by Tamsin Baker
“Her family is one of the oldest and most powerful Voodoo families in New Orleans.”
“What?” His brother swung around to face him, staring with wide open eyes.
“There’s something else too, Marty.”
His brother waited and he swallowed hard. This was gonna hurt.
“She’d trying to get rid of the baby.”
There was a beat of silence and then his brother blinked. “Excuse me?”
Marty’s hands curled into fists and he was sending out a vibe that made Kody want to back away.
As the Alpha, Marty’s word was law, and Kody had no choice but to follow him.
That made saying something that would piss him off hard.
“I followed her to the Chanti’s shop and listened to everything they said. The church they belong to think that any babe of ours is... sacrilege.”
“Fuck. Me.”
His brother’s anger seemed to drift away as shock took its place.
“But… this is Fate. She’s my mate. That baby is… destined to be.”
Kody laughed, pushing through the need to submit to his brother’s emotions. “I know my brother, I know. But they’re not going to believe that. You know what they are like.”
Marty grimaced and cursed under his breath.
The people who practised the ancient art of Voodoo in New Orleans were an unusual mix of the original Voodoo brought over from Africa several hundred years ago, and the Catholicism that was forced onto them.
They believed in Jesus Christ and many ancient Gods and Goddesses. Why not Fate?
“Then we must stop her Marty, and I think I know the way. We have twenty-four hours until your mate drinks the potion that will kill off your heir. We must convince Chanti to stop her.”
His brother nodded with grim understanding and together they walked away from the house to formulate a plan.
Chapter 2.
Back at her house, a few blocks back from the shop, Chanti mulled over what had happened today.
A werewolf baby had been conceived and she’d been asked to assist in its abortion. An aberration of nature. A ridiculous thing.
She’d never even really considered whether she believed the stories she’d been told about them. Having never met one.
And then a werewolf had kissed her to within an inch of her life right there in her shop.
God, she’d wanted him to take her right there on the countertop.
She ran a hand down her neck and let it flow over her sensitive breasts. Her loins were still burning for him.
A shiver coursed through her body.
What had that been between them? She’d never felt anything like it.
Bang, bang, bang…
She frowned towards the front door. Who could that be? And at this time? She glanced at the clock on the wall.
Nine o’clock. Not too late. Someone who needed her help perhaps? She didn’t really have any family left.
That thought had her hurrying towards the pounding.
What could have happened?
She pulled open the door.
The werewolf stood on her doorstep. Silver eyes blazing at her and causing a cascade of fire to flow through her core.
Next to him stood… “Damn. Did you bring another one with you?”
The man next to him was even bigger if that was possible, but not as attractive as Kody. He had darker, curlier hair, and a crooked nose.
“This is my brother, Marty. Can we come in?”
“Can I trust you?”
Their eyes met and a frisson of heat spiralled through her.
He nodded slowly and she stepped back.
She didn’t have much choice anyway.
They moved into her small home, the men filling up the space like two huge trees.
“How can I help you gentlemen? Do you need a charm perhaps? A spell?”
She couldn’t imagine either one of them needing love or protection, even wishing evil on another could be easily achieved by their strength and power. How could she possibly help them?
Chanti sat down on her favourite armchair and moaned with longing as her body arched towards Kody.
He groaned in unison and fell onto the couch as though knocked down.
“Stop doing that.” He grunted at her.
“Me? What on earth am I doing?”
He rolled his eyes and beckoned to his brother to join him on the couch.
Marty fell into one of the other chairs, his huge body folding down awkwardly.
“We’ll cut to the chase, Chanti.”
She nodded her head and resisted a smile. That seemed very likely for his sort of people.
Werewolves were known for being fierce beasts, but before her sat two men who had full control over their words, facial expressions, and emotions.
If Kody’s ability to walk away this afternoon was any indication, the reports on them were wrong.
Which meant… she really had no idea what to expect.
“Tania, the girls who came to see you this morning…” Marty stopped and Chanti inhaled sharply, realisation dawning.
“You’re the father of her baby.”
He nodded once. “Yes. And I know that you gave her something to get rid of it.”
Chanti hesitated. Her gaze sliding over to Kody who narrowed his eyes at her. He’d known when he confronted her at the shop. He must have been listening at the door.
“Yes, I did. She came to me for help, and I gave it to her.”
A deep growl rolled out of Marty and her stomach dropped. What did she have in her home for protection against a werewolf? She wore her amulet and it had not failed her yet.
“Please settle yourself, or you may leave.”
Marty stood up and began to pace. Her heart beat in time with the pounding of his heavy footsteps on her floor boards.
“She can’t get rid of it, she can’t. I need to stop her.”
Chanti searched inside herself for the magic she knew was there and pushed outwards, calming Marty, encouraging him to sit and relax with her.
She didn’t like to use her ability to sway people too often, but when it helped them get to a solution, it was best. Not to mention the fact that she would feel safer.
The big werewolf swayed a little.
