by Lia Davis
A crooked grin was his reply before he stopped inches from her, looped one arm around her, and pulled her against his body, hard. Then his mouth was on hers, his tongue pushing through the seam of her lips. One of his hands glided up her back and into her hair, where he fisted a handful and pulled just enough to bring her into submission.
God, he tasted too good, like bittersweet chocolate.
He walked her backward until he had her pinned to the trunk of a large tree. Her skin felt as though it were on fire. Every inch of her was too sensitive, her body too aware of the dominating male who held her trapped.
In that moment she was too tired to fight. She wanted him like she’d wanted no one before. He ignited a need deep inside she couldn’t deny.
He broke the kiss and held her gaze for a brief moment. “I can’t hold back any longer.”
And she could fight the pull to him anymore. Breathless, she offered him a crooked smile and said, “Then don’t.”
She nipped at his lip, drawing a sensual smile from him. Her breath hitched at the sight. He was gorgeous when he smiled.
Hayden dipped his head to place a kiss on her jaw then her neck and down. When he reached the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, he bit down. She cried out and fisted a hand in his hair. She felt her panties go damp as her pussy throbbed, needing his touch.
She moved against him. “Hayden.”
He growled softly and claimed her lips again as he unfastened her jeans. Breaking the kiss, he slid the denim down her legs, taking her panties with them.
She raised a foot to free one leg from the jeans. When she went to set it down, he gripped her ankle and draped it over his shoulder. Christa stopped breathing for a moment as she peered down into his green eyes. She held his gaze as he inched closer, taking his sweet-ass time. Anticipation coiled in her belly and made the need to have him touch her, pet her, unbearable.
Patience wasn’t her strong suit, and this slow torture Hayden was putting her through was going to break her.
He kissed her thigh. She shuttered and closed her eyes. If he didn’t hurry the fuck up…
She cried out again when Hayden’s tongue swiped across her clit. He licked her a few more times before covering her pussy with his mouth and sucking.
Her legs felt weak and jelly-like, but she didn’t dare move. The pleasure that ran though her body like a wildfire overrode her senses and built until she was panting and shuddering under his touch.
God, it was as though her body starved for this man.
He slid two fingers inside her, and she fell over the edge. The orgasm shook through her, hard.
Hayden stood, still stroking her pussy while he undid his pants. He covered her mouth with his and slid his tongue into her mouth. She twisted her tongue around his in an erotic dance. Her body heated, raising the desire even higher than the first time Hayden kissed her.
When he removed his hand, she almost whimpered from the absence of his touch. Her disappointment was short-lived.
He lifted her legs while pressing her back into the trunk and thrust inside her. She gasped at the sudden invasion. Pain quickly turned into pleasure as he thrust in and out hard and fast.
She wasn’t a virgin, but he was thick, and it’d been a long time. He stretched her impossibly wide. Digging her nails into his back, she rode the wave of another orgasm until they both screamed in release.
Chapter Twelve
Cameron was about to be ambushed. She saw it in their eyes.
Her mates stalked through the front door of her father-in-law’s home and headed straight for her. She set down the glass of milk and turned toward the back patio, knowing they’d follow. The hard stares said they were determined. She’d expected it, but at least thought she’d have more time to come to terms with it than this.
Stepping out onto the screened-in porch, she peered around the area and was relieved that no one was there. She drew in the cooling early autumn air and braced herself.
She knew she couldn’t avoid them for long, but she was scared. Blaine and Graham were too in-tune with her. They’d know something was wrong.
“Cameron,” Blaine growled from the door at her back.
She closed her eyes and remained planted where she stood, allowing them to come to her. Graham was the first to approach her. He stopped inches from her and ran a hand through her hair, starting at the scalp and moving to the ends, where he moved it to the side to press a kiss on her neck. She heard him inhale deeply, and her heart raced.
Fuck. Why was she so scared of this?
