by Grosso, Kym
“You know, I’ve been alive for a long time, watching the way most packs have progressed. These days we welcome hybrids, outlaw forced pairings and matings, et cetera. I can’t take away the pain, but I’ll promise you this,” Tristan said, a serious expression washing over his face. “If this Gerald is still alive, he won’t be for long.”
As Kalli listened, she didn’t bother telling him no. She wanted Gerald dead; the wolf in her screamed for his throat.
“When did you first shift?” He changed the line of questioning while still staying on the topic he wanted to learn about the most; her past.
“Not until my sophomore year in college.”
“How’d you manage that?” Most wolves had shifted by their early teen years.
Kalli bit her lip, embarrassed to tell him what she’d done to thwart it. “I starved myself.”
“What?” Tristan asked incredulously.
“I know, it’s awful. I ate barely enough to sustain myself. But if I’d let myself change while in the pack, you know I’d have been raped within a full moon. Whatever… it worked. Of course as soon as I left, I started eating normally again. Still, it took a couple of years for my system to recover. And then one day, I just couldn’t stop her.”
“And?”
“And I found a safe, isolated place for me to shift in upstate New York. I’d shift alone,” she admitted, knowing he’d ask her if she wasn’t forthcoming. “But when I started taking the CLI about two years ago, it was the first time in my life that I could really stop hiding. Well, I guess I was still hiding, but it was in plain sight. People could sniff me all they wanted, and for all intents and purposes, I was human. No wolf to be found.”
“Well now you can stop hiding. I mean it, Kalli; I won’t let anything happen to you. You can stop taking the pills,” he stated flatly.
“I don’t know about that, Tristan.”
“You need to learn to trust me. Do we need another lesson?”
“I think your lessons could be addicting,” she smiled. “Seriously, I know you’re there for me. It’s just that, my wolf, she scares me. Well maybe not her exactly as much as the actual shifting. I’ve only shifted by myself…alone. Believe me when I tell you that it has unequivocally sucked, for lack of a better term.”
“Maybe you just need a good teacher.”
“A strong virile Alpha, perhaps?”
“Yes, someone who’d love nothing more than to see an enchanting she-wolf in the forest. With that raven hair of yours, I can’t wait to see your coloring.”
“I need to think about it,” she hedged.
“Better think fast, chérie. After the summit tomorrow, we’re heading up the mountains for the next week or so. Full moon is coming in a few days. I reckon if you don’t take any more of those pills, you might be able to shift. It may take a little more time for you to be able to shift on demand though. It’s not nice to mess with Mother Nature.” Tristan leaned forward, letting his hands roam up to tease her inner thighs. His fingers magically massaged her. Nearing the apex of her legs, he trailed back toward her feet, purposely teasing her need.
Kalli sank further down into the tub, actively seeking his hands. “Ah…” she sighed in frustration, trying to concentrate on what he’d been saying. “Mother Nature, huh? Is that right?”
“The Alpha is always right,” he joked, leaning back again.
Unable to take a second more of his teasing, Kalli sat straight up. Her hair fell forward as her tiny hardened tips poked through the long wet curls. She leaned over, crawling toward him on her hands and knees, until she was face to face with Tristan, mere inches from his lips. Her knees straddled his as she leaned over to kiss the hollow of his neck. Seeking to break his restraint, she continued her assault, pressing her lips everywhere but on his. As she brushed a kiss over his eyelid, she felt his hands on her waist pulling her toward him. She leaned into his ear. “I need you in me…now,” she whispered.
Unacquainted with being prey, Tristan distinctly got the feeling she was about to make him hers. He struggled to lie still, letting her take the lead. Yet as her slippery flesh rubbed his, he just about snapped. “Kalli,” he groaned. “You’re killin’ me.” Seeking out her brazenly exposed breasts, he captured a taut rosy peak in his mouth. Feasting on her like a starving man, he switched to the other side, alternating his affections.
Kalli reached between his legs, closing her hand around his swollen shaft. Aching with need, she could feel her own sheath contracting in anticipation of him. Fisting his sex up and down, she rubbed the tip of him through her throbbing folds.