She waved at him, forcing her voice to stay calm. “Sit down, Marty. We can sort this out.”
He fell back into his chair, shaking his head as though he didn’t know what had just happened.
“Tell me why this is so important to you, and it is obvious Tania means a lot more than she should. I have never, in my lifetime, seen a werewolf in town. What brings you this far?”
The brothers looked at each other without speaking, although they were definitely communicating in their own way.
She waited. She had all the time in the world.
Finally, Kody turned to look at her. “How much do you know about werewolves Chanti?”
“I will admit, very little.” She knew what she’d been taught. That they were little better than rabid dogs. Dirty, untrustworthy, and stupid.
However, she wasn’t telling them that.
Marty continued. “Werewolves rarely mate outside our own pack, in fact, we were told it would be impossible to conceive a child with a human. Werewolves are born, not bitten. Even when a werewolf would fall in love with a human, they would rarely conceive and if they did, that child would never be a shifter.”
He stopped and took a breath. “However, there are a few exceptions to the rule. The Alpha’s in our pack have pre-destined mates. We know them on sight and often by their smell. Tania is my mate. I saw her at a bar one night, about six weeks ago, and knew instantly. She ran away afterwards, knowing what I was, and I thought I could go back to the pack and forget about her. I can’t. And knowing she carries my child… I can’t allow her to destroy the legacy of our pack. A child that is destined to be.”
Chanti blinked and blinked again. They spoke of powers out of their control. Of F
ate and Destiny. Were these really the creatures she’d been told about?
“I have to tell you both something as well. I am a Voodoo practitioner, as you would know from my shop, I am certain, but there’s something else. I have several gifts passed down to me from my ancestors. One is an intuition that is never wrong. A third eye, so to speak. And yesterday…” she bit her lip.
She still could not believe she had gone against a feeling that was so strong. Everything in her had not wanted to give Tania that medicine, and yet she had. Too many years of hearing the bad stories of werewolves had tainted her, and she was furious at herself for falling for such a common mistake.
She knew better.
“I did the wrong thing. Every part of me knew what I was doing was wrong. I literally could not give her the medicine, instead she had to take it from me. I’ve never felt anything like it… And because of that, I will help you. It is very obvious to me that I was not meant to give her that poison.”
There was silence in the room as the men stared at her.
“Thank you, Chanti. We thought you would be harder to convince.” Kody said, his eyes sparkling even in the evening light.
She shrugged and put a hand to her belly as it fluttered and twisted as Kody stared at her. She hadn’t worked out what the special attraction to him was, but she would have to at some point.
After this mess was sorted out.
“I will warn you. Don’t cross me. I know this world and these people, and you will need to trust me to help you as I have said I would.”
There was a soft chuckle from the men.
“Trust a Voodoo Queen whose ancestors were probably one of the reasons we were banished from New Orleans?”
She sat up straighter and fixed them with a stare.
“That was not me, and it was not you either. If you want my help, contacting Tania and convincing her to birth a half breed baby, when her parents are some of the most powerful people in this city, then you need to trust me. I trust that you are here to help, not harm. And I trust my intuition that this baby indeed is meant to be.”
Marty flung himself back in his chair and Kody reached out for him, squeezing his brother’s arm.
“We need her help, brother. And she has no reason to help us other than wanting to do the right thing. Surely that is all you need?”
Marty frowned. “No, it isn’t. But knowing what she is to you, makes me want to believe it.”
Huh? I’m what to him?
Marty turned towards her, his hard mouth pressed into a thin line. “So yes, we’ll trust you Chanti. And I will follow your direction, no matter how hard that will be for an Alpha.”
His tone was strangely dominant and she struggled not to balk at the arrogant way he spoke.
“Thank you, but what did you mean by that comment? What am I to Kody?”
Marty opened his mouth and Kody jumped in. “That’s not important at the moment. I think we need to fix this problem first, and then talk about that.”
He threw his brother a ‘shut your mouth’ look and Chanti couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her lips. It was all so intriguing, and yet, she couldn’t handle any more at the moment.
“Yes, I think we have more than enough to deal with. If Tania went straight home and starting steeping the brew I gave her, we have about twenty hours before she drinks it. That should be enough time to convince her not to take it, but there are lots of other people, including her parents, that could make it for her again. We need to not only convince her to not take my potion, but to keep the baby.”
The men chimed in, in beautiful, baritone unison. “Agreed.”
“Then we have a big day on tomorrow.” She glanced at the clock and felt the wave of tiredness pass over her. “I need to rest, and something is telling me this is going to be a bigger fight than any of us anticipate. Would you both like to sleep here tonight, or do you have somewhere else to stay?”
Marty shrugged. “We could go back to the pack.”
“It’s a couple of hours drive each way, brother.”
Chanti stood up and took a few steps away from the brothers as her nipples throbbed with need. Kody’s body was calling to hers, and she’d be lucky if she made it another day without begging him to take her.
