by Davis, Lia;
"Give me a minute."
My ass. "You know I can come in, and I will if you don't open."
He didn't answer so she started counting.
"One."
Silence.
"Two."
The shower turned on. She gripped the handle, and the door opened. Cooper glared at her. "You didn't get to three."
Her lips twitched at the corners. "One thing I learned at a very young age was to never deny my wolf what she wants. She has waited long enough for me to make the decision. It's my fault she is so wild. I allow her too much control."
He crossed his arms. "You spoil her."
"My first mate wasn’t exactly nice. I had to let her take the reins more times than normal." She glanced down at her hands. “For our own safety and the Pack’s.”
Relaxing, Cooper held out his hand. Dana took it and then stepped closer and hugged him tightly. With her ear pressed to his bare chest, she listened to his heartbeat. She’d been so wrong about the mating thing. At least, with true matings. Which is what she and Cooper had.
He was compassionate, loving, calm, and a protector. An alpha male to the core.
And he was all hers.
"This is so not what I expected. It's like our power is balanced." She smiled against his chest.
He sighed. "I told you I wouldn't push."
She glanced up at him. "You didn't. My wolf did. It's all her fault."
The wolf snorted and curled up beside Cooper's wolf. The traitor.
"I don't want you to resent this, or me."
Framing his face in her hands, she quickly kissed him. "I can't unless you betray me. I don't see how you could with this kind of bond. With Ross, it wasn't...like this. I mean, the connection seemed one-way, like he kept me out. The bond between us is open."
When he didn’t speak right away, she added, “I was too afraid to let you in. I guess my wolf knows better than I do.”
That brought a smile to his lips. “They do seem to know us better than we do.” He pulled her farther into the bathroom and shut the door. “Let’s take a shower and then get some sleep. We’ll go to Whiskey Hollow in the morning.”
Eleven
Now that Dana was more in tune with her magic, she seemed to like to test her limits. Or Cooper’s. He held his arms out a few inches from his body, trying to steady himself. Dana had teleported them to Whiskey Hollow, and Cooper was about to be sick.
Her smiling face came into view. “Breathe. It’ll pass soon.”
“Not soon enough. Remind me that I owe Star for mentioning that you could teleport.”
Dana laughed and nudged him with her elbow as she passed him. A smile lifted Cooper's lips, and he couldn't help but watch her ass sway as she walked up to her brother's door. Damn, the female was sexy.
Taking another deep breath, Cooper pushed the dizziness away and followed her. Darin opened the door and pulled his sister in for a hug. A moment later, Celeste emerged with a smile. She pushed past the twins and flew at Cooper. Relief flooded him. He hadn’t realized how worried he was about his sister.
Wrapping his arms around her to hug her tightly, he asked, "Are you okay?"
She nodded, burying her nose in his neck. He inhaled at the same time she did, needing to ensure himself that his family was safe.
A tug on the hem of his T-shirt made him release Celeste. Glancing down, his heart swelled at the sight of the tiny girl looking up at him with large, green eyes. He signed, "I missed you." Then he picked up Hope and kissed her cheek.
She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed.
Dana's scent filled the space around him. He glanced up to meet her smiling eyes. After a few moments, she nodded toward the door.
Once seated in the living room, Hope wandered off down the hallway. Cooper watched in confusion. It was almost as if she had made Darin's home her own.
"I have moved Celeste and Hope to my house. They are safer here," Darin announced before changing the subject to Edwin. Cooper glanced at Dana. She shrugged.
"Edwin was here yesterday asking questions about where you were. He was acting odd. Well, more odd than usual. It wasn't until Dana contacted me this morning with the council news that I understood Edwin's strangeness. I believe, somehow, he knows that you are free to track him down." Darin gave Dana a pointed look.
Cooper's chest tightened, and anger bubbled up. "Then he'll set a trap for her."
Darin nodded. "Have you talked with Solon?"
Dana shook her head. "Should I?"
"He wasn't with Edwin yesterday."
