The Gathering

by Lily Graison

  Garrett kissed her cheek. “No. It isn’t as strong after a while but you never forget.” He sighed, his arms tightening around her. “I promise you, you’ll never be in that situation again. I should have been there.”

  Rayna looked at him, reached a hand up to caress his face. “You can’t always protect me, Garrett.”

  “I can,” he said. “I will.”

  He meant it. Rayna could see the truth of his words on his face. She’d never have to take another life, not as long as he was there.

  She also knew Carmen’s words had all been lies. Garrett didn’t sell her out to be a Breed Leader. She should never have doubted him. Guilt filled her with remorse for even thinking he’d be untrue to her.

  Leaning up, she kissed him. If felt as if weeks had gone by without him when it had only been days. Her need to reassure herself he was there, that they were both safe, overpowered her need for sleep. She pulled the towels from their bodies and stroked Garrett until he was hard and thick in her hand before rolling him to his back and straddling his hips.

  When she impaled herself on his cock, he sighed and closed his eyes, his hands coming to rest on her hips. “Have mercy on me, Rayna. I feel half dead.”

  She grinned and slowly raised herself up, setting a slow pace as she took him. The heat from his body scalded her flesh, his kisses hot and wet on her breasts. The feel of his hands caressing her flesh caused goose bumps to pimple her skin.

  The marks on his neck, the ones she made with her claws and teeth shined up at her. She stared at them, her wolf howling inside her head at the knowledge that he was hers. Always.

  Lowering her head, she licked the bite mark, heard a growl rumble in his chest as his hands tightened on her hips. She sucked his flesh into her mouth, scored it lightly with her teeth before whispering “mine” against his neck.

  That one small word, mine, was enough to bring his wolf to the surface. She saw him shining in Garrett’s eyes, the amber glow reflecting back at her as he flipped her onto her back and buried himself inside of her.

  Rayna wrapped her legs around him, held him to her as he loved her. Every stroke of his flesh sent shocks of pleasure surging up her spine. Her heart beat against her ribcage like a trapped butterfly and sent her pulse racing. When he moaned, his rhythm becoming erratic, she lifted her hips, finding the right position to follow him over the precipice when he climaxed. Their mingled shouts echoed off the walls.

  When her heart rate returned to normal, Rayna held him to her. He was heavy but the feel of him so close, surrounding her so completely, she couldn’t bring herself to have him move.

  His quiet snores moments later let her know asking him wasn’t an option. He was asleep, his body still connected with hers.

  She smiled and slid her upper body a little to one side. Kissing him on the cheek, she closed her eyes, content for the first time in weeks.

  * * * *

  The news reports were right out of a horror movie. The video footage taken at the park of her claiming werewolves were real, along with clips of shifters tearing into innocent humans, was leaked onto the Internet by morning. They went viral in hours.

  Rayna flipped through the TV channels and could only stare in horror as the scene from the park was played on every news station she stopped on. The police were reporting it as wild dogs that had gone mad and attacked anyone that moved but Eyewitness reports gave another version. Rayna knew many wouldn’t believe those people. You had to see it to believe it. She knew that first hand.

  The speculation ranged from the bizarre to mundane. The world would make up their own mind about what really happened. But how many preternatural creatures were seeing this? Seeing those videos? How many would show themselves now that the world knew they existed?

  Many would probably venture into the knowing world, their fates unknown. Regardless of how everything turned out, Victor would get his wish. The world would know that preternatural creatures existed. She almost felt bad he wasn’t alive to see it. Almost.

  She’d been shocked when Garrett told her Victor’s pack had turned on him in the end. She wasn’t sure why. It was a known fact, power, to most of the wolves, would cause them to do anything, even feed on the very person who clothed and gave you refuge.

  Thinking of Victor made her think of the new Breed Leader. Who was he? Had she met him? Regardless of who he was, she hoped to never set eyes on him. She was through with the Collective and hoped they were through with her as well.

  Turning when someone walked into the room, she smiled as she saw Garrett. Just the sight of him caused her wolf to stir. She flipped the TV off. “How is Judith?”

  “Better. She’s laid up in Chad’s bed being attended to like a queen.”

  “I think there’s something going on between the two of them?”

  Garrett laughed. “You think?” He kissed her forehead before wrapping his arms around her. “Chad says we can head back to Wolf’s Creek anytime we want.”

  Rayna looked up at him. “I’m ready now, but…” She paused. She wasn’t sure what he’d think of her idea and was almost scared to find out.

  “But what?” he asked when she didn’t say anything else.

  She managed a weak smile. “We need to go back to Victor’s first.” The look on his face showed his confusion. She inhaled a quick breath. “Sabriel is still there. We can’t just leave him in that pit. Besides, we promised to take him to Lydia.”

  Rayna had thought of Sabriel when she woke. With the events of the day before, everything had blurred together. Lying in bed as the sun began to rise, she’d had time to process everything that had happened. She remembered him then, down in that pit, beaten and battered. Remembered how much pain he’d been in. Had they done something worse to him when she was taken away?

  Garrett stared at her for long moments before he nodded his head. “You’re right. I forgot. I did tell him I’d be back.”