She should be happy, overjoyed in fact. Yet, that creature of doubt hung around her heart and squeezed. What if she couldn’t carry the cub to term? What if she could never…
“Cam,” Graham cooed. He could sense her sadness through the mating bond, as could Blaine, who picked her up and cradled her to his chest.
She felt Blaine lower them down into the sofa. Graham sat beside them and took her hand in his.
Blaine kissed her forehead. “We know your secret, Cam. We’ve known for weeks.”
She gave a half-hearted smile. It was just like Blaine to make her say it out loud, even though he already knew. It was why he’d tried to hunt her down all day. She suspected Hayden had called him.
Damn male. She knew Hayden had scented the change in her at Hunter Ridge. As Blaine’s best friend, Hayden wouldn’t withhold something this important from him.
She took a deep, shaky breath before whispering, “I’m pregnant.”
The burst of joy filled the mating bond from both of her mates. Blaine squeezed her gently while Graham hugged both of them. Blaine shifted her to the couch so she was sandwiched between them.
Graham took her chin and turned it toward him. “Have you seen Dani?”
Fear sparked to life again in her heart. She shook her head. “I just started having the symptoms.”
Blaine growl softly. “Did you tell anyone?”
Again, she shook her head. A tear fell down her cheek. “I didn’t want to tell anyone in case I…”
Blaine fell silent while Graham hugged her close and pressed his lips to her temple. “You are strong. Our bond is strong. Everything will be fine.”
She so wanted to believe him, but she’d lost one child. How was she to be sure she wouldn’t lose this one?
A moment later Dani charged through the backdoor to the screen-in porch. Behind her were Nevan, Keegan, Addyson, and Luna. Oh great, now everyone knew.
Blaine growled. “Dad, I said to send Dani.”
Keegan shrugged. “We were just curious about what the Healer knew that you weren’t telling.”
Dani dropped to her knees in front of Cameron, a wide-ass smile on her face. “How are you feeling?”
“Sick.”
Dani nodded. “Good sign.” She placed a hand on Cameron’s belly and let out a soft squeal. Cameron heard Luna and Addyson imitate the sound, but she didn’t dare look at the females.
“You’re pregnant.” Dani met her gaze.
Cameron rolled her eyes. “I know.”
Dani giggled. “I’m guessing you’re about nine weeks, maybe further. I’ll have to do an ultrasound and some blood work to be certain. I do know one thing.”
The joy that lit up the Healer’s pale green eyes gave Cameron hope. “What?”
“You will carry to term. I can feel your jaguar protecting the fetus. She’s keeping this one.”
Cameron burst into tears. Not from fear or sadness, but from relief and joy as all the stress she’d been putting herself through for the last couple of weeks hit her all at once.
She was going to be a mom.
****
Ana stood in the doorway that lead out to the back porch, a smile in her heart. She also held an emptiness that had been there for as long as she remembered. She’d thought that being with her family and living in a healthy Pack would fill the void.
But it didn’t.
No matter how much the others welcomed her, sh
owered her with love, and trusted her, she still felt something was off. She had a purpose, but had no idea what the hell it was.
She smelled the slight scent of citrus right before Kieran came to stand next to her. There was the other complication in her life. Peering at him, she smiled as he raised his hand and caressed her cheek.
While they’d lived in Onyx, Kieran had been all protective with her. Here in Ashwood, he’d seemed to backed off, distancing himself from her. She didn’t know how to take that.
She wasn’t a submissive and didn’t need to depend on anyone, especially a male, but she missed the overbearing, protective side of Kieran. However, he didn’t seem to miss her at all.
“Ana, what is it?”
She studied him for several moments. His gold eyes watched her with a distant interest. His caramel-brown hair was a little longer than normal, and it made her wonder if he’d wore his hair longer before he moved into the Onyx den as a spy.
There was so much she didn’t know about her fated mate.
Taking a breath, she offered a sweet smile and cupped his cheek. “Just trying to adjust.” She peered back at her new family happily chattering about mates, the growing family, and babies. “I don’t fit in here.”