Cooper frowned. Solon was always with Edwin. The enforcer was Edwin's first, his right hand. At least until recent months, Cooper noted. "Solon has started pulling away from Edwin, and he doesn’t seem to follow his every demand."
Dana sighed. "Solon has been relaying info to me since Ross died. But I'm not sure which side he is on. It's possible he's working both ends. Anyway, Solon knew where I was. I assume Edwin did, too. The coward wouldn't dare step foot in the Coven, though."
"True. He also reeked of dark magic."
Cooper nodded. "Edwin needs to be taken out. Since Dana is free of all charges, I propose she and I go to Bloodrose so she can challenge him in front of the whole Pack."
As much as he hated to put his mate in harm's way, she was already in danger. Plus, he was mated to her now. He felt her magic, the power of the Goddess Diana. If the legends of the charmed wolf were true, Dana was immortal and protected by the gods. They'd give her the strength she needed.
He hoped that was true anyway.
Either way, he wouldn’t let her go alone.
"I agree. It will be a start even if Edwin isn't there. Dana, you can still stake your claim on the Pack and present your challenge to them. You could call it your first promise speech as their future Alpha. Hell, let them know the council is behind you to gain their trust." Darin threaded his hand through his hair. After a few moments, he added, "Axle and Noah will go with you."
Cooper tensed. The male names weren't familiar to him, and he wasn't sure he wanted them near his mate.
Dana growled, drawing his attention to her. "Axle and Noah are enforcers." She stood, stretched, and then announced, "I'm going to my house to prepare. I'll meet with the enforcers later."
She moved to the door. Cooper got up and followed.
They walked the short distance to her home in silence. Cooper sensed that she was thinking, planning, and he didn't want to distract her. She'd share when she was ready.
When they were inside the house, she turned to him. Her wolf flashed in her eyes, and one side of her mouth lifted in a wicked smile. With a hand flat on his chest, she pushed him up against the wall. Her mouth covered his instantly. He groaned, gripped her hips, and pulled her closer.
Dana broke the kiss and pulled her head back. Her breaths came in pants. "We should be plotting how to kill Edwin."
"Yeah." Cooper kissed her again. She growled and leaned into the embrace.
She tore her mouth from his and pressed her lips to his neck. A shudder went through him, and his dick jerked behind the zipper of his jeans. "Edwin will fight you with black magic."
A grunt was her response. A moment later, her fingers moved to the waistband of his jeans. In quick movements, she’d undone his pants and freed his cock. Her cool fingers wrapped around him, making him jerk. He leaned his head against the wall and hissed. Damn, it felt good to have her touch him. Pleasure swirled inside him, heating his blood, and filling his cock.
When she dropped to her knees, he almost came at the sight. Then her mouth was on him, sucking him in while she cupped his balls in her hand and massaged.
Fuuuck.
He fisted a hand in her hair and moved his hips. His balls tightened. No. Too soon. He fought to hold on. Just a little longer.
Her voice entered his mind. "Let go."
It was a command, and one he couldn't deny.
His o
rgasm hit him hard, sending him over the edge.
Dana released him and stood. A satisfied smile spread across her face. "I love it when you come."
He chuckled and gripped her hair, pulling it back. She gasped and then moaned. It didn't surprise him that she liked it a little rough. And from the pleasure riding their mating bond, he sensed that she loved to submit to him. She may be Alpha to the core, but she was still a female.
"Tell me what you want."
She growled and laughed at the same time. "I want you to take me, dominate me, in any way you want."
The sour smell of fear rose from her. Cooper framed her face with his hands. "What's wrong?"
Her eyes watered, and she shook her head. "I just need to not be in control right now."
The fear running through her worried him, but he didn't ask her about it. She needed him, needed to draw from his strength. And he would give her anything she asked for.
Cooper turned her so her back was against the wall. Shifting his hand, he ripped her jeans and shirt off. A low growl sounded from her, and when he met her heated gaze, he grew hard again. Fire rose in her blue eyes. Damn, she was beautiful.
