Insatiable

by Rachel E Rice

  The whole picture didn’t make any sense until he leaned to get a better look.

  “Father! Father! What are you doing here?” Damon shouted. Lycell didn’t move. He made a low grunt because he heard a voice he recognized. And that’s when Damon saw the two gunshot wounds on his father’s shoulder and two in his hip, and the blood pooling on the floor. Lycell, his back to the wall and legs stretched out as if paralyzed, moved his feeble head.

  The girl had searched her parents’ room and found her birth certificate in a drawer in the bedroom, hidden in a bible along with locks of hair, dried flowers, and crochet baby booties lying on top of the bible. She took only the birth certificate and baby booties when she walked to the kitchen to tell Damon she had everything.

  “Who is it, Damon?” The girl said standing behind Damon and peering at the man lying with his legs stretched out, and a knife lying on the floor in front of him.

  “He’s my father,” Damon said his voice breaking. He lifted Lycell over his shoulder like a large sack of potatoes, and placed his fingers under Lycell’s neck to feel a pulse and shouted, “I have to get him to the hospital. He’s dying. I don’t feel a pulse,” he said frantic. “Try to keep up.” And he sprinted through the doors with Lycell over his shoulder wrapped in a blanket, and the girl not far behind.

  Damon stopped to rest and wait for the girl. He tried placing Lycell on the snow covered ground, and still no movement. When the girl caught up with Damon he said to her, “I have to change. The way I am now, it will take too long to get to the ranch. Try to keep up.”

  The girl shifted along with Damon. Her wolf a slender small black wolf.

  “There is a short cut to my home,” Damon said with an urgent voice. “The forest is dense and it’s dark so try to stay with me.”

  Damon shifted within a second. Then he lifted Lycell and cradled him in his arms without effort. He zoomed down the path following a river. He headed south through another dense forest. When he looked back the girl was there. She wasn’t even out of breath, but Damon was breathing hard carrying Lycell. He dashed to the fence where a large sign had been posted for all to see. SAMSA RANCH. BEWARE OF DOGS

  He didn’t stop running until he stood at the front door of their private hospital. Damon burst through the doors only to see a young doctor. “Where is Robert?” Damon questioned. His eyes with a blaze of panic and hopelessness. He placed Lycell on the bed.

  The young doctor recognized Damon. He had gone to high school with him and he knew of the Samsas. He knew them to be shifters. The doctor had gone to college because of the Samsas’ generosity, and came back to Samsaville to work for them.

  “Robert’s busy at the main hospital. I can take care of this man.” Checking his vitals he looked to Damon. “He looks like he’s already gone. He’s pale and lost a lot of blood.” Damon took the young doctor by the collar. “He’s not any man, he’s my father. I’m Damon Samsa. This is Lycell Samsa. So get Robert on the phone and tell him to get here ASAP.”

  Still holding the young doctor with both hands and his breathing uncontrollable, Damon’s heart slowed and he released him. But Damon stood watching at him as if he could look through him and all the young doctor could do was tell him to calm down. I’ve got this.

  Somehow the doctor pulled Damon’s hands from the grip he had on his shoulders.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Samsa.” He leaned over and checked Lycell’s pulse. It’s a faint pulse, but he has one. I’ll contact Robert. It won’t take him long to get here. I assure you he won’t die while I’m here.”

  The young doctor pressed a buzzer and in minutes the nurse came running into the room. Damon glanced behind him feeling a familiar presence, but he didn’t expect to see Saadia. She rushed to Damon hugging him. He felt heat surge through him because of her nearness. She was overjoyed to see him and he was to see her.

  Her smile broad and she kissed his cheek and said, “I miss you.”

  And then she turned to see why she had been called, and lying on the gurney, pale, cold, with wounds on his upper and lower torso, and head lay a lifeless Lycell. It was hard to see him like this because he had always been to Saadia indestructible, energetic, and dynamic in every way.

  “Saadia, you have to assist me,” the young doctor looked to her saying. He appeared too young to have had the experience it took to care for Lycell.