“Fuck, yeah.” Tristan pushed his hips upward as she cuffed his sex with her fingers.
Slipping the head of his shaft slowly through her lips, he pressed at her pulsating core. She stilled a moment to catch his gaze before fully impaling herself on his cock.
“Tristan!” Kalli sucked a sharp breath as the walls of her sex expanded to accommodate him. Holding onto the sides of the tub, her head fell backwards in ecstasy.
“Yes, baby!” Tristan hissed. “Ride me. Ride me, hard.” Pumping up into her, he held her waist. Goddess, she was so fucking perfect. Watching her rise up and down, milking him, he thought he’d pass out.
Pressing down to meet his every thrust, Kalli writhed against him while digging her fingertips into his shoulders. She could feel her clit rub against his pelvis, hurling her toward orgasm. As he let go of her waist, she felt his hand reach around to her bottom. She sucked a breath at the sweet sensation of his fingertips descending down the crease of her ass. His unexpected touch only served to fuel her as she increased the pace of the rhythm.
Tristan grunted as his hard muscled flesh penetrated her tight depths. As her hot core clamped down on him, he fought back his release. From the sound of her panting, he knew she was on the edge, readying to come. Brushing his forefinger against her bottom, he circled the tight flesh, envisioning taking her there someday.
“Oh God, please, yes, do it,” she encouraged at the feel of him.
“Oh yeah, let me in, Kalli. Take all of me, amour.” While teasing her rosebud from behind, he leaned toward her breast. Taking a wet, shimmering bud into his mouth, he gently tugged at her tight nipple with his teeth.
Overwhelming sensations seized her body, catapulting her into an orgasm like she’d never known. Water sloshed out and over the side of the tub as she convulsed in pleasure, screaming his name.
“Goddess, yeah!” Tristan roared, as the hottest, longest climax of his life ripped through him. As his seed pumped deep within her womb, he fought the urge to mark her. He knew in that moment that he’d eventually have to give in to the internal struggle to claim her as his own; his mate. It was hard for him to fathom, but his wolf demanded it.
Recovering from her release, Kalli gently lifted off him, and laid back into his arms. Her heart raced as she contemplated the scenarios of how things would play out in the long-term. Like no other man or wolf she’d experienced, Tristan swept her up in a tornado of lust and emotion. She wished that was all she felt for the man holding onto her tightly. The more he told her she was his, the more she was starting to believe him. Scared of her own feelings which grew deeper by the hour, she found all that she could do in that moment was to hold him back. She reasoned that if things continued, she might never let him go.
Chapter Seventeen
Making love in the morning was exceedingly satisfying, Tristan thought to himself. It had been the first time he’d spent the night at his own home with a woman, and he certainly could get used to having Kalli live with him. Watching her make breakfast, this time only in the apron, proved to be yet another perk. Determined to get started on an antidote, Kalli asked to use his laptop, and he’d set her up in his office to do her research. While she worked, Tristan chose to conduct his business outside, having to follow-up with the clients from last night’s gala. Sitting on his balcony, he relaxed; catching some sun felt good. Winter would be coming soon, and the cool breeze would
n’t feel quite as delightful.
The only thing troubling him was the bittersweet need he’d felt to mark her after making love. The gnawing urge threatened to grow into a compulsion, and he wasn’t sure how to contain it. He’d been so content all these years as a lone wolf. The need to mate was simply a myth as far as he was concerned. How one wolf could give up his freedom to commit to an eternal lifetime with another was beyond comprehension. Until last night, he’d only heard stories about the unnatural craving that afflicted both the man and wolf.
He prayed it wasn’t happening; denial was such a pleasant place until his wolf clawed his way back into his psyche, demanding to be fed. Unlike the man, the wolf cared not of a human male’s desire for freedom. He had all the freedom he ever needed within the sanctuary of the pack. The mate completed his being, needing her like a fish needed water to survive. There was no deep thought about whether or not he should claim her; rather, he accepted the mating as easily as he accepted his need to feed.
