Bitter Change

by Mara Lee

  Ethenia lifted her head, “What would you have me call you?”

  Lothos swore. “Lothos. Just call me by my name.”

  Ethenia's eyes grew wide and she swallowed. “It isn't proper. You saved me. We mated. You are technically now my master.”

  “Technically your master? What sort of bullshit is this? Listen, uh, you were unbelievably hot last night, and we had a great time. But this isn't going to be some long term thing, if that is what you're thinking.”

  Ethenia couldn't understand what he was saying. Was he telling her that he didn't want her? It confused her. What alpha would willingly give up a slave? “You do not want me?”

  Lothos laughed. “Not want you? Yes, I want you. I just don't want you, understand?”

  Ethenia shook her head no.

  “I don't want anyone but my true mate.” Lothos sighed. “I am searching for my amouratesh. Do you understand now?”

  Ethenia was defeated. He didn't want her. Lothos, her dream lover, was looking for his amouratesh—his bond mate. Ethenia knew what an amouratesh was, she was Loopin after all. Kieran had nearly broken her spirit and had all but destroyed her. He had imprisoned her and kept her cut off from everything and everyone. But he had not been able to crush the Loopin in her. He had not been able to take away her natural instincts and her will to survive. She had survived Kieran, and she would survive this. “I understand,” Ethenia said quietly.

  Lothos grunted. Why in the hell did he feel like such a damned heel? He had only told her the truth as it lay in his heart. Sex with her was wonderful, but that was all it could be. He needed to find his bond mate before it was too late. Without the other half of his soul the darkness would eventually overtake him and he would be lost in his beast forever. Those Loopin who did not find their soul mates eventually were swallowed up by their animal selves and lost to the human world altogether. Often they became ravaging beasts that had to be hunted down and destroyed. It had happened to Airek's cousin, Rex. Yes, Rex had been evil, and yes, his evil stemmed deep from his soul, but Lothos knew that some of that evil had been spawned from the fact that Rex had never met his mate. His soul had been swallowed up by his beast and if Airek had not killed him he would have shifted to wolf form and remained thus for the rest of his very unnatural life. Lothos would kill himself first. He would kill himself before he let his beast eat him alive. Lothos was Loopin, and Loopin were both man and beast, one half could not survive without the other.

  “I thank you for your hospitality,” Ethenia said. “I will leave as soon as I have gathered provisions.”

  Lothos shook his head. “Don't be ridiculous. I have more than enough for two. You may take whatever you need from the cave.” Lothos dropped his mental shields and felt Ethenia's wild Loopin energy crawling off of her skin. She was frightened. He could smell her fear in the air. “Do you still fear me?” Lothos asked.

  Ethenia said nothing.

  Lothos moved forward and stopped when he saw her flinch. “Ethenia,” Lothos sighed, “Ethenia, speak to me. Do you still fear me?”

  Ethenia had to try twice before she found her voice. “I fear what will happen once I leave your dwelling.”

  It was high time that he got some answers. They were overdue. Lothos sat back on his haunches and stared at her pointedly. “Explain.”

  “Where do you want me to start?” Ethenia asked.

  “From the beginning would be good. Who are you? Where are you from?”

  Ethenia took a deep breath. Lothos had proven that he would not hurt her. Indeed, he had gifted her with pleasure she had never known possible last night. She owed him answers. “I am Ethenia Deveux, my Pack is Pack Teibelle. We are located just outside of Marseilles.”

  “You've had a long journey, little angel.”

  “Longer than you know,” Ethenia murmured. Ethenia began to twist her hair between her fingers, a gesture she often indulged in when she was nervous. “I have been with Pack Teibelle since their Alpha, Kieran, took me in when I was a child.”

  Lothos saw Ethenia shoulders tense and her face twist the moment she uttered her Alpha's name. Lothos quelled his fury. At least he had one of his answers—he knew now who had hurt her. “Go on,” Lothos urged.

  Ethenia's mouth was dry and she took a deep breath to calm herself. “K-Kieran took me in after my parents were killed. He brought me into the Pack and taught me their ways. He … he initiated me in the way of the wolf, all their ways.”

