by Becca Van
“Hi,” Talia called.
“Hi, yourself. How are you feeling?” Michelle asked.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you happy here, Talia?” Michelle asked when she stopped in front of her.
“Yes. I’ve never been happier.”
“The men take good care of us, don’t they?”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen anything like that before. They are all so dominant, but they treat us women like we are precious.”
“To them we are. The men only get one mate in a lifetime, and if they don’t meet their mate, well, I’m sure you understand,” Michelle stated. “Well, I’d better go check on the baby. Just remember you don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I enjoy it. Thanks, Michelle,” Talia said then got back to work.
Talia spent four hours in the garden. Time had gotten away from her, and when she looked at her watch and realized it was nearly lunchtime, she decided to call it a day. She went back inside, jumped into the shower, and cleaned up. By the time she was dry she was beginning to flag. The thought of crawling into Chris’s bed, to have his and his brothers’ scent surrounding her, was too good to miss. She pulled the towel from around her body, dropped it on the floor, and slid in between the sheets. She was sound asleep moments later.
Talia didn’t want to wake up from her erotic dream. She spread her legs wide as fingers slid through the wet folds of her pussy. She moaned when a mouth latched on to one of her nipples while fingers pinched the other. She opened her mouth and sucked on the tongue which was thrust into her moist depths and slid her lips over the ones covering hers. She slowly came back to consciousness and realized she wasn’t dreaming at all. She opened her eyes and looked in Chris’s as he kissed her. Blayk was sucking and pinching on her nipples, and James was between her legs eating her cunt. She sucked in a breath as Chris moved his mouth from hers.
“Hey, darlin’, did you enjoy your nap? Do you feel all right?”
“Yes,” Talia cried out in answer to Chris, and also in response to the pleasure bestowed on her by James and Blayk.
“Do you want us, sugar?” James asked when he lifted his head to look at her.
“Yes. Please, now,” Talia whimpered in need.
“We’ll give you what you want, baby. Just let us love on you,” Blayk said in a deep voice, and then she watched him lower his head to her breast again.
Talia mewled when James sucked and laved on her clit and pushed two fingers into her cunt. She reached up and threaded her fingers into Chris’s hair. She pulled his mouth down to her and kissed him with all the emotions she felt for him. The heat and carnality of the kiss set her on fire, but it was also full of emotion. She felt tears prick the backs of her eyelids and tried to push them back. But her feelings were just too strong to contain, and tears leaked out from beneath her lids and down over her cheeks. The hands and mouths on her body pulled away instantly. Talia opened her eyes as she felt large, muscular arms scoop her up, and she found herself sitting on Chris’s lap.
“Did we hurt you, Talia? Why are you crying?” Chris asked.
“No, you didn’t hurt me. I’m just…I can’t explain,” Talia said haltingly.
“Darlin’, we’re worried about you. Please, tell me what’s wrong,” Chris said gently.
“Nothing’s wrong. That’s the problem,” Talia said with a hitch in her voice.
“What do you mean, baby?” Blayk asked.
“Everything is just so right. And I felt so full of happiness and you guys treat me so well, I just couldn’t contain my emotions,” Talia said and ducked her head to hide her heated cheeks.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about, sugar. We love you,” James said and reached over to kiss her shoulder.
“You do?”
“Darlin’, how could you doubt how we feel? You mean everything to us. I love you, Talia,” Chris said, his voice full of emotion.
“I love you, too, baby,” Blayk said and kissed her temple.
“Oh God,” Talia cried as tears poured out of her eyes. “I love you, too. I love all of you so much, it hurts.” Talia gave in to her emotions and let Chris hold her while she cried with joy. Her heart was so full that she had to release some of her feelings. When her tears finally slowed and dried, she looked up and gave her mates a chagrined smile.
“Do you feel better, baby?” Blayk asked her.
“Yes. I’m sorry for getting all sappy,” she apologized.