  She sighed. “Good. Let’s go see if Chad and the queen are ready. The sooner we get Sabriel, and can get home, the better I’m going to feel.”

  “Not so fast,” he said, grabbing her arm as she tried to pass him. “I’m not letting you within a mile of that house. I’ll pick up the others from the park and we’ll go.”

  Rayna opened her mouth to protest but one look from Garrett and she decided not to argue. “Fine. Just make it quick. I don’t want to stay in Bluff’s Point any longer than we have to.”

  * * * *

  The clean mountain air tickled Rayna’s senses. It caused the wolf to pace restlessly, especially when the sound of multiple howls echoed across the mountain, but she was on edge, too. She had been since Garrett and the others had returned from Victor’s without Sabriel.

  They had little trouble getting inside the house, Garrett said. Nicolas was there and had let them in. The new Breed Leader expressed his apologies to Garrett for endangering his mate but to hear Garrett tell it, the man was just being nice to keep from having his ass kicked. Garrett didn’t trust any of them and he probably never would. She didn’t blame him.

  Hearing Sabriel hadn’t been there, Rayna automatically thought the worst. Garrett assured her he was safe. According to Nicolas, he’d been let go. He assumed he’d gone home. A home Rayna couldn’t remember how to find. They had no choice but to return to the mountain.

  When they reached the house, the lawn was full of people. Rayna knew immediately their pack had grown. Uneasiness caused her to stiffen.

  Garrett’s arm around her shoulder tightened. “She’s not here anymore. Whatever they want, we’ll deal with it.”

  They exited the car, Chad helping Judith. She was still sore but was on her way to recovering. Bryce smiled as he approached them. “It’s good to have you back, Garrett.” He looked at her and smiled. “You too, of course.”

  Garrett raised an eyebrow at the crowd gathered. “I would say its good to be back but seeing all these people, I have to wonder. Did you recruit while I was away?”

  Bryce laughed.
“Not exactly. More like they recruited themselves.”

  Rayna saw movement near the house, her eyes widening when she saw who it was. “Jacob!” She ran toward him, laughing as she embraced him. When she took a step back, he was blushing bright red. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “Same here.” He threw a quick glance in Garrett’s direction before looking at the people lingering around the yard. “You don’t think Garrett will make the others go, do you?”

  Rayna looked at their expectant faces. They were scared. Seeing them shift on their feet while huddled in small groups told her as much. “Are these Carmen’s wolves?”

  “Yes.”

  Thinking of Carmen caused the guilt to resurface. She reminded herself again that Carmen would have danced on her corpse given the chance. She shook the thought away. “Are they anything like her?”

  “No. They just did as told, same as me.”

  She smiled up at him. “Then I see no problem.”

  Garrett joined them moments later, embracing Jacob before nodding his head to Carmen’s pack. “I have enough to handle as it is, Jacob, without taking on more wolves. Are you trying to kill me?”

  Jacob grinned. “I’d find a more interesting way than this to kill you.”

  “I’m sure you would.”

  They managed to get inside the house and the questions started. An hour later, Rayna was tired of talking. She excused herself and made her way to the kitchen.

  Entering the darkened room, she flipped on the light and jumped, startled, when she saw someone standing by the counter. Her pulse leaped when her gaze landed on his face. “Sabriel?”

  He smiled and crossed the room. “I didn’t want to interrupt the party taking place in the living room to announce my presence.”

  Rayna stared at him and couldn’t explain the joy she felt. She wasn’t sure if it was her own or if Sabriel was projecting again. His moods were manifested onto her for some reason. She’d yet to find out why or how he accomplished it.

  Fully entering the room, she crossed to where he stood. “How long have you been here? Have you seen Lydia?”

  “I arrived a few hours ago and yes, I’ve seen her. We’ve had a lot of catching up to do.” His gaze lingered on her face before slowly traveling down her body. Heat followed and Rayna swallowed a lump forming in her throat. “You look well.” He looked back at her face and smiled. “Mostly.”

  Rayna laughed. “Considering a werewolf tried to take me apart piece by piece, I guess I do.” He said nothing after that, just stood staring at her, and those strange feelings he was able to make her feel once again skated across her flesh. She felt a whisper soft touch against her cheek. A light caress brush her lips and heat pooled so fast and intense into her body her stomach clenched tight. Her eyes fluttered closed, her breaths coming in short gasps as phantom touches stroked every inch of her body. When invisible hands slid across the inside of her thigh, she gasped and opened her eyes, taking a step backwards. “How do you do that?”

  His mouth was open enough for her to see his fangs. She stared at them for long moments wondering what they’d feel like piercing her flesh. Looking back at his face she realized he’d moved closer, close enough that a deep breath would bring their bodies together. Her heart raced. Thoughts she shouldn’t be having whispered things she shouldn’t want. Things she would kill Garrett for even considering about someone else.

  She turned away, sucking in a deep breath when she saw Garrett standing in the doorway. Rayna’s face heated within seconds, her heart slamming against her ribcage. She tried to smile. “Sabriel’s here.”

  Garrett crossed his arms across his chest and leaned a shoulder on the doorframe. “I can see that.” He nodded his head in Sabriel’s direction. “I didn’t realize you would find your way to the mountain so quick.”