He shifted his hand back to human then gripped her ass and lifted. Instantly, she wrapped her legs around him. Jerking his hips forward, he entered her. She clung to him, her nails puncturing his back.
With his hand still tangled in her hair, he pulled her head to the side to give him access to her throat. He wanted to mark her all over, claim her over and over. However, with the rush of pleasure bouncing between them—hers and his—he knew it wasn't long until they both came.
So he struck, stinking his teeth into her shoulder. She cried out in delight and sunk her nails deeper into his back. Maybe it was her claws. Hell, he didn't care. The pain mixed with their bliss, intensifying the desire coursing through his veins.
Picking up the pace, he slammed into her, going deeper with each thrust.
"Yes." She growled out the word.
He teetered on the edge and knew she did, too. When she tightened her legs around him, he fell—roaring out his release.
She followed soon after.
He held her against the wall for several long moments, his nose buried in her neck. She hugged him and relaxed her body against him.
"Thank you."
He chuckled. "No, thank you."
"Will it always be this intense?"
"I don't know. But I hope so." That got her laughing.
She stopped with a sigh and gently smacked him in the head. "Hmm, I might reconsider not being mad at you for binding me to you."
He smiled at her teasing tone. "You'll just have to make me your sex slave, then."
"Careful what you wish for, my wolf."
He lifted his head and stared into her blue depths. "I am yours. Always."
She kissed him. But it ended too soon. "Let's get cleaned up and see what we can dig up for lunch and then plot out our next move. I need to know everything you do about Bloodrose. The general routines of the den and Edwin. Everything."
He nodded and stepped back, releasing her so she stood in front of him. She stared at the pile of clothes on the floor and smiled. "I'm glad those weren't my favorite jeans."
"We can buy more clothes." He stepped into her. "Besides, I liked ripping them off you."
The fire returned to her eyes, and he wondered if it was because she’d opened up her powers. Or had the fire always been there?
A slow curve of her lips made her seem more wicked than normal. He shivered, and the smile widened. "Come shower with me, my wolf."
She walked off, and he shook his head. That female was going kill him…with desire.
But what a way to go.
Twelve
Dana didn't have much in her fridge because she hadn't been at her house in a while. Besides, she always ate at Darin's house anyway. Since they were going over the plans and figuring out the best way to approach the members of Bloodrose, she’d called Darin and told him to bring over food, Celeste, and Hope.
In less than thirty minutes, she and Celeste had sandwiches and a fruit and cheese tray made. They made a picnic in the middle of the living room at Hope's request. There was no saying no to that adorable child.
It burned Dana's insides to think that Edwin wanted to kill the little girl. Although it would make more sense for him to drain her of her magic first... Dana met Darin's gaze. Her brother shook his head. “Don't go there."
She sighed. She wouldn’t, but only because it would piss her off more. Focus. "I need to know everything about Bloodrose. The guards, their routines. The wolves and if they are loyal to Edwin. If there are any that could cause problems, I want to out them."
Cooper nodded, but it was Celeste who spoke first. "The only ones I can think of that are loyal to him and would cause problems are the enforcers and the Beta."
Dana nodded. "They're out automatically. Except for Solon." Dana met Darin's concerned gaze. "I'll need a few enforcers to help me out until I figure out who I can trust to have my back. I'm calling in Solon as an enforcer, but I need someone to watch him."
Darin gave a short nod. "Nico, Chase, and Micah will go. I'll have the sentries rotate shifts to watch over your Pack, as well."
"Wait," Celeste said drawing everyone's attention. "Her Pack?"
Dana smiled. "I'm going in to take the Pack. The more of them I have on my side, the easier it'll be to track down and kill Edwin."
Celeste widened her eyes and glanced at Cooper then Darin. "Is that allowed?"
Dana pursed her lips and gave her brother a narrowed-eye look. "I guess my brother didn't tell you. Darin and I are charmed wolves. Although I seem to have more of the goddess's power than he does. The council knows and has—in not so many words—ordered me to kill Edwin. So, in a way, I have full rights to take Bloodrose from him."