“Don’t you dare apologize for the way you feel, darlin’. We wanted to tell you we loved you the moment we set eyes on you, but we didn’t want to scare you away. Now, as much as I want to continue what we started, we are going to be late for dinner if we don’t haul ass. Tonight is a full moon and all the weres go for a run after dinner. When we get back we’ll take up where we left off. Okay?” Chris asked.
“Okay,” Talia replied. She was excited about tonight. She hadn’t seen her men in their wolf forms yet. She was eager to see the color of their fur, and she wanted to run her fingers through it and scratch behind their ears. Talia grinned even more broadly. Seeing their wolves sounded almost as good as taking up where she had left off with them as men.
Chapter Ten
Talia had never seen such a festive atmosphere or so much food. It was a wonder the table wasn’t bowing under the weight of the food platters. Jonah, along with his brothers, Mikhail and Brock, stood at the far end of the table. Michelle sat between Jonah and Mikhail.
“I would like you all to welcome the newest member to our pack. She has already won the heart of your queen and her friend. Welcome, Talia Black,” Jonah said and raised a glass in her direction.
Talia acknowledged the Alphas and their mate with a nod of her head and then lowered her eyes. She had never expected to be welcomed into the pack so formally. The Friess Pack was just so different from what she had experienced with the Rogan Pack and her ex. She didn’t really know what to do. She was thankful when all eyes were off of her and she could relax once more. She sat between Chris and Blayk and huffed with exasperation as they loaded her plate with food. She knew werewolves had a higher metabolism than humans, but why they kept loading her plate with so much was beyond her.
Dinner was a joyful, exuberant affair. There seemed to be an excited hum in the air which was contagious. When the meal was over and the weres began filing outside, Talia followed behind. She was eager to see her men as wolves. The thought that they could change form and were so much stronger than her, excited her. She made sure to keep out of the way and watched with awe as her men stripped off their clothes. Their bodies began to contort as their muscles shifted and reshaped. The popping and cracking sounded painful, but once they were in their wolf forms, their joyful howls sent shivers racing up and down her spine.
Talia took a hesitant step forward and then stopped. Her mates turned toward her and walked slowly to her side. She could tell by the color of their eyes and their coats who was who. Plus, Chris was more muscular and taller than Blayk and James. He nudged her hand with his nose, and she laughed. She lifted her hand and scratched behind his ears and then ran her fingers through his soft, glossy coat. She did the same to Blayk and James. They each licked her on the hand and then turned, running into the woods at the back of the house. She had never seen such a beautiful sight.
Talia trudged back toward the house. She knew her mates could be gone all night. Her ex had often disappeared for days on end. She reached the house and walked to the living room. She found Michelle sitting with her baby as she fed him.
“Where’s Keira?” Talia asked as she sat down.
“She’s gone for a run. I’m surprised you didn’t see her out there,” Michelle replied.
“How did Keira become a werewolf?” Talia asked curiously.
“Poor Keira didn’t really get a say in the matter. It was either change her and hope she survived, or she would have died anyway. She’d been shot, and she was dying,” Michelle said, and looked at her with sadness i
n her eyes.
“How does one get changed into a werewolf?”
“Are you sure you want to know? It’s pretty horrific.”
“I’d really like to know. I always thought a werewolf had to be born with the gene,” Talia said.
“Well, you’re right, but a human can be changed. Whether they survive the process or not is another matter. She had to be savaged by a werewolf so the wolf DNA could get into her system. It was touch and go for a while, but she pulled through and now she is happy with her mates and carrying a child.”
“Oh my God. That’s horrible. The thought of her mates having to hurt her is just too horrendous to even think about,” Talia said, covering her mouth.
“Her mates didn’t do it. They couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her. My mates and some of the other pack members held her mates back while Chris changed her and then Blayk took over caring for her,” Michelle clarified. “I hope no one ever has to do that again. It made me sick to my stomach. I was just glad Keira was already unconscious. The thought of her going through that, having to endure such agony is beyond my comprehension.”
