by Liv Brywood
Diana clasped his hand. “I didn’t die. I’m right here.”
Ryker smiled at her in a way that melted her heart. “I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you and I know now that I can’t live without you.”
Diana’s pulse raced. “But the other wolves, they won’t let me live with you.”
“I don’t care what they say. If they can’t accept you, I’ll leave the pack. As long as I have you, nothing else matters.”
“You can’t leave your family for me.”
He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “I want to stay pack alpha, but I can’t protect a pack who doesn’t respect my mate.”
“Is that what I am? Your mate?”
“If you’ll have me.” The yearning in his eyes made any last thread of hesitation unravel.
“I love you and I want to be your mate.”
As she leaned forward, her tongue flicked out to wet her bottom lip. His kiss started out soft and tentative at first, but as she moved into his arms, he grew bold. His hands roamed the hills and valleys of her voluptuous body.
As he lowered her against the pillows he murmured, “I love every inch of you.”
She closed her hand around the rigid length of him. “I love every inch of you, too.”
His throaty laughter vibrated against her neck. She laced her fingers in his hair and dragged his face to hers.
He pulled back slightly. “Let’s go slow. I want to kiss you everywhere.”
She sighed as his lips left a trail of fire across her collarbone. He kissed and licked and nipped at the swell of her breasts. As he slid lower, heat coiled in her soft belly. She almost couldn’t believe someone as irresistibly sexy as Ryker wanted her. But then she realized she deserved him. She’d waited her whole life to find someone to treasure her and she’d finally found him.
His wickedly skillful tongue traveled to the deep V between her quivering hips. When he kissed her, she groaned. She was the luckiest woman in the world.
His hands molded to her breasts then slid to hold her hips. She writhed against him, meeting his lips then retreating. The exquisite pleasure seemed to last forever until he did something that sent her spiraling over the edge. She exploded in a shuddering orgasm that stole her breath.
She pushed him onto his back. “Relax, it’s my turn now.”
Even though they’d only been lovers a few times, she knew the exact spot to kiss just behind his right ear to make him moan. She wrapped her hand around him and stroked lightly. She teased him with a fast tempo followed by a slow, leisurely pace.
She smiled down at him and his face lit up with joy. So she had no warning when he flipped her onto her back and climbed over her.
He pressed hungry kisses against her mouth as he entered her hot, moist center. She pressed against him and drew him in. Each gentle thrust brought her closer to another release. She raked her nails down his back and he arched deeper.
He pulled her tightly against his chest. Slick sweat dampened their skin. He glided across her while murmuring unintelligible words in her ear.
She wanted their lovemaking to last forever, but as she gazed into his eyes, she knew he was close. The tingling in her body spread until she became a mass of sensation.
As the first tender spasm racked her body, he cried out. Warmth filled her as he spilled into her over and over. As her own sweet release came to a shuddering end, she kissed him. He responded by drawing her even closer.
A minute passed before he pulled back and rolled over to lie next to her. He turned and propped himself up on one arm. Satisfaction washed over his face.
He brushed a wisp of hair from her face and whispered, “I’ll find a way for the den to accept you.”
***
The next morning, Diana slid out from beneath Ryker’s arm. She tiptoed into the living room and looked around. As soon as she knew for sure she could live with Ryker, she’d sell the house.
She picked up the silver-framed picture of her parents. She wished they’d lived long enough to know that she’d finally found a man worth giving her heart to.
She padded into the kitchen. A tin of French roast coffee sat on the counter next to her beloved espresso machine. She sighed. Her sister was right about one thing, she’d miss her daily cup of morning coffee.
As she scooped the coffee into the filter, she decided there was no reason why she couldn’t enjoy a cup now and then at the den. She’d just have to research how cowboys made it before modern day appliances existed.
With the coffee percolating, she went to the refrigerator and took out eggs and bacon. God she’d miss bacon. Maybe they could catch a wild pig. She giggled. Anything seemed possible now that she knew Ryker loved her.
She cracked the eggs into a skillet, and then added the bacon. Her mouth watered as she realized this might be one of the last times she’d cook breakfast like this.
Ryker padded into the kitchen and wrapped an arm around her. “I missed you.”
She turned and kissed him. “I was just thinking, we need to make a few improvements to the den.”
He laughed. “You haven’t even moved in yet.”
She pointed the spatula at him. “But I can still make plans.”
“I suppose.” He sniffed the air. “That smells amazing.”
“So plan number one, find a pig.”
“A pig?” He raised a brow.
She scraped the eggs and bacon onto two plates then took them to the table. “Yes, because I’ll miss bacon.”
“Anything else you’ll miss?”
She poured two cups of coffee then handed him one. “Coffee, but I got that covered. It might not be as magical as this, but I’ll figure it out.”
Ryker bit into a piece of bacon. “Mmm, good.”
His face lit up like a kid at Christmas. She didn’t doubt they’d have a few sows penned up before winter.
“You make it seem like it’s easy for you to leave,” he said while he watched her over the edge of his cup.
