I can clean up your wounds. Then you can be all pissy about me doing my job and taking down that wolf who dared to touch you.”
She raised an eyebrow then wiggled a bit so she could take off her shirt. That left her naked on his table, her nipples erect and begging for his mouth.
This was so not the time.
However, it seemed his dick didn’t get the memo.
Her gaze traveled down his body to his cock tenting his sweats, and she licked her lips.
Dear. God.
“I’m not pissy, asshole.”
He blinked. “Did you just call me an asshole?”
“Uh yeah. Because you’re being one. I get it. You’re an Alpha. You have dominant needs that require you to puff out your chest and growl and yell. I’m fine with that. I’m your submissive wolf, so I will make sure you’re taking care of yourself. What you fail to realize is that because you’re spending so much time worrying about others you’re letting your own needs and wants go to the wayside. That’s what I’m here for. Eventually the Pack will see that.”
“It’s not about sex,” he said lamely.
She blushed but rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that sounded really dirty, but I was actually talking about things other than sex. If your wolf needs someone to care for, then I’m here. But standing in the way when I’m trying to fight for myself in a Pack battle won’t help.” She met his gaze and sighed. “You need to let me take care of myself. I know I can’t win every fight, but I’m stronger than you think I am.
Gideon closed his eyes then leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. “You don’t know my Pack, Brie.”
“Then let me know them. Give me time.” She put her hand on his arm, and he relaxed somewhat. “And they are our Pack now.”
Gideon pulled away and opened his eyes. “You’re right. But that doesn’t make it okay that they would hurt you.” He swallowed hard then went to get his medical supplies. Brie would heal fast, and if any of the wounds had been worse, he’d have called Walker to Heal her. He still wanted to clean the cuts and scratches just in case. He had to do something, and yelling at her wouldn’t help anything.
When he came back, she had her legs up on the table, her arms wrapped around her knees. She eyed the box in his hands and sighed.
“I’m fine, Gideon. But if it will help you calm down by cleaning up my side, then by all means, go for it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Thank you for your permission.”
He went to work, cleaning each cut and bite with precise care. She didn’t wince, nor did she gasp when the sting probably should have made her do so. She was being strong for him, and that made him feel worse.
He had to do better than he was at this mating thing, but he had no idea what he was doing. There wasn’t a manual for this thing.
“What the other wolves did wasn’t wrong.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he snapped then set everything down. He was done anyway. He moved so he stood between her legs, his hands on the table beside her hips.
She sucked in a breath, and he could scent her arousal. Damn. Not touching her was not going to be easy.
“Let me calm down, Brie. Then we can discuss what happened and how to fix it.”
She reached out and cupped his face. Instinctively, he turned his head and kissed her palm. When her lips parted at the action, he couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and took her mouth in a hungry kiss, forcing his palms to stay on the table and not move to his mate.
He pulled away, hungry. “Tell me no, Brie. Tell me no and I’ll walk away right now. You need to heal. You need time to…well, you just need time.” Time to be herself, time to be a Talon, time to not be in his clutches because he couldn’t seem to hold himself back.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer. “I’m not saying no.”
He swallowed hard then gripped her hips in his hands. “Good.”
He slammed his mouth on hers, craving her more than he’d ever craved another. This wasn’t only his wolf wanting a mate. No, this was him wanting the woman beneath him. He wanted to be inside her, claim her as his own over and over until they were both spent.
“I’m not goi
ng to go easy this time,” he ground out, his chest heaving.
“Good. Take me as I am, and I’ll do the same.”
He searched her face, trying to understand her motives. He honestly didn’t understand Brie. She was so strong in some respects yet seemed so scared in others. She was a puzzle his wolf demanded he figured out, but Gideon wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to. She surprised him at every turn. She’d mated him for his Pack, not for herself. He understood that much. Didn’t he? Why else would she throw herself into a situation that seemed impossible?
“Kiss me,” she whispered, and he was lost.
He pressed his lips to hers once more, tasting her on his tongue, needing her more than he’d ever needed anyone before.