  “We have to get the bullets out now, and then get him stabilized.” He gave Lycell a shot. Saadia pulled away from Damon as the girl came into the room. She came in with enough time to see the exchange between Damon and Saadia. From where she stood, they had a close history and from the warmth on Damon’s face, he liked Saadia a lot.

  “Damon, I have to clean up.” Saadia pushed him away. He stood looking sad not knowing what to do.

  Saadia saw the jealous look on the girl’s face and she knew how she felt. She had experienced that gut wrenching feeling with Tracker too many times, and she didn’t want to hurt the girl because she could never love Damon.

  Tracker is hers forever.

  “Go Damon. Tell your mother we found Lycell. She has been worried to the point where she could abort her babies. That’s where I was when I heard the silent emergency alarm.”

  Chapter 13

  When Damon reached Adrienne she was resting, and Wilder sat at her side holding her hand. She appeared so young he thought. Maybe it was because he and his brothers had accelerated growth and developed into yearlings. He stood marveling at how beautiful and youthful his mother is.

  Damon stood in the doorway and then walked to Wilder’s side as Wilder sat in a chair close to Adrienne’s bed.

  Wilder knew Damon’s walk as he knew his own son’s Hunter and Devin’s movements. His brother Lycell had gotten Adrienne pregnant not long after Hunter and Devin were born, and Lycell’s sons and his sons had all grown from pups to yearlings together.

  This is what Wilder had wanted in the beginning. To grow the pack. But now he questioned his selfishness, every time he watched at Adrienne appear to be suffering because of the pregnancy. He begged her for more pups only because he got tired of Lycell bragging and throwing his six sons in Wilder’s face.

  After all Wilder is the Alpha of all his alpha brothers, and with only two sons, he felt threatened by Lycell. Not because he thought there would be a civil war, but because Lycell and his sons were needy and appear to dominate Adrienne’s affection and time.

  To Adrienne’s credit she warned Wilder about her marriage to all of them. Drayton the sensible one hadn’t been a problem, but Lycell was a problem from the beginning and would always be a problem to the stability of the pack. And because of the new pups due, Lycell had showed his temper and stormed off making Adrienne sick and worried about him.

  Wilder knew he had done this on purpose. When he can’t have everything his way, he throws a monkey-wrench in to cause problems and disrupts everyone in the family especially Wilder.

  Damon looked at Wilder and then Adrienne, “Is mother ok?” his voice soft and tired.

  “She’s been upset over Lycell leaving and not calling anyone.” Damon let Wilder get out his frustrations before he would tell him that Lycell had been found.”

  “How could your father do this to her?” Wilder said holding Adrienne’s hand bewildered and upset.

  Damon the practical and rational one answered with the same, “How could you do this to her.” Wilder gazed up at Damon. His deep eyes narrowed signaling a warning to him not to go too far. He was a beta in this pack and in the family.

  “Your mother wanted this as much as I did. I tried to talk her out of it when Robert warned us she was taking a chance having more pups, but she wanted females, and now she got what she wanted. “We’re having quadruplets. Four of them. Do you believe it?” A smile turned into a sad look in his eyes. “I hope it doesn’t kill her,” Wilder said staring down at Adrienne who appeared to be sedated.

  Wilder touched Adrienne’s face, and a warm easy smile danced across his. Damon never
really saw such happiness on Wilder’s face and who was he to question Wilder about his wife and his pack. Damon held out his hand. “Congratulations.”

  Standing looking at Damon Wilder felt better. He brought Damon to him and gave him a tight hug. He had two hugs today. Ones he needed. Maybe now he could come back home.

  “Everything is ok now. Father is home.” Wilder’s expression changed. It was one of relief and a slow smile crossed his face and he turned away from Damon. “Sit with your mother. I have to speak with your father.”

  “He can’t talk now.” Wilder turned around to face Damon. “He’s been shot and we found him in the woods naked.”

  “Is he alright?” Anger turned to concern with Wilder.

  “I don’t know. When we found him he was unconscious and near death.”

  Adrienne opened her eyes. “Who’s unconscious and near death?” Damon looked to Wilder and Wilder’s eyes shifted to Damon, but Wilder never met Adrienne’s eyes. If he would lie she would know. He searched for a lie but Adrienne was watching at Wilder and Damon to see who would tell her the truth.