“It’s going to be weird selling all my things. I also have to go to school to let them know I won’t be finishing out the semester. But as long as we’re together, it will be worth it.”
“What about your sister?”
Diana sighed. “She doesn’t understand why I want to move in with a werewolf. We’re two totally different people and sometimes I wonder if we even came from the same parents.”
“She’s just worried about you.”
“Once I get settled, maybe I can invite her to see that you’re not a pack of rabid animals.”
Ryker stopped eating. “I just hope I can convince the pack to let you stay. There are some members who will argue against allowing you in.”
“Like Clyde?”
Ryker nodded. “After Zane killed his son, he blamed you. It’s totally misplaced anger, but I still have to find a way to make him see that I can’t continue to be their alpha if they won’t welcome you to the pack.”
***
Ryker approached the den with trepidation. Even with Diana at his side, he had no idea how he could persuade the wolves to allow her to stay.
As he entered the den, he grabbed Diana’s hand. “It might take a while to convince them. Do you want to go to my room while I talk to them?”
Diana squeezed his hand. “Whatever you’re more comfortable with. You know them better than I do, so if you think they are more likely to listen to you without my presence, then I’ll wait in your room. But if you want me there for support, I’ll stay.”
Ryker stopped and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re such an amazing woman. How did I get this lucky?”
“We deserve each other. As much as I hate what Zane did, if he hadn’t attacked me, I never would have found you. It’s funny how fate works.”
He bent to kiss her. She responded by throwing her hands around his neck and pulling him close. The sweetness of her scent tempted him to bypass the debate he needed to have with the members of his den and take her str
aight to bed. But he needed to ensure she’d be welcomed as his mate.
“What is she doing here?” Clyde asked in a harsh tone.
Ryker quickly drew back. “I’m taking her to my room and then I’m calling a den meeting to discuss her permanent residence.”
Clyde’s mouth turned down. “Humans are not welcome in our den. It’s rule number one and just because you chose to violate it once doesn’t mean you can continue to violate it.”
Diana spoke up. “Sometimes laws need to be changed. Things change in the world, and laws need to be updated to accommodate those changes. It happens all the time in the human world.”
“This isn’t the human world and you don’t belong here.” Clyde glared at her.
Ryker stepped between them. “We’re not going to solve this right now and this is a den matter that doesn’t involve her.”
“This has everything to do with her. If we make an exception, it will be for all humans, not just one.”
“Not necessarily. Gather the pack in the main room. I’ll be there shortly and we can discuss this matter as a group,” Ryker said.
Clyde grumbled, “I don’t take orders from you. This isn’t a dictatorship.”
“Which is precisely why I’m calling a meeting for all members of the den. Please gather the group. This isn’t an order, it’s a request.”
“Fine.” Clyde stomped off in the direction of the den’s main room.
Ryker ran a hand through his hair. Damned stubborn man. How could he convince him to let Diana stay with him?
He turned to Diana. “Do you remember the way to my room?”
“Yes.” She placed her open palm on his chest. “You can do this Ryker.”
His heart warmed. To have someone believe in him again made all the sadness and anger from the past disappear. He’d made some terrible judgment errors in the past, like underestimating Zane and getting three members of his pack killed, but he couldn’t dwell on the past. With Diana at his side, he looked forward to a future filled with love.
He watched Diana disappear around the corner. He sucked in a deep breath, then let it out through his nostrils. Fighting Zane was nothing compared to the fight he was prepared to wage to keep her by his side.
Chapter 20
Diana stared down the tunnel into the hazy light. A slight figure stood outside Ryker’s room. As she drew closer, Diana recognized Gwen.
“Is it true? Is Zane dead?” Gwen asked.
“Yes, he’s dead.”
Relief flooded the young woman’s face. “I haven’t felt safe since he attacked me. Maybe now I’ll be able to sleep at night.”
Diana hugged her. “We’re all safe now that he’s gone.”
“Are you staying in the den?” Gwen asked.
Diana chewed the inside of her lip. “I don’t know. Ryker’s called a meeting in the great room to try to convince the pack to let me stay.”
“I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you.”
“What about the rule?”
“Ryker created that rule years ago in a moment of grief. I think he was trying to protect his heart after Trista died. Maybe he doesn’t have to protect it anymore. I see the way you two look at each other. Are you in love?”
A smile stretched across Diana’s face. “We’re in love. I just wish wolves married. I always wanted a big wedding.”
Gwen laughed. Diana hadn’t ever seen her even crack a smile before, so to see her laughing filled Diana with gratitude. She was glad the man that had caused so many members of the pack so much pain was dead.
Gwen said, “We don’t get married in the traditional sense, but we do a life-mate ceremony. It’s rare for a wolf to declare one life-mate, but it happens from time to time. A few years ago at Phantom Lake, Lonato, from our pack, and Doli, from their pack, were married. The celebration was attended by all the wolves from the three packs in the area. Well, everyone except Stryde. Anyway, we don’t get together very often, but when we do, it’s for one of three things: a life-mate ceremony, a funeral, or a council meeting.”