Kieran moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. She sighed and leaned into the chest, relishing his warmth and scent. “You will. I promise. Give it time, Ana. It’s only been a couple of weeks.”
He kissed her temple. He was right. “Yet, I feel I’m in the way. I have no purpose here.”
“Then find one. Use your gifts to help the Pack.”
That was it. She was free to express herself, use the magickal gifts she’d been born with. “I don’t know where to start.”
He chuckled and squeezed her gently, washing away the insecurities she had about them. “I think you do and don’t realize it.”
She turned in his arms to face him and nipped at his nose. “How did you get so smart?”
One corner of his full, kissable lips lifted. “I learned from the best.”
Chapter Thirteen
Christa’s stomach was in knots when Hayden pulled to a stop in front of a large one-story house inside Ashwood Falls. She really didn’t know what to expect. Although Hayden had told her the binding was a blood bond with both Alphas and it involved a slice to her hand, she had a feeling it was a little more detailed than that.
She unhooked her seatbelt and got out of the car. Brenna linked her fingers with Christa’s and leaned into her. “It’ll be fine, Chris.” Her niece took a deep breath as if drawing in the scents around her. She probably was. “There is goodness here. A love and peace I’ve never felt before.”
Hayden stepped up behind Christa then and placed a hand on her lower back. “It’s the bond and magick of a healthy and strong Pack.”
That helped to relax Christa only a little.
Hayden leaned and kissed her cheek. “Come on. We don’t want them coming out to get us.”
She smiled at his teasing tone then frowned. Last night had been wonderful, yet she expected him to be…to be what? An ass? Walk away and forget that they were mates? That was what she wanted.
Wasn’t it?
When she’d woken up in his arms that morning, a new realization had slammed into her, hard. She didn’t want to walk away from him. She’d never connected to anyone the way she did with him. Nor had she ever had so many orgasms in one night before.
And she wanted more, damn it.
Hayden gave her a gentle push, drawing her out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the house. The scent of bacon and coffee hit her, making her stomach grumble. She flattened her hand on the thing as though she could make it be quiet.
Hayden chuckled and nudged her farther inside.
She noticed Blaine and Luna right away. Next to them was the black-haired female, Cameron, Christa had meet yesterday and a male with long brown hair that, by the way he and Blaine looked alike, she guessed was Keegan, a Pack Elder and Blaine’s father. Beside Keegan was a beautiful blond holding a little boy with white-blond hair.
The farther she, Hayden, and the twins moved into the living room, the more uncomfortable she became. Everyone stared at her except for the woman next to Keegan. She seemed uninterested in what was going on. Well, maybe not uninterested, but she seemed preoccupied with the little boy in her lap.
Before Christa could sit on the sofa next to Hayden, Luna came over and took her hand and tugged her into the dining room. “I’m starved.”
Hayden and the others followed them to the large table with a breakfast buffet set up. Hayden bumped his shoulder into hers and handed her a plate. “Mom gets up with the roosters, if we had any. She usually has breakfast and is in the gym before it is fully light outside.”
Luna tsked on Christa’s other side. “Old habits of taking care of three boys.”
Christa smiled and loaded her plate with bacon, eggs, a couple of small pancakes, and some fruit then followed Luna into the living room. She sat eating her breakfast and listening to Blaine and Hayden tease each other about when they’d first met.
Blaine laughed. “Yeah, I hated that wolf.” He pointed to Hayden.
Hayden smirked. “The feeling was mutual.”
Luna cleared her throat. “That was until Keegan and I made you shadow each other.”
Hayden meet Christa’s gaze. “They told us if we didn’t get along, they’d lock us up in one of the holding cells.”
Christa drew her brews together. “Holding cells?”
Keegan was the one to answer. “We have a jail of sorts a few yards to the north of the den. It has four holding cells. They’re actually windowless, stone-walled rooms.”
