by Morgan Fox
Chapter Fifteen
Finishing her shower, Tabitha muttered, “What the hell am I going to do now?”
The wet ringlets of her wavy hair dripped with excess water. As she stepped into her room, she noticed that Brie had laid out on the bed a clean pair of jeans and blouse for her to wear. She even thought to provide her with new underclothes, socks, and tennis shoes. Brie’s words rang in her head like a chiming bell. Tabitha didn’t want to hear them, but the repeated pounding left behind in her mind was hard to ignore. The words were a constant echo reminding her that she’d chosen to be alone and not trust anyone. Vulnerability was an awful feeling and she didn’t want to feel that way anymore. Ryken and Luken seemed to take that feeling away. They unknowingly opened up their hearts to her and for a brief moment, Ryken’s profession of love had made her want to run and hide, but he quickly reeled her in with just the sound of his voice—a deep, calming voice that thrilled her straight to her toes and penetrated into the depths of her soul. Even though Luken had not confessed his feelings openly to her, she felt them, too.
The way they held her, possessed her, and loved her body, she’d known how deep their affections for her had grown—a puissant connection that thrived with the strength of an electrical charge. That was how profound their feelings were for her. That alone was enough to piece together her once shattered spirit. Dressing, Tabitha knew that she should embrace the chance to enjoy life with Ryken and Luken. What woman, if given the opportunity, could resist? She would be a fool not to at least try. A fool and a coward, something she never wanted to be.
Tabitha finished dressing and a slight breeze blew into the room. She knew the scent on the air the moment she inhaled. Masculinity with a hint of woods and spice—a masculine fragrance she would forever be changed by.
Ryken…
Closing her eyes, she sucked in a sharp intake of air and slowly released it, searching for a calming and peaceful place. She couldn’t seem to find it completely. The nervous pounding in her blood made that search nearly impossible.
“I’m scared,” she murmured. “I’m afraid of what I’m becoming, of what I’m feeling.” She swallowed hard, raising her wild gaze to capture Ryken approaching. “What if this somehow changes me? Makes me a freak? A monster?”
His hands gently cupped her jaw, and he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You really do watch too much television, babe.” He smiled at her, but it didn’t ease the tension filling her chest.
“Ryken,” she gasped. “I don’t want to be a monster.” Her fingers clutched around the fabric of his black T-shirt.
Stroking the hair back away from her face, he held her to him. “Is that what you think is happening to you, baby? You think that being the wolf will make you a monster?”
Stunned that he didn’t understand, she answered honestly, “Well, yes.”
He chuckled. “Baby, being the wolf is wonderful and liberating. You’re not the mindless monster that television would have you believe. You’ll remember everything. You’ll have total control over your own actions. The thrill of the run will fuel your body, the need to play, to—” He raised her face to his, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, then said, “The need to fuck.” Nibbling on her lips, he teased her mouth once again. “I told you before that I was going to show you how wonderful it would be and I wasn’t kidding.”
Swallowing again, she admitted, “I can feel…something different about me. Not only is my sex drive burning like a hundred-story building inferno, but my body feels stronger and my senses sharper. It sort of freaked me out before, but I swear I could hear rabbits hopping outside and birds swooping out of the sky and up again. The flap of their wings—” She swallowed back the rest of her thoughts, locking gazes with Ryken.
Grinning, he said calmly, “And that is just the start of the incredible things that are happening to you because of the wolf thriving inside you, preparing to awaken.”
Nerves surged up into her throat and she tried to swallow them back down. She asked, honestly, “Will it hurt? Changing, I mean.”
Ryken’s fingers brushed against her cheeks and his expression grew more serious as he said, “The first time is the hardest because your body had never transformed into the wolf before, but the change only lasts a few seconds, and then it’s over. Then the truly amazing stuff happens.”
“Like what?” she asked, needing to know more to ease the fear burning in her mind and gut.
