Mated (Dark Ties Book 2)

by A. Vers

  I ignore them. I've never had much reason to deal with other women. A lot of them are catty bitches who would rather tear a fellow woman down instead of building them back up, and most of the ones glaring at me seem the nasty type.

  Keeping my head up, I make my way through the crowd where I can watch as Tanner guzzles down a bottle of water before wiping his mouth with one dirt-stained hand. His back is partially to me, giving me the long glorious view of his tan back and the dimples just above his ass.

  Caine basically ignores me as I step up, counting the cash in his grip. “Want to make a bet little—” His brows disappear into his hairline as he finally turns to me. He grins. “Why, Ms. Rawlins, how nice to see you. Care to make a wager on our rather handsome contender?”

  I take in the money in his hand and the faint trace of light pouring behind his glasses. I lean closer and whisper, “Demon?”

  His smiles grows. “Very good. Now, can you guess what flavor?”

  “Mammon?”

  He pouts. “Oh that wounds me, truly.” He lowers his glasses and the ruby red light in his eyes seems almost opaque, backlit in fire. Hellfire. “Try again.” His irises pulse, and the heat in my core flares like a bonfire doused with gasoline.

  Low rumbles pour around us and half the shifters turn as one toward us.

  I pant. “Asmodean?”

  He shivers. “Very good, pet.” He leans into my front and a trace of amber flows past the brimstone fragrance of his skin. “You will cause a riot, pet. Think cold thoughts.”

  I laugh, surprised at the Peter Pan reference, but some of the lust fades to something tolerable. He steps back, his smile once again in place. “Good girl.”

  My lips twist.

  I would be offended, but the asshole seems to breathe naughty thoughts into my head just by standing next to me. All of them with him whispering ‘pet’ over and over from behind as he—

  I shake my head hard to clear it and glare at him. He cackles.

  “Please tell me you're going to be around for the full moon?”

  I turn as a slim woman speaks next to me. Her eyes glow like beacons under a headful of red curls. But her gaze isn't on me. No, she is locked on the demon with interest.

  Caine beams. “Why wait?”

  “Aren't you supposed to be taking bets?” I ask.

  The demon turns to me and shoves the money into my hand. “Guard my winnings with your life.” He trails his eyes over me and cocks his head. “Or I can hand them to someone else and you can join us?”

  The redhead laughs, the sound low, heated. “She can come, too, but I get to go first.”

  I glance at her, a blush filling my face.

  She shrugs. “Pack hierarchy.”

  “She's new, Daisy, not an idiot. Or, I hope not. We don't have the time for that shit here. Do we, chicana?” The voice is scathing, bitchy. And female.

  Go figure.

  I pivot again, fist tight around the demon's cash.

  The woman is thick, with long black hair to her bubble ass and a full chest pushing at her blood-red tank top. She sports nails done in the same shade of red, and the button on her shorts is undone. And I’m pretty sure she isn’t wearing underwear.

  As she walks over, the demon makes a sound of longing. I look at him. “Really? Because the red-head and I aren't enough?” I ask.

  He grins, unrepentant. “Demon, remember?”

  I roll my eyes.

  The dark-haired girl glowers at me. “So you do fucking speak English?” she snaps.

  With a sigh, I hold my hand out. “Nisha.”

  The glare never fades. “Were you ignoring me, bitch?”

  I start to let my hand drop, but the red-head, Daisy, grabs it. “Welcome to Silver Rock. What pack are you from?” she asks, big green eyes bright under the sun.

  “She's not.”

  I wince as Tanner's voice cuts through the crowd. Turning slowly, I find him pushing through the others, his chiseled jaw hard enough to bounce a fucking quarter off of.

  “Hey, T,” I try.

  The demon laughs his ass off next to me. Tanner scowls.

  Damn. Him and the dark-haired bimbo in one go.

  This was seriously my best idea ever.

  Tanner grabs my arm and hauls me through the others to a patch of shade near the rear of the basin. I don't have to turn to know the demon followed. Regardless of his cavalier attitude, he hasn't gone farther than ten feet from Tanner. Not bad back-up for a demon.