Tristan contemplated how he really felt. At one time, he’d asked Sydney to move in with him, made love to her whenever possible. But he hadn’t ever considered marking her; claiming her or mating her. The thought never even entered his head, no matter how good the sex was. Yet with Kalli, not only had he thought about it, he’d actively restrained himself from biting her; marking her as his for all others to see. He feared the need was growing stronger, and was unsure of how many more times he could make love to her without doing it. Logically, there was no solution to the enigma except to acknowledge that perhaps he’d found his mate. He reasoned the best he could do was hold on tight for the ride, because he knew for certain that he wasn’t getting off the train.
As his thoughts drifted to business, he couldn’t curb how jacked up he was in anticipation of tonight’s summit. If Jax Chandler was in any way responsible for Paul or Toby’s death, he was primed and ready to kill. Revenge was not something Tristan took lightly. People had families. Death always brought consequences to both the executioner and the prisoner. Unfortunately as Alpha, he’d been forced to mete out justice more times than he’d like to count, but that was the burden and responsibility of his position. The scars on his bloodstained soul spoke of the heavy price an Alpha paid in return for the safety of his pack.
Tristan heard the sliding doors open and caught a glimpse of Logan making himself a cup of coffee. He could have sworn he heard laughing before Logan poked his nose around the glass doors.
“Hey George, how’s it goin’?”
“What?”
“George Hamilton, you know. Tan man. I’d ask you to put some clothes on but that’s like asking a shark to become a vegetarian,” he joked, noticing Tristan was sprawled out on the lounger wearing nothing but his boxers.
“The boys have to breathe. Besides, when you’ve got it and whatnot,” he laughed. “Goddess, isn’t this weather great? I love September.”
“Glad to see you’re in a good mood today considering we’re about to go kick some ass tonight.”
“All part of the job my dear Watson. And I must say that it’s about fucking time.” Tristan adjusted his sunglasses. “Everyone ready to roll?”
“Yeah, Simeon and Declan are coming with us. They’re good to go. Kalli, coming with?”
“Oh yeah. She’s ready as she’s gonna be. It is what it is. You stick close to her, okay?”
“Why I’d love to, Alpha,” he said drawing it out as if he was really going to enjoy it.
“Yeah, don’t get used to it, smart ass.”
“So, are we going to talk about it?” Logan asked with a broad knowing smile.
“Talk about what? I may be Alpha, but I’m no mind reader.” Oh, but he knew exactly what Logan was asking.
“You. Her. Dance floor. Oh and the distinct sounds of screaming that only come with hot sex. Nothin’ like the sound of ‘Fuck me’ reverberating throughout the Four Seasons. Classic, bro.” Logan slapped Tristan on the shoulder, busting at the seams laughing.
“What about it?” Tristan replied with a coy smile.
“You’re done, man. Not that I blame you. Kalli is one sweet wolf. Ah, I love when I’m right,” Logan declared.
“About what?”
“Oh, nothing. Sometimes it’s best to let nature take its course. But you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, Alpha?” Logan chuckled, falling back into the chair.
Tristan scowled. Damn Logan and his visions. Tristan didn’t want to even know what images had been flashing through his beta’s dreams. It was nothing but trouble. Business was a different story, but his love life was off limits. Deciding not to encourage Logan, he ignored his comment. An Alpha knew when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em; therefore he kept his mouth shut.
On the ride over to the summit, Kalli kept quiet as she listened to Tristan and Logan run through different scenarios. Each and every one of them had dressed in all black with sturdy boots, in case there was debris in the meeting place. Due to the high probability of both shifting and violence, the facility chosen was selected for its privacy, not comfort. They’d agreed on an abandoned building in an isolated area of Camden for the summit. Considered neutral territory, the New Jersey Alpha had granted them permission to use the facilities, given the recent death of the Lyceum wolf.
The limo pulled up to the dilapidated building, and they poured out onto the street. Simeon, a muscular wolf, who rivaled any World Wrestling champion, led the pack, alert for any sign of an ambush. Simeon nodded, signaling an all clear to Tristan and Logan. Surrounding Kalli, they proceeded toward the two story, red bricked building. Once a neighborhood firehouse, the windows had all been boarded over; graffiti was scrawled across the whitewashed plywood.