“Oh wow. Chris did it? I just can’t imagine… He’s always so gentle. It must have caused him terrible anguish to have to do that,” Talia said quietly.
“It did. He was on tenterhooks the whole time Keira was recovering. Even though he knew Keira would have died without him changing her, he would have felt guilty if she had died afterward,” Michelle said.
Talia looked up to see tears in Michelle’s eyes. She gave her a watery smile, and they both laughed with joy when baby Stefan let out a great belch, easing the tension of the moment.
“He’s so cute. He looks like Jonah,” Talia said as she stroked a finger down his baby-soft cheek. He smiled, but his eyes were closed and Talia knew he was already falling asleep. She pictured herself round with child, and then she saw herself holding her own baby in her arms with her mates surrounding her. She felt a deep tug and yearning and knew that she wanted to be the mother of their babies, just as much as she wanted to be their mate.
“Let me go and put him down, and then I’ll be back so we can chat,” Michelle said as she stood and walked from the room.
Talia smiled as the sweet baby smell left the room. She wondered if her mates would be averse to starting to try for a baby right away. She was on the pill, but she knew she wanted to have her babies early, and the practice of making love regularly was definitely something to look forward to. She looked up when she heard footsteps coming from the entryway. She smiled at Cindy as she hurried into the kitchen. The young woman’s cheeks were flushed, and Talia could tell she had been out for a run. She wondered what it was like. To be able to change forms and run free through the woods would be such a joy.
Talia jumped when she heard a loud crash emanate from the kitchen. She got to her feet and froze in the doorway when she heard another thud and crash. The hair on her nape stood up on end, and she had a bad feeling in her gut. She got to the door of the living room and halted. A large, strange man came into view. She took a step into the hall and backed away, but he followed. She saw a flash of silver as he moved toward her, and she looked down. He held a knife in his hand. She didn’t know who he was or what he wanted, but from the looks of it, nothing good would come out of this.
Talia felt her heel connect with the stairs. She lifted her foot and began to slowly walk up the stairs, backward. She kept her eyes on his, too afraid to look away in case he came at her with the knife.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Talia asked.
“I’m looking for Talia Rogan.”
Talia froze. Anyone who called her by that name had to be associated with Paul—as if the knife wasn’t bad enough.
“She’s not here,” she replied, hoping Michelle wouldn’t choose that moment to return. Her foremost thought, even as she looked at the knife pointing toward her, was that Michelle and her baby needed to stay safe. “What do you want with her anyway?”
“She has something that belonged to her dearly departed husband. A little information that he was stupid enough to leave with her. I want it!”
“Who are you?” Talia asked and blanched as he gave her a smile so full of evil, she felt sick to her stomach.
“Tony Picotti,” he said.
Talia felt all the blood drain from her face as he introduced himself. He looked proud of who he was. She felt her stomach twist again.
“I see you’ve heard of me. I’m glad to know my reputation precedes me,” he said and placed a foot on the bottom step.
Talia cringed inside with fear. She couldn’t believe the leader of the biggest drug cartel in the United States of America was standing in front of her. She remembered Paul telling her he had a hold over the mob, but it seemed the drug lord had decided he was going to be leader of all the weres. Why does this shit keep happening to me? Why do I seem to draw the sickos to my side? Oh God, please help me keep Michelle and baby Stefan safe!
Talia made it to the first-floor landing. She wanted to turn and run, but she knew Michelle’s suite of rooms was on this level, and the last thing she wanted was to lead the evil bastard to his goals. She ignored the landing and began to move up the steps faster, hoping she wouldn’t misplace her feet as she was moving backward. She heard footsteps and knew her luck had run out. She turned her head and saw Michelle walking along the first-floor hallway.