  “What the fuck are you doing here, Nisha?”

  I wrench away. “You said I needed to figure out if I wanted to go rogue or join a pack. I was kind of in the area.”

  His eyes narrow. The silver is faded now to a turbulent winter sky.

  I glare right back. “Fine. I fucking followed you. So sue me.”

  He growls. “Silver Rock just happens to be the pack land that adjoins your running trail. Or did you forget that part?”

  “And you're doing such a stellar job of looking into things aren't you, that you can’t possibly use the help?”

  The sound pouring from him increases until my nipples peak and gooseflesh marches over my skin. He leans into me. “I am doing this the only way I know how. It's been years since I was on Silver Rock land. A lot of the shifters are new. So how would I make myself liked amongst a bunch of shifters that don't know me?”

  My face heats. “You work through the crowd by becoming one of them,” I grumble.

  He is doing the exact same thing I am. Seeking information with the only assets he currently has. Men are not a talkative bunch by nature, but you treat them with respect and bro out a bit and they are friends for life. That is something working at the station taught me.

  I wince. “Sorry.”

  He exhales in one long, frustrated push. “I get it, Nisha. Really I do. You want answers. So do I. Whoever attacked you has to be stopped, but I'm not liked among the higher-ups here. This is the easiest way for me to get the answers we both need.”

  That feeling in the pit of my stomach worsens. I jumped to conclusions. And stopped trusting the only other shifter I know on a first name basis besides Daisy and the hot alpha, Callus.

  “You’re right,” I say and he stares at me like I grew a second head. I snort and wave it off. “I can admit when I'm wrong,” I tell him. “But now that I’m here, let me help.”

  He starts to shake his head.

  “Look, I have a good eye. The alpha has given me permission to stick around and check out the pack. So either I can do it where you know about it, or I can do it behind your back. Which would you prefer?”

  His growl deepens and the first hint of that silver light threads back into his irises. “Fine,” he snaps. “Stay. But stay away from the inner circle.”

  I blink. “Inner circle?”

  “Did you pay any attention in high school?” His voice is incredulous, harsh.

  The fact that supernaturals now have their own month of recognition like African Americans means that somewhere along the line I dropped the ball when it comes to learning about their cultures and traditions. But as a mixed race child, I kind of had my hands full already.

  When I don't answer, he scrubs a hand over his face. “Okay, tonight you get a lesson on pack hierarchy,” he says. “For now, suffice it to say that you don't want to tangle with anyone of alpha status. That includes Daisy, Rosa, and Ebony—wherever she is.”

  I glance past him to Daisy and the dark-haired woman who are embroiled in a heated conversation yards away. “Chicana over there must be Rosa.”

  He nods. “Rosa has already challenged Daisy for female alpha of the pack. And since the Alpha has not chosen a mate, that battle is going to be one for the ages.”

  “You’ll know Ebony by the bands on her arms. She’s the pack enforcer. You fuck up, she brings her thetas and they fuck you up. Got it?” he adds.

  I nod, heart hammering.

  Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.

  “The best thing
you can do is stay far away from Caine too.” I blink at him. “The fucking infernal demon eavesdropper creeping on my back is no help right now.”

  The demon male blows a kiss at the back of his head.

  Tanner rolls his eyes. “He invites drama like an episode of Jersey Shore. So wide berth, true?” The almost southern twang to his words makes my stomach light up.

  “Yeah. I track.”

  His lips twitch. “Walk around, but stay to the crowds. Don't go anywhere alone, and when you’re ready to go, we all leave.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  He looks at me. “You know what your attacker looks like.”

  “And?” I snap. “So do you.”

  His smile is all teeth. “Yeah, but I've kicked his ass once. You nearly died. Which one do you think he will try to pick off first? Me or you?”

  Chapter 12

  Tanner

  Nisha's eyes widen, and the slam of her heart lets me know she got the point. She is exceptionally cunning. Smart. Made even more so by the fact she tracked us here on her fucking own.