  “I’ve only just arrived a short time ago.”

  They stood staring at each other and Rayna could almost feel the tension between them. It sparked the air and sent the hair on her arms dancing.

  Sabriel stepped around her and she refused to look at him. “If you’ll excuse me, I told Lydia I wouldn’t be gone long.”

  When he left the room, Rayna found it hard to look at Garrett but forced herself to do so. His blank stare caused a mass of butterflies to erupt in her stomach. He was making her nervous. What was he thinking about so hard?

  She broke eye contact with him and walked to the refrigerator. “Are you hungry?” When he didn’t answer, she turned to look at him. He was still staring at her. “What?”

  He stalked across the room, a harsh growl emanating from his chest as he did, and she backed up against the refrigerator at the look in his eyes. He reached her, his hands claiming either side of her face before leaning toward her, his breath mingling with her own. “What is going on between you and that vampire, Rayna?”

  “Nothing.” The growl grew louder. Garrett’s eyes changed, the wolf showing himself and his incessant growl vibrated against her chest. The hairs on her body stood on end and she felt her wolf answer in a languid slide of fur rasping against her bones.

  She felt it stretch along her limbs and push against her flesh. Garrett’s growl grew louder and her wolf pushed harder.

  “You belong to me. That wolf of yours belongs to me.”

  “I know that.” Her wolf knew it too. She was restless, trying to surface in order to reach him. Her mate.

  “If you know that, then explain to me what I just saw.”

  “What did you see?”

  “He was doing something to you, wasn’t he? I could see it on your face.”

  Rayna swallowed, trying to catch her breath. She didn’t know how to answer him. What did he want her to say? If she told him the truth… well, she didn’t even want to think about what he might do. She knew what she would do had their situations been reversed. The thought made her queasy. “He’s got this funky power, is all.”

  “What kind of power?”

  She shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “Try.”

  “Okay.” She sighed and tried to think of the least damning thing to say. “I can read his moods.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Well, if he’s angry if feels like needles on my flesh.” The pressure he had on her face loosened and the butterflies in her stomach eased up on their dance. She licked her lips. “Sometimes, if he’s happy about something, its softer. Almost like a caress.”

  The pressure returned. “And what was he making you feel just then?”

  Lord she would have given anything not to answer that question. What did Sabriel make her feel? Aroused. Wanted. There was no way in hell she was going to tell him that.

  “I know what I think he made you feel.” He inhaled, his nostrils flaring. “I can smell it.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. There hadn’t been a day since she met Garrett that she’d truly been afraid of him, his wolf, yes, but not him. Not the man. But now as she stared up at him, a bubble of fear skated across her flesh.

  “Stay away from that vampire.”

  “I don’t want him, Garrett.” He didn’t look as if he believed her. “It was nothing. He just likes to play games, is all.”

  “I hope that’s all it is.”

  “It is.”

  “Good, because I’ll rip him apart if he so much as looks at you in a way I don’t like.” With those final words he kissed her, claimed her with a thrust of his tongue inside her mouth. His hands were rough when he lowered them to her breasts and she let him do as he pleased. She wouldn’t have fought him if she’d wanted to.

  When he broke the kiss, the wolf was still there, staring at her with those amber eyes. His gaze was predatory, possessive, and she knew she was about to get a lesson in what it meant to be a werewolf’s mate. Her heart was already racing by the time he backed up and grabbed her, tossing her over his shoulder, before crossing the room.

  Reaching the stairs, he started up, and Rayna smiled. She knew th
en her mate would never stray. Not if a single look from Sabriel could cause such a reaction. Garrett was hers, as she was his, and he was about to prove it.

  Chapter Twenty

  Bryce sat on the high ridge, staring out across the darkened mountain. A wolf howled somewhere in the distance and the wind whistled through the trees.

  He’d avoided the house for days, only staying long enough for Garrett to give him any orders, if he had any, before he would leave again to scout the mountain.

  The wolves Caleb made were all with the pack now and a few, those who didn’t initially come with Jacob, were being watched. They looked expectant. As if they were waiting for Carmen to show up any minute. Bryce couldn’t find a reason to care. He blamed that on Lydia.

  Just thinking of her sent his emotions into a tailspin. He hated having to think about her at all. Hated wanting to know what she was doing, if she’d fed. Most of all, he hated to want her so much. And he did. He could admit it to himself but he’d be damned if anyone else would ever know.

  The last time he saw her she was saying her goodbyes to everyone in the house. Sabriel was taking her back home. Bryce was glad. Without her there to constantly torture him with her presence, he could forget about her. Or so he told himself. The knowing ache he felt now, and the struggle his wolf was having with him, made him think otherwise.

  Rustling in the trees behind him alerted him to someone’s presence. It took only seconds to realize who it was when her scent reached him. His wolf raged at the knowledge she’d sought him out. It slammed against his bones and the physical pain was enough for Bryce to turn and look at her.

  She was bathed in shadows from the moon shining through the trees. Jeans and a loose fitting top made her look young. Her long hair swayed in the breeze. As always, she looked beautiful.