“Then it’s settled. There’s a spare bed in there.” She pointed to the guest room, “and the couch of course. There’s a bathroom through there and please help yourself to the food in the fridge.”
She turned her back to leave and thought better of it. “And try not to touch anything. Every room has different spells and charms on them for protection, mostly. If you mean me no harm, and don’t go touching anything, you’ll be fine.”
Their eyes went a little wide and they looked around as though someone was set to jump out at them.
Good. Let them be a little wary of me.
“Goodnight gentlemen.”
There was a chortle of amusement and Chanti staggered into her bedroom on molten legs, shutting the door behind her.
Hopefully they’d be able to talk to Tania quite easily and they could all move on with their lives.
But as her arms pulsed with heat and her heart ached with the pain that would come, she knew that wasn’t how it was going to be.
Chapter 3.
Two hours on Chanti’s couch and Kody was going insane. His skin itched, his blood boiled, and his cock was so hard it lay against his belly like a lump of wood.
Kody twisted onto his side and punched the pillow beneath his head. He was going to get some fucking sleep if it killed him. Who knew what tomorrow might bring?
A door creaked behind the couch and he sat straight up.
Chanti’s dark hair was down, falling over her shoulders like a black waterfall. She wore a blue singlet and only her underwear. Her long legs stretched out, bright in the soft moon light coming in the windows.
“Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. It’s just… I… can’t sleep.”
Kody couldn’t speak, his wolf swimming up to the surface with strong, undeniable movements; growling and purring as his mate stepped closer.
She held out her arms, welcoming him in. “What is this Kody? I don’t understand it.”
He rolled over the back of her couch and grabbed Chanti up into his arms. She gasped and grabbed hold of him, her nails digging into his arms as she lifted her lips up to his.
He pulled her close at the same time as he dropped his face to meet hers. Their lips met and he pressed down, opening her mouth and tasting the first lick of sweetness.
An explosion of pleasure rippled through his body and he groaned loudly. He needed to get closer. As close as possible.
Kody lifted her up by the waist and Chanti wrapped her legs around his waist, grabbing onto his bare shoulders and kneading the tight muscles there.
She gyrated her pelvis against him, breaking off to pant. “Please. My bedroom.”
He grabbed her tightly and strode straight into her room. Walking until his legs hit the mattress and then falling flat, he put his arms up to protect them as they fell.
Chanti groaned and swivelled her hips.
He kissed her again on the lips, then trailed them down her body. Kissing the long line of her throat, the rapidly fluttering pulse at the edge of her collar bone.
“Please Kody… please.” She pushed on his shoulder and he moved further down.
He kissed her sweet, delectable skin as he moved down further. Lifting a hand, he partially shifted his paw, slicing her singlet from her body in one move.
She gasped and arched her back, her full breasts now exposed to his gaze.
He let his mouth learn her curves, grabbing mouthfuls of her honeyed flesh as he tasted the pure sweetness. He moved and settled between her thighs and cupped both full breasts, licking first one erect tip, and then the other. Her nipples were like dark, liquor cherries, bursting with flavour as he suckled them deeply.
His head spun.
Woah.
He
dropped his lips and suckled harder, drawing from her a taste, a sweetness, the closest thing to life milk he’d ever tasted. He drew back and looked down. He couldn’t see anything, but he could swear he’d tasted something.
He shook the idea from his mind and continued down, changing his paw once again and slicing her underwear on first one side, then leaning up so he could do the other.
“That’s very... handy.” She grinned up at him.
“You’re not scared?”
She shook her head.
He smiled down on her and bent his head, settling between her thighs and grabbing her arse with both hands to lift her up to his mouth.
Her scent was like the flowers that grew around New Orleans. Perfect. Sweet. Wild.
He swiped his tongue across her juicy, pink clit and Chanti cried out, reaching for him and tangling her hands into his hair.
He licked downwards, tasting her core and feeling that same head rush of dizziness. Like a drug injection straight into his blood stream.
Chanti bucked in his hands and he held her tight, eating her pussy with as much enthusiasm as a dying man at a banquet.
And what a feast it was.
He suckled her clit, flicking it side to side with his tongue, and then thrusting it inside her. Over and over again as Chanti moaned and gasped, crying out and thrashing against the bed.
“Kody… Kody… Kody!” Her voice was getting more and more insistent. The nails she was digging into his head almost painful now. Even with his wolf’s high tolerance of pain.
His cock was stiff, sore, and throbbing. His balls were drawing up tight against his body and with each cry she let go, his orgasm grew closer and closer.
If he wasn’t careful, he’d cum in his pants like a teenager.
Kody jumped to his feet and tore off his underwear, his cock springing out. The relief so sweet, he almost came.
“Fuck!”
He dove on top of her, lining up their bodies so that as they connected, they both screamed. Heat against heat. Skin against skin. And the undeniably perfect slide of his cock into her waiting, wet pussy.
Kody thrust to the hilt and tangled his tongue with Chanti’s.