  Lothos knuckles went white as he clenched his hands. This Kieran had laid his hands upon his angel's honeyed skin. He had been the first to touch her, the first to have her.

  “At first Kieran was the mentor every young Loopin wishes to have,” Ethenia said quietly. “He was a tender, compassionate lover and had absolute power over his Pack. But…”

  “What Ethenia? Tell me.” Lothos urged.

  “He became brutal.” Ethenia's eyes went hard at the memory of her first beating. “In the beginning he beat me because his dinner was late, or because I didn't bow low enough for his liking. But in the end he hurt me because it gave him pleasure.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “He beat me every day and then…” her voice quivered, “then the torture began.”

  Lothos could barely see past the red haze that covered his eyes. He would destroy the man. He would take this Kieran apart piece by piece but he would choose his pieces carefully in order to keep Kieran alive until the very end. He would make sure Kieran suffered, suffered for each day he had made Ethenia hurt.

  Ethenia rushed on, the weight of her admissions etched on her face. “Kieran could not obtain … obtain,” she blushed, “an erection unless he hurt me. The more pain he inflicted the greater his pleasure was. He … he cut me and bled me and he stuffed my wounds with silver to keep them from healing.” Her tears burst forth in great waves and she rocked back from the force of her pain, hugging herself.

  Lothos fangs extended and his claws unsheathed. He would kill the sonofabitch. Ethenia's sobs reached him and he moved to her back. He brought his arms around her and cradled her against his chest. “Shhhhhh, angel, shhhh, you're free of him now. You're free.” Lothos swallowed, nervous, when she continued to sob. Women and tears, he had never been able to deal with crying women. He felt so damned helpless. Lothos rubbed a hand down her arm and nuzzled her hair. “Please, little one, please stop crying.”

  Lothos knew the second that Ethenia's body recognized his and began to feel sexual awareness. She began to shiver and her nipples became as hard as acorns. Lothos moved his hands up Ethenia's ribcage to cup her full breasts. He rubbed her nipples and then gently plucked at the hard buds. When she moaned he smiled against her hair. It seemed that he had discovered a way to stop her tears. “God, you're beautiful,” Lothos reached down and dipped a finger into her already wet pussy, “And hot, you're so hot, sweetheart.”

  Ethenia moaned. “Lothos, Lothos, I don't think…” she began.

  “Good. Don't think, Ethenia.” Lothos rubbed his hand against her pussy and teased her delicate folds with his nimble fingers. When Ethenia's head dropped back against him, he could not resist. He inserted two fingers into her sopping pussy and began to scissor them back and forth. When he withdrew his hand it was coated in her thick juices. Lothos brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean. She tasted incredible—he couldn't wait to have more.

  Lothos arranged Ethenia on her back, legs splayed wide. He smiled. She looked like a wanton angel, all open and flushed before him. Lothos dropped to all fours and crawled slowly up her body. He tickled her legs with his hair and licked a path up to her thighs. When he reached her pussy he stopped and sniffed. God, she smelled incredible, sweet and musky, a complete Loopin woman.

  Ethenia held her breath. Her body was quivering with intense sensations. He wasn't going to, no he wouldn't. No one had ever done this to her before.

  Lothos smiled wolfishly. He parted her labia with his tongue and licked her slowly, savoring her taste and reveling in the cries that came
forth from her throat. He located her clit and flicked at it. He rolled the fleshy pebble with his tongue and then planted his lips completely and firmly around her pussy. He sucked at her slit, relishing in the taste of her. He stiffened his tongue and probed her deeply, screwing in and out. She trembled.

  Ethenia arched her hips and groaned. She couldn't believe it; she couldn't believe how good his tongue felt foraging in and out of her pussy. Her body was burning up and she could feel her muscles beginning to clench. She reached down and buried her hands within Lothos's lush hair. “Ohhh, ohhhh, I'm, I'm…”

  When she cried with pleasure, Lothos buried his face up to his nose into her wet flesh and took her clit gently between his teeth and bit.

  That was it. Ethenia screamed, pulled his hair and erupted. Her creamy juices coated Lothos's face and her cries echoed off of the walls of the cave. She let her head fall limply back and let the glow of her orgasm overtake her.