His hands roamed her sides, careful of the wounds that were already healing. They’d been superficial, although, in the heat of the fight, he’d feared they’d been so much worse.
She grasped his hand and placed it on her breast. His eyes widened, and then he grinned. It seemed his mate wanted him to keep his mind on the task at hand. That he could do. He plucked at her nipples, loving the way she gasped at each movement, her eyes glowing gold. He rolled her nipples between his fingers, pinching slightly to watch her eyes grow molten. She squirmed under him, the sweet scent of her arousal mixing with the heady scent of his own.
Her legs fell to the sides, spreading her wide. She seemed to be doing it subconsciously, but he didn’t care if she’d meant to do it or not. He wanted her. Wanted her taste on his tongue.
He grinned then pulled away so he could kneel beside the table, which was the perfect height for what he wanted to do. Brie let out a squeal when he tugged her closer to the edge.
“Gideon.”
“Yes, say my name. Remember it when you’re coming on my tongue.”
Her eyes widened then rolled back when he sucked on her clit. Goddess, she tasted magnificent. He licked and nibbled her pussy, wanting her to come on his face. He placed his hands on her hips, forcing her butt to stay on the table when she wanted to squirm. Each time he circled her clit, she let out a little mewling sound that was so fucking hot he was about to come in his sweats right then and there.
When he fucked her with his tongue, piercing her channel, her moans grew breathier, and he knew she was close. He let go of one hip so he could play with her clit with his free hand. As soon as he touched the swollen ball of nerves, she stiffened then arched her back, pushing her breasts up.
“Gideon!” she screamed as she came on his tongue. Fuck, she tasted exquisite. Like a heaven he knew he’d never get enough of.
He stood quickly, pulling his sweats down over his ass so he could free his cock. He was so hard he was afraid he’d blow in one go.
Her eyes widened, and she sat up, reaching for him. “I want to taste you to.”
He shook his head, staying her hand. “Not now. I promise I want your sweet mouth around my cock.” He groaned at the mental image. “But right now, if I don’t get in you, I’m going to come all over your breasts and belly before I even fill you up.”
She grinned then spread her legs wide. “Then get to it, Alpha mine.”
He leaned down to kiss her, moaning into her mouth, as she wrapped her legs around his waist once again pulling him closer. This time he had one hand on the base of his cock so he could position himself at her entrance.
“Ready?” he asked, his voice a growl.
“Always,” she panted.
It seemed his little mate wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Good to know.
He kept his eyes on hers as he pushed inside, loving the way she gasped, and his hips flexed. Her inner walls clenched around him, and his cock ached.
“Damn it, you feel so fucking good, Brie.”
She grinned then moaned. “You feel fucking good, too, Gideon.”
He leaned down and kissed her hard. “I like it when you say fuck. Makes me think of fucking you.”
She rolled her eyes then shifted her hips, causing both of them to moan. “Stop merely thinking about fucking me and fuck me.”
He growled, gripping her hips with bruising force, pulling out before slamming back in. Brie let out a gasp then threw her head back, her breasts bouncing with each thrust.
He pounded into her, aware their mating bond sparked with each movement, as if they were finding one another all over again. She raised her head, her gaze meeting his. He shifted so he had one hand on her hip to keep them steady and the other on the back of her neck. When he leaned forward, he pressed their foreheads together, their gazes never breaking.
“Come for me, Brie. Come around my cock.”
She lifted her hips then parted her lips, shattering beneath him, around him.
He couldn’t hold back any more, thrusting one last time until he burst, coming hard, deep inside her. His balls tightened even more, his dick pulsing as he filled her up with his cum. Just then, the image of his seed taking root and making her pregnant with his child flashed in his mind, and he sucked in a breath, shocked at how much that image appealed to him. He was, apparently, Alpha in every sense of the word.
He kissed her hard once more, pushing those thoughts from his mind. They had a hell of a lot more to worry about than getting her pregnant. He wanted to know her, and she damn well had a right to know him before carrying his child.
Nothing had been settled with the Pack nor with the woman beneath him, yet he couldn’t care just then.