That was good to know. They sounded awful, especially for a shifter. She so hoped she wouldn’t be seeing one of those rooms.
After everyone finished breakfast, Luna stood and directed Christa to the front of the room to stand between her and Blaine. Luna turned to the others. “I wanted to make this informal. Christa comes to us as an ally and a mate for my eldest son if she so chooses him.”
Christa’s pulse jumped several beats. Geesh, did they all know? She took a deep breath but remained silent. She was here for the twins and because she wanted the rogues stopped. After everything she’d discovered over the last couple of days, she owed Vance a little visit, wherever the hell he was.
Luna turned back to her with a half-smile. “Why are you here?”
Christa flicked her gaze to Hayden briefly. “Because your son abducted me.”
Luna laughed. “Yes, we are aware of his lack of common sense. Tell us your intentions for coming to the den.”
Hayden made a low, yet playful, growl at his mother that had Christa fighting a smile. She met Luna’s eyes and said, “Brenna and Bryce need a safe and healthy den. They need to be with their kind. Plus, I want to help track down Vance and the rest of the rogue Pack.”
“Why?”
Christa bit back her irritation. She knew what the Alpha female was doing. Hell, Christa had done it many times to the soldiers under her. Her loyalty was being tested. “Shield has been compromised. I believe they…no, I know Vance has taken control over the group and plans to attack Ashwood.”
Surprise darkened Luna’s features. “You know this for sure?”
Christa nodded, not breaking eye contact with Luna. “The day Hayden, Tanner, and Kirk came to headquarters, Vance went over the prelims and talked about how Ashwood was the evil of the shifter world and a threat to humans.”
She felt feel Hayden’s gaze upon her. This was something she hadn’t shared with him, not fully. He was going to want more later. She peered at Hayden and frowned at the lack of emotion across his features.
A very old dagger appeared in Christa’s line of sight, breaking visual contact with Hayden. She shifted her gaze to Luna then the dagger. The handle appeared to be hand carved. It reminded her of old ritual knifes she’d seen only in history books or museums.
<
br /> She grabbed the handle and took the full weight of it. Luna spoke softly, but firmly like the Alpha she was. “Slice your palm and pass the knife to Blaine.”
Christa did as she was told. When Blaine sliced his palm, he took her hand, linking their fingers together so their palms pressed together. Her hand started to warm then tingled. Blaine’s fingers tightened on hers when she would have pulled away.
“I welcome you to Ashwood Falls as a packmate. Through this bond, you accept the rules of secrecy and honor the Pack,” Blaine said.
Christa felt the connection in her grow. A sense of home, love, and belonging filled her. Family. That’s what a Pack was. “I promise.”
Blaine let go of her hand and motioned for her to turn toward Luna. When she did, the wolf Alpha had already cut her palm, and she pressed it to Christa’s. They repeated the same vows she had made with Blaine.
When the ritual was done, Christa felt lightheaded. Hayden was there, hand on her elbow, to steady her. She peered at the twins. They were smiling and playing with the little boy in the blond woman’s lap.
“That’s Blaine’s son, Max, and the female is Addyson. She’s the Pack Scribe and Keegan’s mate,” Hayden whispered.
“I take it the man who looks like Blaine is Keegan?”
Hayden slid his hand down her arms to link his fingers with hers. “Come on. Let’s get you settled in.”
It was a five-minute walk to Hayden’s house, which was a lot bigger than she’d expected. She didn’t really know what she expected Hayden’s home to look like, but it wasn’t the mini-Victorian in front of her.
“Please tell me you don’t have a mate and ten kids in there.”
He laughed then teased, “Okay, I won’t tell you.”
She planted her feet and crossed her arms, all the while trying not to smile. The change in Hayden over the last twenty-four hours had softened her toward him. He wasn’t the same male who had charged into Shield, killed everyone she worked with, and kidnapped her.
Okay, so he was the same male, but he was so much more.