  Lothos was far from through with his golden angel. He spread her legs wider apart and lifted her hips none too gently off of the ground. With one look into her misty amber eyes, he plunged his cock into her still dripping pussy.

  Ethenia screamed. It was too much, oh God, it was too much. Her heart was thudding and Lothos's cock in her body felt like molten steel. She arched her hips and dug her heels into the ground, trying to get closer to his body, to his cock.

  “Oh, angel, oh God angel, you feel incredible,” He crooned.

  Ethenia shook her head wildly. “Shut up, stop talking and fuck me.”

  Lothos laughed. He could not disappoint the lady. He quickened his pace and grabbed her breasts, twisting and pinching her taut nipples. Her breath caught in her throat, and he wrapped her legs high around his waist and screwed her harder. He needed her as much as he needed air to survive. Her pussy was liquid fire. It was clenching and pulsing around his cock and every little spasm sent him into orbit. Lothos bent down and took one hard nipple into his mouth. He licked and sucked the taut bud and fought the urge to plant his mouth over her heart and bite. He could not. She was not his mate to bind.

  “Lothos, Lothos…” Ethenia could do nothing but chant his name.

  Lothos loved the sound of his name of Ethenia's lips. His cock jumped and seemed to vibrate. Her pussy was scalding his hard flesh and he could no longer keep himself from pumping into her needy sheath. His thrusts were hard and demanding and he grunted as she met him stroke for stroke.

  Ethenia was shaking and shivering. Her pussy began to hum and jump and her eyes rolled back in her head. She slammed her body against Lothos, arched helplessly upwards and screamed long and gloriously.

  Lothos waited until the moment that Ethenia peaked to let go. He gave two more thrusts, let out a roar and spilled his seed into her pussy. He fell, sated, against her.

  Reluctantly he pulled his cock out of her and turned her so that they could spoon. His last thought before he slept, was that he sure liked the feel of her warm body against his. A little piece of paradise, that's what it was.

  Chapter Three

  Ethenia ran her hand lightly over the rough canvas. The painting was beautiful. She hadn't been able to resist touching the surface when she had seen it standing so solitary against the wall. The painting depicted two wolves at rest. They lay side by side, their bodies almost melting into one another. The moon was full overhead and the forest sheltered their sleeping bodies. It was obvious to Ethenia that the artist who had painted the picture had loved the subjects.

  “What are you doing?”

  Ethenia spun around. Why did she just feel like she had gotten caught sticking her hand into the cookie jar? “Uh, good morning,” she stammered out. Heat rushed into her face, making her blush.

  Lothos narrowed his eyes. “Why are you back here?” He asked.

  “You told me that I could have what I needed from the caves. I didn't know what you had, I had to look around.”

  Lothos was instantly contrite. He ran a hand through his hair. “I see.” It was then that he saw the painting. He clenched his hands. “I do not think the painting is a preserve. You will not be taking it with you.”

  Ethenia's blush deepened. “Of course not,” she said. Ethenia swallowed. “It is beautiful, though. Do you know who painted it?” Ethenia saw Lothos's jaw clench and she could have hit herself. How could she have been so stupid? Obviously she had touched on a sore subject.

  Lothos sighed. His eyes darted away for a moment, then he met her gaze again. “I did.”

  “You did?”

  Lothos frowned. “You need not sound so surprised.”

  Ethenia shook her head quickly. “No, I mean, I'm sorry, I just didn't expect that you…” she stopped. She was only digging her hole deeper.

  Lothos smiled. “Don't worry. I guess I do not look the type.”

  “The type?” She asked.

  “Yes, the type to sit around painting oils,” he answered.

  Ethenia took in his flowing hair and his rippling muscles and sighed. Perhaps he didn't look the artist, but he certainly could inspire one. She shook her head. Jeez, she had to remain focused. Every time she thought of his muscles, his hair, those eyes and his incredible cock she wanted to jump him and to hell with the rest of the world. See, she was doing it again, getting distracted.