His fingers glided through her damp hair, and he stared at her as if she were the most precious thing he’d ever beheld. And just as Ryken was about to speak, a deep voice purred up from behind him. Her heart raced just a little faster as she locked gazes with Luken.
“Like feeling for the first time in your life that you actually belong to something greater,” Luken said, coming up alongside her. Ryken made space for the three to stand together, forming a triangle.
The deep timbre of Luken’s voice tickled along her skin. “As if the heavens and earth combined and allowed you to be a part of them for the night. The spirit of the wolf and the spirit harvested within your soul become one.” Luken brushed a fallen strand of hair from her face, letting the backs of his knuckles glide over her cheek. “The power it holds is the most glorious feeling and it’s always going to be alive inside you. That amazing feeling will never go away.”
Tabitha stared at the two men that had blasted their way into her life with the force of a wrecking ball and wondered how she had gotten so lucky. Looking back over the years she spent running from her past only to now realize that’s what made her who she was. And she was a woman who was deeply cared for and cherished by these two wonderful men—men who had won more than just her body. They were now a part of her very soul. Without them, she feared she wouldn’t be able to survive.
Brie seemed to have the perfect life, outside of the fact that a serial killer had wanted her dead or alive. But the men in her life, the ones she planned to marry, were everything to her, and the energy that radiated out of them as they stood arm in arm was exhilarating. Brie was happy and the idea of her being with two men, let alone marrying two men, would have troubled her before, but no longer. Now, she had her own threesome to enjoy. One she was hoping would make her just as fulfilled as she believed Brie to be.
If she hadn’t already felt it, just glancing from Ryken to Luken, she could see that things were about to get interesting. She asked, “It’s almost time isn’t it?”
“Yes,” the towering men said in unison.
“We should go,” Luken announced.
“Go where?” she asked, eyes wide, stomach rolling with nerves from unanswered questions.
Ryken’s voice was low, but commanding as he told her, “Into the woods, where we can be together without worry. We won’t let you change without us, Tabitha.”
Luken added, “Soon, you’ll be able to control when you change, but right now, the call of the moon is too powerful. If you let us, we’ll gladly teach you how to control the beast.”
Smiling warmly, she agreed, “Yes. I’d like that very much.”
“Then, let’s go and get a little wolfy, shall we?” Ryken grinned, extending his hand out to her.
Taking his large hand, she cradled it against her chest, clasping hold of Luken’s as well. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for helping me and caring about me. I—”
“Save it, babe,” Ryken said sharply, cutting her off. “When tonight is over and you see for yourself just how right we were about everything…then I’ll let you thank us properly.”
Cocking her head with a weary grin, she asked, “You mean you want me to thank you with sex.”
He gave his head a quick shake and said, “No, not just sex, but raw, primal passion that will have your eyes rolling into the back of your head and—”
“You’ll be howling at the moon.” Luken chuckled, and the humor was much needed.
“You think so, huh?” she said, the warmth of their playfulness easing her mind and charge
d her body. Damn, the things they did to her, the way they made her feel.
Ryken leaned down, his mouth just above her ear. He sighed. “Oh, yes, baby. You’ll definitely be howling at the moon. I guarantee it.” His warm breath dipped inside her ear, sending tingles up and down her spine.
Smiling, she pressed to her tiptoes, taking turns kissing each one. Lingering a moment longer as Ryken clasped his hand around the back of her neck, holding her to him.
Staring into Ryken’s heated gaze, she said, “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go get a little wolfy.”
“I think our mate is going to enjoy this more than I first thought,” Ryken shared.
Grinning, Luken growled. “Well, let’s not waste another moment and go find out.”
Both men wrapped themselves around her in a protective embrace and leaped over the balcony in one heart-stopping swoop. The soft impact of the earth below was barely noticeable. Not wasting a second, Ryken and Luken led her deep into the wood, until she stood in the middle of a small clearing.