The deafening silence reminded Kalli of the desolation she’d felt during her childhood. But tonight, there was a good chance that the disconcerting reticence would be sliced with the screams of death before dawn. Kalli swore she smelled the sickly odor of wolves from her old pack, yet the five men who stood at the long wooden table were unfamiliar. As they approached the table, the strangers rose.
“Alpha.” Tristan nodded in respect toward the tall attractive wolf who held court in the center of the table. Exuding power, his strong facial features accentuated his Nordic complexion; cropped blonde hair gave way to piercing pale blue eyes. When he took notice of Kalli, she instinctively bowed her head in deference, and held tight to Logan’s arm.
“Alpha, I’m pleased to meet with you tonight,” he replied coolly.
“Shall we sit?” Tristan suggested, preferring to take them off guard by feigning a relaxed positioning. Yet his body was coiled tight; like an asp he was ready to strike. His wolf paced, eagerly awaiting battle.
“Certainly. This is my beta, Gilles.” Kalli could have sworn they were twins, but kept her thoughts to herself. The last thing she planned on doing was talking at this meeting. The only reason she’d agreed to come was to identify wolves, if presented with the opportunity.
“And you know Logan. This, here, is Dr. Williams. She’s here in the capacity of witness. You should also be aware that she’s mine and under my protection.”
“I see,” Jax commented, looking Kalli over. She swore she could feel him undressing her even though she was buttoned up tighter than the queen’s girdle. Opting for a simple nod, she swallowed, continuing to clutch poor Logan’s arm, hoping she wasn’t cutting off his circulation.
“As much as I’m enjoying the elegant accommodations, let’s get to business. A little over a week ago, two wolves set fire to my club, Eden. The same wolves are suspected in the murder of a young wolf that occurred two nights ago. Sketches of the suspects have been provided to you via Logan. I’d be remiss not to mention that circumstances and specifics that led to a lupine death are confidential at this point as there is an ongoing police investigation. While P-CAP has presumably been notified of the murder, I believe we’d agree that as wolves we prefer to abide to our own rules,” Tristan paused as Jax silently acknowledged hi
s words with a small grin.
“In addition, as you may have been notified by Marcel, another young wolf was killed in New Orleans nearly two weeks ago. New York plates were found on the stolen car. I understand that he’s forwarded the sketches of the dead wolves who drove the car, but to date, no Alpha has claimed responsibility. I am formally requesting your assistance in the apprehension of the suspects in both murders. With all due respect, and this is in no way an accusation, I need confirmation from you that your pack is not involved in either of these matters.”
A deeply serious expression fell across Jax’s face, and he addressed Tristan. “Alpha, please accept my sincere condolences on behalf of me and my entire pack. I take no offence to your need for confirmation, and I am pleased to inform you that I have not condoned nor have I ordered an attack on either the Lyceum Wolves or Marcel’s pack. However, after viewing your sketch and careful distribution of the picture, I have brought you a gift. Call it a peace offering after the misunderstanding we had regarding your sister, if you will.”
Tristan stared intently at Jax. He could feel his wolf readying to shift having smelled blood. The energy in the room thrummed with tension; he was aware he’d have his prize.
“Bring it out!” Jax barked, never taking his eyes off of Tristan.
A bright red wooden door with peeling paint flew open, and a stubby, dirty man wrapped in heavy silver chains was thrust into the open space by a burly, unyielding thug holding a gun.
Kalli eyes flashed to the weapon. She guessed silver bullets came with the shiny gun; ones meant to kill wolves. Breathe deeply. Breathe deeply. She swore by how quickly her heart was racing that she’d need a healthy dose of oxygen by the time she got out of there…if she got out alive. But as soon as the man was shoved into the spotlight, she gasped. Sato. South Carolina Wallace Pack. Relief momentarily swept through her until she realized that number one, the other wolf wasn’t in attendance, and two, punishment would be served.