His chest warmed, and he knew he was feeling something he hadn’t felt in a long while…if ever.
Contentment.
And that scared him more than he’d ever thought possible.
Chapter Nine
Leo Brentwood pumped his hips, finally near release with the woman on all fours in front of him. He let out a grunt then pulled out, spilling on her ass and lower back. He wasn’t mated with the woman, so he didn’t need to deal with children, but he liked showing his dominance by coming on her, rather than in her.
It was a mess she’d have to clean up herself.
Shannon, the Talon Pack elder, cursed when she looked over her shoulder. “Really? You can’t just finish in me? I hate when my back gets sticky.”
Leo shrugged then went to get a bottle of water while Shannon cleaned herself up. “Whatever. So¸ how was the Pack hunt with my dear nephew?”
Shannon rolled her eyes then pulled on her dress. “Boring, honestly. The wolves got close enough to her so she spilled some blood, but she’s still breathing.”
“We didn’t want her dead now anyway. It’s too early.” Leo sat down naked on his piece-of-shit couch and sighed. One day he’d have the riches that were owed to him instead of hiding out in this rat hole. Either that or his final plan would come to fruition, and it wouldn’t matter anyway.
“I know, I know. But I don’t like her.” Shannon pouted then sat down next to him, rubbing his chest as if he liked when she did it. He didn’t push her away though. She had her purpose.
“She’s not Iona.”
“No, she’s not. Though Iona isn’t in on the plan, so I don’t know how much use she would have been. She’s more easily controlled than Brie because of her thirst for ranking, but she still fights me over little things.” She licked her lips then sighed. “One day you’ll be Alpha like you should have been, and then we can rule the Pack in the way of the wolves, rather than the castrated humans Gideon is making us.”
“I like the way you talk, Shannon.” Though they both knew there was another layer to their plans if things went to shit. “When Gideon killed my brother Joseph, I thought I’d be next.”
Shannon tut-tutted. “You were almost next. You’re only alive because I got you out in time. The rest of your brothers are dead because they were moronic. They weren’t smart enough to kill the little bastard when he was too young to defend himself.”
Leo wrapped her hair around his fist and forced her gaze to his. The position forced her neck to be at an awkward angle, but he didn’t care.
“Don’t call my brothers moronic, little elder.”
She rolled her eyes then reached down and squeezed his already filling cock. “Sorry, darling. Anyway, where were we?”
“We will wait until Brie is at her lowest. Gideon was foolish to bring in a submissive to be his mate. She doesn’t suit. The other wolves will do most of the work for us. They will never accept her. And just when Gideon is regretting his choice, we will make sure he fears her loyalties.”
“Then we’ll kill her.”
He shrugged again, releasing Shannon. “Of course. She’s worthless really, but her death by Talon hands will force the Redwoods to fight.”
“And we can make it so they die as well, or at least get caught in the crossfire.”
“That way we rise to the top. Once my sons and nephews, and Brynn too of course, are dead, I will have my rightful spot on the throne. They have no children between them, so I will be the new Alpha.” And the rest of his plan can begin.
“And soon they will know they’ve been wrong all along.”
He nodded, grinning. “Of course. We can’t let them think they’re too safe, can we?”
“I do like the way you think,” she purred, running her hand up and down his length now. She licked her lips, her eyes glowing gold.
He grinned then moved her head down. She would know what to do. As soon as she opened her mouth, he kept her head in place and fucked her mouth, pumping his hips at a steady rhythm. She gagged then moaned. They suited each other in their views and proclivities.
For now.
“We will bring the Talons into the new dawn,” he panted, holding her hair in a punishing grip.
Her nails raked his thighs, and he groaned, letting her go. She pulled up then straddled his waist. He lifted her skirt above her hips then thrust up, filling her in one stroke.
She rocked her hips, her hands on his shoulders. “We’ll hurt him where it matters most,” she panted.
“The lowest members of the Pack, his trust, his family, and now this new submissive bitch.” He slammed into her with each word, knowing they were both close.
Tattered Loyalties Page 11