  Lothos wondered what was going through that beautiful head of hers. Her eyes were glassy and her heart rate had increased, he could hear it—thump, thump, thump in her chest. He knew what was going through his head though. Standing naked, bathed in light, she had never seemed more his golden angel. He wanted to turn her around, plant her hands against the wall and take her from behind. He wanted to run his hands over her golden body and slip his cock, wet from her pussy, into her ass. He wanted, he wanted, oh God how he wanted her. Lothos shook his head to clear it of the powerful images that were assailing it. What was wrong with him? He could hardly look at Ethenia without wanted to drive his cock into her body. Lust, yes that was it. That had to be it. Lust in the Loopin was incredibly strong. They were highly sexual creatures. It was only lust, and lust was easily sated. He had taken Ethenia and now, well now the lust would be satisfied, right?

  Lothos swallowed. He could not become distracted. He had gone on this pilgrimage to cleanse his soul and to find his bond mate. He could not become distracted by this wild angel. Her story tugged at his soul but it wasn't his problem. No, he wasn't Alpha of a Pack. It was natural that when she had told him about the evil Kieran that he had wanted to tear the man limb from limb, but now, well now he saw things clearer. He had to bring Ethenia to someone who could care for her, watch over her and ultimately, protect her. Airek would have been a good choice before he had met Sheila. But now that Airek and Sheila were bonded and ruled Pack Hestra, he knew that they had their hands full with the Pack members already under their rule. Lothos didn't think it wise to bring Ethenia to Airek. Airek could not care for her as she deserved to be cared for. Lothos didn't like the fact that he was beginning to think upon the lines that he was the only one suited to care for Ethenia. He had to shed himself of such thoughts.

  Suddenly he had a thought. Why couldn't he bring Ethenia to Sophie? Sophie was a powerful psychic and had abnormally strong magical abilities. Sophie would keep Ethenia safe.

  “Lothos?” Ethenia said his name tentatively.

  Lothos smiled. “So, angel, what do you think about a trip to Connecticut?”

  * * * *

  Ethenia was still shaking her head in disbelief. How in hell had she ended up on a train bound to Connecticut with Lothos? She tried to convince herself that the reason she was on this train was that she was now bound to serve him. He had taken her, yes, and she had participated wholeheartedly, but that didn't diminish the claim he now had over her. Hadn't Kieran told her often enough that once an alpha male fucked a bitch she was his—body and soul. Kieran had tried to beat her into submission but she had defied him. She had defied him by running as far away from him as possible. And now, here she was, with Lo
thos, another alpha. Yes, she was on this train with him because he now owned her. She wasn't here because … because she cared for him. Ethenia gasped. Oh God, she couldn't care for him. She had cared for Kieran and look where that had gotten her.

  “Are you all right, angel?” Lothos asked.

  Ethenia's head snapped up. “Please don't call me that.”

  “What? Angel?” Lothos smiled. “You don't like my nickname for you?”

  Ethenia blushed. God she hated her blushes. She could control her shift from woman to wolf so why the hell couldn't she control the blood that rushed to her head? “No, I don't like it.” Ethenia felt heat assail her.

  Lothos grinned. “You're lying.”

  “I am not.”

  Lothos laughed. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Ethenia, you're blushing. You're as bright as a freshly washed tomato. Don't try to tell me that you don't like my endearments. You do.”

  Ethenia leaned back against her seat, defeated. Damn him, he was right. His endearments warmed her. She liked the way they made her feel. She just didn't like that he knew how much he affected her. It pissed her off. Ethenia chose to change the subject. “Why Connecticut?” She asked.

  “My friend Sophie lives in Connecticut. She'll be able to keep an eye on you.”

  Ethenia felt the slow build of fury work through her body. He was passing her off? “You didn't tell me you were going to hoist me off on somebody.”

  “I'm not hoisting you off, angel. I'm leaving you in the care of a very good friend.”

  Ethenia found herself sulking. She knew that this mess was partly her fault because she hadn't asked any questions of him in the cave. He had asked her what she thought of a trip to Connecticut and she had shrugged her shoulders and acquiesced. She had wanted to be with him, even if it was only for one more day, even if it meant accompanying him to the Connecticut. But now to learn that he was dumping her with some stranger just so that he could free his hands of her. Pain and fury assailed her. Well he could just go to hell.