  “Just tell me, damn you, Wilder.” He raised an eyebrow because he hadn’t heard Adrienne raise her voice or curse him before. “I don’t need you to protect me like I’m one of those frail human females you constantly talk about. You would tell one of the werefemales and expect her to handle it, now tell me.” Adrienne’s voice frail but her tone strong.

  Wilder walked back and sat close to her on the bed to hold her hand. She pulled it back. “Tell me before I get out of this bed and find out for myself. Did you find Lycell or is it Tracker?”

  “It’s not Tracker.” Adrienne took a deep breath.

  “Then it’s Lycell,” Adrienne said. She brought her hand to her mouth.

  “It is Lycell.” Adrienne began to breathe hard taking in large gulps of air. Her chest moving up and down. Her stomach moving because the pups were in stress. She made an attempt to get out of bed and Wilder stopped her. He placed his hand over her stomach to calm her and the pups in her. It wasn’t time for them to come into the world. If it happened too soon, there was a chance they wouldn’t survive since they appeared to be extremely small.

  Wilder glanced up at Damon. “Where is Robert?”

  “All I want to know is Lycell ok?” Adrienne asked Damon, but Wilder answered.

  “You know Lycell. He’s strong and doing fine. He always is. I’m going down to see him and I’ll tell him you’re waiting for an apology.” Adrienne appeared to be pleased that Wilder will take him to task by what he had caused to the family. She turned back to her side, blinked her eyes and calmed.

  “I want to be alone now. Ask Drayton to come to the room to sit with me, Wilder.” Wilder nodded for Damon to leave and Damon left after kissing Adrienne on her shoulder.

  When they stood in the hall, sitting on the floor near the door was the girl Damon found in the forest. With all the turmoil Damon had forgotten about her.

  “Who is this?” Wilder said recognizing her for what she is—a werefemale. Even if it took Damon time to realize who she was Wilder recognized her right away, and he even knew the clan she belonged to because there weren’t too many packs left in the Americas.

  “Why is she here?” Wilder said looking at her.

  “I found her in the woods.”

  “You need to take her back.”

  “I can’t do that. Her family is dead. And she doesn’t have a name.”

  “Give her a name and bring her to the Alaskan clan. I made a pack with them after what Drayton messed up by not marrying Mena.”

  “But Mena is married to Robert.”

  “Yes and she belongs to that clan and they forbid a marriage or mating between the Samsas. They want all their females brought back to them. If you look you will see a small tattoo on her finger. The girl hid her finger behind her back.

  Wilder looked at her and she said to him, “Don’t talk to me like I don’t exist. I made an agreement with Damon.” Wilder cut her off.

  “He can’t make any agreements without telling the Samsa council first. And one third of that council is sick and won’t have a vote for some time.” And Wilder turned and walked away leaving Damon and the girl watching at each other.

  “Well I guess the big bad wolf has spoken. I’ll leave,” the girl said.

  “You’re not going anywhere. My mother will influence the vote. If I want you to stay she will go along with me. Besides you’re my mate. It has been decided.”

  “But why do you want me to stay? You like that werefemale named Saadia.”

  “She doesn’t love me,” Damon said.

  “So you keep me around to make your nights easy during the full moon.” She stood up. “I don’t think I want to be a fuck buddy.”

  “Where did you learn that word?”

  “From reading old newspapers.”

  “I see you got a well-rounded education.” He took her by the hand, and pulled her along down the hall and showed her his room. “You stay here. Uncle Wilder will be leaving after my mother gives birth, and he won’t know you’re around. He never comes to this part of the house.”

  “I didn’t know your mother had two husbands.”

  “She has three. Uncle Drayton is the third and official husband.” The girl narrowed her confused eyes. “It’s complicated,” Damon said with a quick closed smile.

  “Everything about you and your family is complicated.”

  Damon showed her his room it was sparse but had a large king bed. “This is where we’ll sleep.” She smiled. He stepped close. His lips met hers. She placed her finger between their lips.