She pleaded with her eyes for Michelle to run. Talia sighed with relief as Michelle fled back down the corridor and turned to flee when Tony Picotti was distracted by the sight of the bolting woman. She didn’t get very far. She screamed in pain as a tight fist gripped her hair, and she fell back a couple of steps, slamming into the chest of the evil man behind her.
Talia froze when she felt the cold steel of the knife blade against her throat..
“Tell me,” Tony snarled in her ear, “was that Talia? Maybe I need to go introduce myself to her.”
“No,” she whimpered. “I’m Talia. I’m the one you’re looking for.” She was so scared that her whole body was cold and she was trembling uncontrollably. But if she could keep the man from going after Michelle, at least her Alpha queen and baby Stefan would be safe. Deciding she may as well finish the job, she blurted, “That chip you’re looking for is gone! My mates destroyed it. There’s no more werewolf serum.” Some part of her had hoped he would let her go once he knew the truth, but Tony only gripped her more tightly.
“I don’t believe you,” he said in her ear. “Did your useless husband give you the serum already? I know he wanted to make you his queen.” He paused, his breath hot in Talia’s ear. “Maybe he had the right idea.”
“I am not a werewolf, and I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last man on Earth,” Talia raged then ground the heel of her shoe against his shin.
Talia sobbed when he just cursed and didn’t let her go. He pulled on her hair so hard, tears of pain leaked from her eyes.
Low rumbling growls and howls filled the air, and she knew in that moment her mates and the other males of the pack were close by.
“You won’t get away with this. You’re surrounded by werewolves. They will rip you apart,” Talia said and cursed the wobble she heard in her own voice.
“Nah. You are my ticket out of here, sweetness. God, you smell nice. I can’t wait to fuck you,” Tony whispered in her ear. “You’re coming with me. I can use you to bargain for that serum.”
Talia gagged. She was surrounded by his evil stench and was afraid she would be sick. He wrapped an arm tightly around her breasts and shoulders and began to pull her down the stairs. The tip of the knife blade had pierced her skin in several places on her throat, the cuts were stinging, and she could feel her blood trickling down over her neck.
Tony pulled her toward the side door which led to the carport outside. She didn’t know if her mates and the other wolves would be able to save her. Tony held the knife tight across her throat. She was too scared to swallow in case she ended up hurtin
g herself against the sharp blade. He walked her through the open doorway and pulled her out into the night.
The hair on her nape stood on end as growls erupted all around them. Tony didn’t stop. He just kept right on going. They were surrounded by wolves, but that didn’t seem to faze Picotti. Her eyes connected with Chris’s, Blayk’s, and James’s. She let them see all the love she felt for them in her eyes. She could see their fury as they looked back at her, but she could also see their anguish. She didn’t want to leave the loves of her life. She had only just found them. Tony didn’t give any of the wolves a chance to get at him from behind. He kept his back to the wall of the carport, and then pulled her through the open door of the large SUV.
Talia hoped for an opportunity to escape, but she didn’t get the chance. He got into the front of the vehicle and pulled her on top of him.
“Close the door or I’ll slit your throat here and now,” Tony commanded harshly.
Talia reached for the door and pulled it closed, the sound of the locks engaging echoing through the car. There was an awkward scuffle as Tony tried to get across the front seat. She whimpered as he pushed her off his lap and into the driver’s seat and handed her the keys.
“Drive, bitch.”
It took Talia three tries before she was able to get the key in the ignition. She gave her mates one last look and drove down the driveway. Talia knew she was never going to see her mates again.
Chapter Eleven
Chris memorized the license plate as he watched his mate disappear from sight. He changed back to his human form and raced for the study. He stopped short when the smell of blood permeated his senses. He looked behind him to see Blayk and James, as well as his Alphas and the others, on his heels. Blayk sniffed, taking in the coppery smell of blood, and then his brother headed for the kitchen. Someone in there was hurt or even dead. He couldn’t think about that now. He wanted to get to the phone and report Talia’s abduction to the authorities. The sooner there was an APB out on the vehicle and the asshole that had his mate, the better.