“There’s so much I still don’t know about your pack.”
Gwen smiled. “If Ryker takes you as his life-mate, you’ll have the rest of your life to learn about us.”
Diana hoped Ryker could convince the pack to let her stay. She couldn’t imagine life without him. She’d waited so long and dated so many jerks. To finally find someone and then to lose him would rip her heart apart.
Gwen gave Diana’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m sure Ryker will be able to convince them. Don’t be so worried.”
“Maybe you could go to the meeting, just in case he needs another voice on his side,” Diana suggested.
Gwen stilled and her gazed dropped to the floor. “I don’t know. I still get really anxious and large groups make things worse. I’d rather be alone most of the time. I don’t know if I could handle the group.”
“I know you’ve been through a lot, but you can’t stay scared forever.”
Gwen raised her head and met Diana’s encouraging smile. “You’re right. But can you come with me?”
“I don’t know. I think Ryker would prefer it if I stayed out of sight while he talks to the pack.”
“We can stay in the tunnel. You can hear everything and not be seen,” Gwen said.
“All right, as long as we’re not seen, I think it will be okay.”
Diana followed Gwen down the tunnel back toward the main part of the den. Gwen was right. Diana could hear everything happening in the great room as clearly as if she were standing in the center of it.
Ryker’s brisk tone echoed down the tunnel. “I made that rule years ago when things were different. There’s no reason why we can’t change it, or at least let Diana stay.”
An older female wolf said, “You can’t just change the rules on a whim, Ryker. What good are rules if they’re easily changed?”
“This isn’t a whim. Diana deserves to stay with the pack. We’ve become close and I want her here.”
A young male yelled, “I want delivery pizza, but I’m not getting what I want either.”
Some of the wolves snickered until Ryker silenced them. “Very funny, Bran.”
Diana recognized the next man’s voice. Clyde said, “Jokes aside, having that human here got my boy killed. It’s better if we stay separate from the humans. We’re two different kinds and we’re not meant to mix.”
As the crowd murmured their assent, Diana snuck closer to the opening to the great room.
Ryker sighed. “I’m sorry for your loss Clyde, but that wasn’t her fault.”
Trent spoke up. “He’s right. Diana was just trying to get home when Zane attacked us. She didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. Heck, she even helped me with that damned toothache I’ve had for months. She seems like a nice person and Ryker vouches for her, so I think she should be allowed to stay.”
“I agree.” Akila stepped out of the crowd and made her way to the dais where Ryker stood.
“Why?” Clyde asked.
“She’s done nothing to hurt the group. She was running for her life when Ryker found her, and in time they got to know each other. The threat to our pack, Zane, is dead. I see no reason why we can’t allow a human into the pack.”
Some of the wolves murmured in agreement.
Akila continued, “And besides, we all know what Ryker went through when Trista was killed—”
“But that’s exactly my point,” Clyde interrupted.
Akila put her hands on her hips. “What point?”
“Humans are weak. She’d only slow us down and cause problems. Ryker would be too busy protecting her and not doing his duty. An alpha protects the pack above all else. She’ll just distract him and put us all in danger.”
Trent said, “I disagree. Ryker will be an even better protector with her at his side. He’ll have more to protect.”
Akila’s strong voice carried across the room. “Is she your life-mate?”
The bickering wolves stopped
yipping. Diana swore she could have heard a pin drop as everyone in the room waited for his answer.
Ryker responded instantly. “Yes. She’s my life-mate and I intend to marry her.”
“Does she know this?” Akila asked.
Diana stepped into the room. “I do now and I love him too. I want to stay in the den and be his life-mate. I know some of you are afraid to have a human in the den, but I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to make sure I don’t put anyone in jeopardy.”
A thick silence coated the room. To break the tension, she used a joking tone to say, “I don’t usually have serial killers chasing me with silver bullets in their guns.”
The younger wolves laughed while the older wolves whispered amongst themselves.
“We should vote,” Clyde said.
Ryker nodded slowly. “I agree. Everyone in favor of allowing humans into the den, raise your hand.”
Diana studied the ratio of raised to unraised hands. About seventy percent of the pack was in favor of allowing her to stay.
“Who opposes it?” Ryker asked.
A few hands slowly inched up.
Akila frowned. “I know everyone didn’t vote. We’re not leaving this room until it’s unanimous. What if we compromise? What if every time someone wants to bring a human into the den, we have to hold a vote? If we aren’t unanimous in our agreement, the human won’t be allowed to stay?”
Gwen shuffled into the room. Until now, she’d been hiding in the tunnel. She raised her head slowly and looked around the room. Her gaze stopped on each wolf.
Finally, she spoke. “Diana saved my life and I think she saved Ryker too. I never told anyone what happened to me when Zane attacked me, and it doesn’t really matter now that he’s dead. But I never thought I’d want to live again, until now. Diana brings me hope. She should bring all of us hope that the darkness we had to fight is behind us. I want her to stay. I need her to stay because even though I haven’t known her very long, I consider her part of our pack.