  But she was already welcomed by the committee of arrogance and dickheadedness.

  Callus' scent flows out from her; the large male cat's pheromones taint her smoky fragrance. I'm not surprised. Her human fertility cycle is near, and the spike in hormones is easily detectable to shifters.

  Hell, she may see her first heat not long after her initial change. And she is going to change. The first thread of light already gleams in her irises. But her very aura screams alpha. It’s why Rosa is giving her so much hell.

  Here is a woman in the peak of life, changed during a time when she is not only capable of breeding, but has the body to make even the highest ranking shifter male take notice. She isn’t flashy about it like Rosa. Her body is too lean, too strong. But she screams power, virility. And those are two of the things shifters mate for.

  Territory being the fucking other.

  The cat in me wants to strip her now, to lay her over the soil in the ciorcal and spread her muscular legs. I want to seat myself inside her until are bodies are as close as they can fucking be, until her little human nails scratch in my skin and those white teeth bite into my shoulders as I plow through her silken heat.

  I want to fucking mark her.

  To cover her in my scent. I want my shirt on her body. I want to hide those pert breasts that are visible to my hungry gaze under her tank top.

  So isn’t it just my fucking luck that she seems to respond more to Caine than me?

  And I could kill the demon for it. Really I could.

  “So no demon, no being alone. Anything else?” she asks, jarring me from my focus on her perfect fucking body.

  “Have you eaten?” I ask.

  Her eyes drop, and she shakes her head. It’s a natural movement, not practiced. But instinctual. Like I admonished her without saying a word.

  In the shifter world, the males are always dominant to the women. It’s not a sexiest thing. We just outweigh them. We’re stronger, bigger. The women may be the hunters of a pack, but the males are the protectors. And she is already learning that.

  But I need her not to look at me like I’m the one to save her. The one to fix it all.

  I can’t even take care of myself, let alone a newly bitten shifter.

  “There will be a big meal later, but the food trucks have a lot of options to tide you over. We eat a lot,” I admit. Her lips twitch, but she still won’t look at me. “Nisha.” Her name is a command.

  She snaps her head up, seafoam eyes wide and glowing softly.

  “Your instincts are exceptional,” I breathe without thinking.

  Her cheeks heat. “Thank you. I think.” Her damn bronze skin is made of sunlight, with gold highlights making her gleam every time the shade shifts with the breeze. Like a tiger in the reeds.

  “Your grandfather was a shifter?”

  She nods.

  “Flavor?”

  Something about my question makes her glance behind me with a grin. I flip Caine off behind my back. He cackles.

  “Cat. Not sure what kind, though,” she admits, still smiling.

  I lean closer and inhale.

  Her smooth face scorches as she leans back. “What are you doing?” her voice is high.

  “Smelling you. I thought that was obvious.”

  She stares at me. “Why are you smelling me?”

  “Besides the fact you smell fucking amazing?” Her eyes drop again, and I growl. It’s like her offering me her fucking throat. “Nisha.”

  Her head raises. “How do you do that?” The question is soft now, barely inaudible.

  “Do what?”

  “Make me want to obey?” Her little hands tighten into fists. “I’m not subservient. Not submissive.”

  My lips curve. “You can sense the alpha in me,” I say, voice lowering as I lean deeper into the new heat pouring from her. “All women respond to it. But shifter women …” I let my eyes glow and my hands flex at my side.

  I feed my scent into the air, the one I normally have to hide. The mark of an Alpha.

  Soft sighs pour from behind us in a wave.

  Nisha’s knees buckle and I loop my arm around her waist, hauling her hot little body against mine. She’s scalding with the fever of her change. And softer than she looks. I brush a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “Pheromones. You have pheromones.” Her voice is breathy, sultry. But her words draw my eyes to her full lips like beacons. She licks them and they glitter in the sunlight.

  I nod, the motion slow as my eyes remain locked on her mouth.

  “So … Callus has pheromones too?”

  That snaps me out of it.

  I release her gently, body aching for something her still mostly human frame couldn’t handle. “Yes.”