  “No.” His eyes grew wide. “I want you to kiss me like you love me. I will know if you mean it.” Their lips touched and a wave of ecstasy throbbed through him. His long tongue passed through her lips and she accepted his tongue and sucked it as her body burned against his.

  Damon glanced at the girl with a warm inviting smile, and as he undressed her for their bath, he dropped his clothes near hers beside the tub.

  As the girl stepped happily into the bathtub with Damon, their eyes meeting, and he holding her hand, Wilder sprinted breathless to the hospital.

  Chapter 14

  As Wilder slowed his pace he stopped and sauntered into the hospital. Robert had arrived there minutes earlier. He had taken all the bullets out with the help of the young doctor. Wilder stood in the doorway looking at Lycell lying on the bed not moving. Vulnerable to all around him.

  Robert glanced up at Wilder and said, “Come in.”

  He strode close to the bed. “I never thought this would happen to Lycell.” Robert walked around the bed, stopped to check Lycell’s pulse. Robert looked up at Wilder, “He’s breathing.”

  “Who would shoot him?” Wilder questioned now wanting an answer.

  “I always knew it would happen. You know him. He’s been a hot head since I came into this family. And his sons, well that Tracker is the worst.”

  “Alright, Robert. I know how you feel about Tracker. Where is Saadia?”

  “You don’t know how I feel. I brought all the young Samsas into the world, and I don’t want to see what happened to Lycell happen to his sons and yours.”

  Wilder walked close to Robert and gave him a pat on the back. Wilder had him wrong on many accounts. His concern was like that of a father for his children. Sometimes his words were harsh, but that was Robert’s way.

  “She just left to give Tracker the news. Do you know she’s staying at that apartment in town with Tracker? That is until he decides to wake up one morning and get on that motorcycle of his and leave my daughter pregnant or worse, like all Lycell’s son’s plan on doing.”

  “You don’t know that Robert. Don’t be so cynical.”

  “I can tell you one thing, if another one of Lycell’s sons refuse to marry my girls, I’m taking them away from this town. They need to be where they can mate. Maybe go back to Alaska to Mena’s family. They will take us because they need females
who can reproduce.”

  “Think about what you’re saying. Is that the kind of life you want for your girls? You know how they treat werefemales in that clan. The so called alpha wolves have hundreds of mates, and when the werefemales get too old to reproduce, they discard them. They are impregnated right after they give birth to one litter.”

  Wilder didn’t want to lose Robert as a doctor and as a friend. He painted a stark picture which Robert could see and understand. It wasn’t a life Robert had wanted for his daughters, and because of Lycell’s sons, the bond between Robert and the Samsas were in jeopardy of being broken.

  Turning to look at Lycell, Robert glanced up at Wilder, “Finally he’s coming around. I thought it would be sooner.” Wilder and Robert gave out a relieved sigh. Lycell’s eyes opened.

  “What’s going on here? Why am I in this bed?” His voice strained and hoarse. He made a move to sit up and Robert placed his hand on his chest preventing him. Normally that wouldn’t stop Lycell, but he appeared weak and disoriented. He held the bandage on his head and blinked his eyes.

  “Just as I suspected, difficult as usual. You have to lie still, Lycell,” Robert said.

  “Who is this Lycell you’re talking about?” Robert’s eyes wavered to Wilder back and forth. “Will someone answer me?” His voice weak, but his meaning strong.

  Wilder crossed at the foot of Lycell’s hospital bed, moving to the right standing opposite of Robert. “I assume you’re the doctor,” Lycell said peering at Robert, but who the fuck is he?”

  “Your brother, Wilder.”

  “I know nothing about having a brother.” He paused to gather his thoughts. His forehead wrinkled, his eyes closed, his mouth opened slightly as if trying to retrieve information that was lost. “All I know is that I may have a wife. She’s slender with green eyes and long auburn hair. I can see her now. I know that much. Is she my wife?”

  “Yes in a matter of speaking,” Robert answer.

  “I want my so called brother to answer. Wouldn’t he know about a wife if he’s my brother,” Lycell said to Robert and then turned his attention to Wilder? “Wouldn’t you know if the woman I described is my wife if you are my brother?”