A mixture of relief, happiness, and fear crossed over Celeste's features. "Good. But how do you plan to succeed? I mean, the Pack is bound to him."
Dana's smile turned wicked. "I will break that bond. No Pack should be made to bond with their Alpha. They stay out of loyalty and trust. Pack is a family. It thrives on love and trust."
"Does anyone know where Edwin is?" Darin asked.
They all shook their heads, but Celeste said, "I can make a call to the Healer, Bree. She was the one person in that Pack besides Cooper I could talk to."
"Can you call her now?" Dana asked.
Celeste pulled out her cell and dialed. A few moments later, she smiled and spoke into the phone. "Bree. Hi, it's Celeste... I'm fine...no, really. Look, can you talk right now?" Relief settled over Celeste's features. "I’m with the Alpha of Whiskey Hollow and his sister...Yes, Dana." Celeste smiled, then laughed. "I was just going to ask if you minded." She pulled her phone from her face and punched the speaker.
"Dana. I heard you challenged the bastard."
"Yes, I did, but it seems he's hiding from me."
A growl sounded over the speaker. "Coward. He hasn't been in the den since he made the announcement that you planned to assassinate him. If you could see my face, I just rolled my eyes."
Dana pressed her lips together. She already liked the Healer. "I need you to make me a list of all Pack members that are loyal to him that could cause an issue with me walking in and taking over the Pack."
A squeal of delight came from the phone, making Dana laugh. Then Bree said, "Sure thing. Not many of them, though. The no-brainers are the enforcers, except Solon. He hides out at the clinic when he wants to avoid the asshat. The sentries don't even like him. But I'll get you a list. When are you coming? I could gather some of the dominant wolves that could help you."
"That would be great. Can you meet me at Celeste and Cooper's house in a half-hour?"
"Sure thing! And, Dana... Thank you."
Bree hung up before Dana could reply. Her chest tightened. The Pack had been through so much. Just then, Hope came over a
nd crawled into her lap and signed, "You okay?"
Dana couldn't stop the smile that formed. She signed back, "Yes, baby girl. Everything will be okay."
Dana was going to make sure of it.
Celeste tapped Hope on the knee to get her attention. "Come with me, Dana and Coop have somewhere to go."
Hope pouted but stood. Before she went with Celeste, she turned and gave Dana a tight hug. While they were wrapped in the embrace, Dana heard a small voice in her mind. "Stay safe."
Gasping, Dana pulled out of the hug and cupped Hope’s tiny face, putting her hands over her ears. Then Dana opened her mind, and she let the magic flow to her fingers. "Can you hear me?"
Hope's eyes grew large, and she nodded vigorously. Her bottom lip trembled as her eyes filled with tears. Yet, Dana didn't sense any sadness in her.
Cooper leaned into Dana. "What does this mean?"
"I'm not sure." Dana released Hope and continued. "I think I may be able to help Bree or Piper or both heal her hearing.
Hope frantically reached for Dana's hands and placed them back up by her ears. Which confirmed that it was Dana's magic, most likely mixed with Hope’s, that had allowed her to hear. Dana covered her ears again. "I have to go, but when I get back, we'll work with the Healer to see what we can do about your hearing."
Hope nodded and flew at her, hugging her tightly.
Innocents like Hope and Bree were what drove Dana. Edwin had to be taken out. She was going to make sure it happened.
* * *
Dana and Cooper went to his house in wolf form through the forest to his backyard so the enforcers wouldn’t notice right away. The last thing she needed was for Edwin's minion freaks to cause a scene before she addressed the Pack.
Cooper shifted and said, "Bree should be here soon."
Remaining in wolf form, Dana ogled her mate. His broad shoulders, sculpted chest, and abs. A knowing smile lifted his lips, and he shook his head before disappearing down the hallway. She shifted and followed him. Celeste had said she could borrow some clothes.