  “So you’re both alphas.”

  “Callus is Alpha. But I’m an alpha,” I say carefully.

  Her nose scrunches. “What’s the difference?”

  “I lead the pack and Tanner is only visiting.” Callus’ voice trickles down over the slope, angry, annoyed.

  I look up as Caine’s hellfire scent filters into my nose. Despite his nature, I don’t mind him at my back. Not right now.

  The demon you know.

  Callus stands poised at the edge of the Ciorcal. His hazel eyes glint. “You didn’t check in when you got here.” His words are flat, and I can feel Nisha’s gaze go between us. He offers her a smile, and a low rumble pours from a familiar set of vocal cords.

  Rosa.

  It’s no shock that the Queen Bitch of Silver Rock has her sights set on Callus. They used to be set on me. A long, long time ago. And any chance she can get back at me for that, she’s going to do it.

  I step between Callus and Nisha without thinking. “Hey, Callus. How’s doin, man?”

  His brows furrow. “If you can’t abide by pack regulations—”

  I hold my hand up. “Say no more, Alpha. I slipped up.” I glance around at the pack. “It was hard to resist the Ciorcal after so long though. But I would be more than happy to sign your guest log now.”

  A few of the old Silver Rock members chuckle. Daisy among them.

  I wink at her, and she grins right back. She’s worked her way up through the hierarchy over the last few years, and if anyone deserves Silver Rock, it’s her not Callus.

  “Then I expect you and your plus one to do so immediately,” Callus snarls from still high on the slope.

  I turn back to him with a short nod. But it’s the only sign of acquiescence he’s gonna get. He will never get my throat.

  Never.

  His teeth grind, but he pivots back to the pack as a whole. “As you have all noticed, we have a few new faces with us for the full moon.” He tries for amicable, but it only seems to stretch as far as Nisha. My hackles rise. “I want you all to show them what Silver Rock can offer, do you understand?”

  A few low murmurs of agreement echo his words. He claps his hands. “Good. Now that th
e sun has risen on high, let the Sabbat Games begin.”

  The others trickle off in multiples and small groups. But Nisha and Caine remain close.

  “Ms. Rawlins?” Callus offers his hand to Nisha, to help her from the basin.

  She blinks. “Thank you, Callus, but the shade is cooler down here.”

  His jaw grinds and his eyes cut to mine. “Of course. When you cool off, come find me.”

  Nisha nods slowly, her white teeth in that plump bottom lip. “Sure thing.”

  Callus glares at me once more before turning on his heel and stalking off. Daisy walks over as the Ciorcal empties completely.

  “Hey, Tan-Man.”

  I smile and draw her in for a hug. She’s still tiny, petite. But wiry. “Hey, D. How ya doin?”

  She pulls away with a frown. “Good. Nice of you to call before coming to town.”

  My eyes roll. “Yeah. Wasn’t exactly planned.”

  “Know the feeling.” She appraises me. “You plan on sticking around for the run?”

  I shrug. “Thought about it.”

  “Not sure that would be a good idea, Tan-Man. Callus is gunning for you.”

  “Oh ye of little faith,” I tease.

  But she doesn’t smile. “I’m serious, Tanner. Shit has changed. I know you just got to town, so maybe no one has warned you. But Callus isn’t taking alphas into the pack unless they’re women. You’re gonna get ran back out of town. For one reason or another.”

  I stare at her.

  “Didn’t you notice?” she asks. “Charlie, Rae, The Twins … All of them are gone now.”

  Now that she mentions it …

  “Why is he running them off?” I ask, voice hardening.

  “He’s Alpha, T. He wants the pick of the crop every run.” I’m not surprised Callus is fucking every alpha female in the area. But hearing it put so bluntly …

  “And you?”

  Her tan face heats and she looks away. “I do what I got to do, Tanner. You should know that better than anyone else.”

  My jaw tightens, but she’s right. It’s why I left years ago.

  I grip her shoulder and squeeze. “Thanks for the heads up, D.”