Arriving at the location seemed to take less time than blinking her eyes. The speed at which they ran surged through her, a thrilling and pulse-pounding sensation that had her yearning for more. Her body itched and tingled with need.
“Take off your clothes,” Ryken told her, already disrobing. “We’ll come back for them in the morning.”
Her nervous fingers fondled at the buttons of her shirt and jeans. Luken appeared in front of her, his strong hands covering hers. “Here, let me,” he growled, standing in front of her like a Greek god in all his glory.
She swallowed at the magnificent sight of him. “Thank you,” she muttered.
Arching a brow, he cocked a wolfish grin. “It’s really my pleasure.”
Shyly, she glanced away and toed off her shoes. Luken was quick to remove the rest of her clothing, kissing her breasts, belly, and pubis before picking up the clothing and placing them all in a neat stacked pile at the base of a mammoth tree.
Tabitha’s eyes were magically compelled to search the sky above. When she did, the dusty gray clouds parted and revealed the brilliance of a silvery full moon. Her gut twisted with anxiety, her skin pulled too tight over the bones of her body. The muscles underneath the flesh stretched and tightened, flexing with new power. She dropped to the ground on her hands and knees as if praying to the sky above.
Screaming, her body began to shift, change. Powerful sensations rocked her, and then the pain kicked in. Black claws tore from her fingers, her mouth filled with menacing teeth. The sound of breaking bones and elongating muscles were all she could remember. For a split second, the pain was immense, and she thought the stabbing ache ripping through her body would surely kill her. Then, just as Ryken had said, the change was over, and she was running through the woods chasing the scents and sounds of the night.
Ryken and Luken, dark wolves with coats dusted with black, red, and brown, raced past her, running after each other and frolicking like children. The seductive and enticing feeling of dashing through the night was exhilarating.
Her paws pounded down on the soft soil, claws digging into the earth below, jumping over logs and rocks with the ease of a graceful dancer. Her lungs were full of air, and her heart raced with renewed energy as if breathing for the first time.
* * * *
Brie tugged at her bottom lip, vigorously pacing in front of the giant unlit fireplace in the main den. The newly remolded room was now filled with a feminine touch as well as the classic country feel it once possessed. The rustic cabin with its big, bulky furniture was accented with fine prints and calming colors. But even with all the warm and peaceful colors surrounding her, Brie couldn’t clear her mind of what she had done. Killing was not in her nature. She was the one who fought for those less fortunate…legally. She didn’t murder people, evil or otherwise.
Sebastian and Jonah entered the room, and immediately she ran to them, arms and posture ready to be embraced—needing to be held.
Wrapping herself around Sebastian and Jonah, she whimpered, “Oh, God. I killed a man.”
“I knew we shouldn’t have left her alone,” Jonah murmured to Sebastian.
Holding her tight, Sebastian reminded her, “Brie, darling, Mason Levi wouldn’t have hesitated to kill you or any of us if given the chance, so don’t even give his memory a second thought.”
Stroking her hair, Jonah said, “Brie, honey, you did the right thing. And I’m glad you did it. If you hadn’t, he would have killed Tabitha.”
Their strong words made sense to her, but they still troubled her all the way to her soul. Killing was wrong, and even though necessary, the feeling left behind was too brutal to comprehend. Her heart and mind warred with what she had done, her actions not her own.
Sniffling, she admitted, “I know this, but why do I feel so dirty, like I’m more evil than he was.”
Sebastian eased back to cup her face in his large hands, staring down at her with eyes that reminded her how strong and powerful he was. He explained, “Because your heart and soul live to heal and help others, but what you are not understanding Brie, is that you most likely saved the lives of a helluva lot of people by eliminating Mason Levi. He can no longer hurt the innocent, and he can no longer recruit more for his cause.”
Nodding, she agreed with him, “You’re right.” Smiling coyly at him. “You’re always right.”
Her arms wrapped tight around his waist, and she let the staccato beat of his heart soothe her into peaceful thoughts. There would be more days ahead where she would have to fight for those she cared about, but right now she was going to let Sebastian and Jonah take care of her. And right now, what she needed most was the strong arms of the men she loved holding her and helping her to feel safe.
Then the thought of his decaying corpse popped into her head. She hadn’t even seen his body since she fried his ass with the power that was growing inside her. She asked them, “What are we going to do about his body?”
Jonah answered, “Dominic and Reyes have already taken his body to Megan. They are on their way back to her lab in Dallas. There, she can do all the testing she needs to do on them. She still hasn’t come up with a vaccine, but she thinks she’s close. Surely, with Mason’s blood she can do it.”
Eyes wide, she gasped. “And what about the fact that I killed him? We need to report it.”
“The fuck we do,” Jonah roared. “That bastard can rot in hell for all I care, and I hope he does.”
Sebastian glared at his brother and then softened his expression before returning his gaze to her. “Brie, you’ve got to stop thinking like a lawyer for just a moment and see the big picture here. What could we tell the police? How would we describe the manner in which he was killed? They’d lock all of us away, and jail is no place for a lycan or his pregnant bride.” He held her close, kissing the top of her head. “Brie, the best thing we can do is let things go with Mason. Megan will dispose of his body medically once she’s done getting what she needs from him. There will be no need to pursue this matter any further.”
She swallowed, her heart twisting. “But what about notifying his family? Surely, his pack would like to know what has happened to him.”
Jonah took hold of her hand, spinning her towards him so he could kiss her forehead. He told her softly, “Our sweet Brie always thinks of others before herself.”
She smiled at Jonah, glancing back to Sebastian as he explained, “Ryder O’Laughlin is traveling with Dominic and Reyes. As you might remember, Ryder was Mason’s cousin and also a new member of our team. He’s going to help us capture and contain the remaining infected lycans.”
“How?” Brie asked with a tinge of surprise in her voice. “And when did you meet with Ryder?”
“He was traveling in the third vehicle with Tiffany. He protected her and kept her safe,” he said plainly. “Tiffany was pretty hysterical after the attack, but said Ryder didn’t bat an eye when it came to standing side by side with our men.”
With an arched brow, she asked, “Why was he here at all?”
“He came to warn me,” Sebastian said matter-of-factly. “Mason spoke to him, and he feared that Mason was getting too close to us and he didn’t want to see him hurt you. His pack asked for volunteers to hunt Mason, and Ryder was the first to do so. He’d actually tracked him using tactics they had grown up using. Knowing those things might be useful.”
“And you trust him?”
“Actually, I do,” Sebastian admitted. “After the way he protected Tiffany and the fact that he didn’t have to come warn us or fight with Ryken and Luken to protect Tabitha…Well, that was really all I needed to hear and see to accept his offer to join us.”
Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “And you’re sure he’s not infected and it’s not some kind of trap?”
Smiling, he told her, “You really are a worrywart, you know that?”
“I just don’t want anything else to happen to the men I love and the people I care about,” she said testily, hands digging in at her hips.
Clasping hold of her shoulders, kissing her cheek, Jonah purred into her ear. “Nothing’s going to happen, Brie.”
Staring up at him, she asked, “And you’re sure?”
“Yes,” Sebastian and Jonah answered in unison as if annoyed by her constant worry.
Jonah’s hand slid to Brie’s belly where he rubbed it lovingly. “You’ve got to stop worrying so much about everything else and focus on yourself.”
“I know,” she agreed with a coy smile.
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he glanced over Brie as if inspecting a piece of meat.
“What?” she gasped, glancing down to see if she spilt something on her shirt.
Sebastian gave his head a quick shake and said, “Nothing, I was just thinking that maybe the power you conjured earlier to save Tabitha had something to do with the baby?”
Her eyes rounded, her lips parted on a gasp. “I don’t know.” She sounded freaked and with good reason, because she definitely was freaked out.
