With a salacious smile he closed the door, and I heard the driver climbing into the front as he did so. Race pushed the button to lower the black plastic panel that divided the front of the luxury vehicle from the passenger compartment.
“What is our destination?” George asked, looking back at us in the rearview mirror.
I pulled out my cell phone and opened the text from my mother, rattling off the address she’d sent me. Once George had acknowledged, Race raised the panel back up again, and then suddenly he was on me, his mouth crushing mine in a kiss meant to devour. Through our bond I sensed a primal need in him—his instincts were demanding that he claim me. The animal spirits that resided within him were crying out for release, and as he couldn’t very well take Kevin Tracey’s head off—at least not right at that moment—the sexual claiming of his mate would have to sate him until he could.
Whether or not I was a willing participant in this particular joining would be of little consequence, for the imperative driving Race to mate was too strong for him to resist. Given my recent experience, for a moment I contemplated resisting—denying him the release he craved out of fear that he might inadvertently hurt me. Though he had been a little rough with me once before, it was nothing compared to what I sensed might happen this time. I also feared that I would begin to flashback as I had our first night back home.
But that moment of hesitation lasted hardly more than a few seconds. I was quite surprised to feel my own animal side rearing her head, seeking as much from Race as he took from me. We came close to literally tearing each other’s clothes off as we struggled to rid ourselves of the hindrance they presented. Almost faster than I could blink, I was on my back and he was inside me, taking me hard and fast. With his mouth he feasted on my breasts; my hands roamed his back, his arms, his hair—kneading, scratching, and pulling in response to the undeniable need for release that he had awakened in me.
I knew that the mild pain I felt as he pistoned against me, as he lightly bit the flesh of my breasts, my neck, my jaw, would be worth enduring when that release finally came, as I could feel my body beginning that familiar tightening in my center. But I also knew even as he slammed his velvet steel into me again and again that we weren’t making love—that this wasn’t about pleasure.
It was fucking, pure and simple. Race was pissed and he needed an outlet for his anger.
I wasn’t exactly of a sunny disposition either, so I made sure to give as good as I got. There wasn’t really time to think about precisely why we were angry, or the fact that I had suddenly been introduced to a side of myself I’d never known existed—the wanton, wild creature raking her nails down Race’s back, biting his shoulders, his jaw, his lips…she was more animal than human. She was either an aspect of my personality that had heretofore been hidden or she had been birthed of the violence that had been introduced into my life in recent weeks, who might remain for months or be gone tomorrow.
I wasn’t sure if I liked this side of me. Or maybe I was just afraid of the unknown.
I could feel my body preparing for release, the tightness in my core growing stronger. But Race was apparently not ready to let me have it yet, as he suddenly withdrew from me and turned me so that my legs were sticking out in the middle of the limo. He then flipped me so that I was on my stomach and kneed my thighs apart wider. I tried to push up on my elbows but he pushed me back down, crushing my breasts beneath me on the seat. With one hand on my back holding me down, he grabbed my hip with the other, and I gasped loudly as he slammed into me from behind. The hand on my back moved to my hair, which he grabbed a handful of and pulled just tight enough to make me feel it.
Race then did something completely unexpected—continuing to thrust in and out of me, he leaned over my back and nuzzled my shoulder, and then he bit me. My eyes widened in shock and I felt our bond resonate more powerfully in my mind as we became even more intimately connected. I realized then that for Race, this was much more than a bout of angry sex. He was making it clear that this was about possession. Dominance. And he would accept nothing less than my complete surrender to his control.
He was the Alpha.
***
As we were dressing, I heard myself say, “You didn’t have to do that. You’ve got nothing to prove to me.”
Race paused in the midst of pulling his shirt over his head and looked at me. “Yeah, I think I did.”
I frowned as he dragged his shirt into place. “What happened to being equal partners in this relationship?” I asked. “I mated with you because we were meant to be together, Race. Not so that you could turn me into a doormat who caters to your every whim.”
He chuckled mirthlessly. “That’s not what I want, Juliette. Nor would I expect you to capitulate to my every demand. But this situation has made me realize a few things.”
Despite my irritation—he’d refused to let me climax until I had caved and declared myself submissive to him—I was curious. I lifted an eyebrow as I turned in the seat to face him. “Like what?” I queried.
Perhaps he sensed my hesitation, for he reached for my hand and brought it to his lips, touching them to the back of it lightly, then holding it loosely in his lap as he replied. “Jules, I may not know a whole lot about shifter culture, but I’ve been around enough vampires to surmise that we’re probably not entirely different from them. Social structure among vampires is such that the bloodsucker in charge of the coven often has to fight to keep his or her position of power. Part of that entails keeping his subordinates in line.”
I frowned again and tried to pull my hand away. “I’m not your subordinate, Race. I’m your partner—your mate.”
“You might want it to be that way, baby,” he said as his grip on my hand tightened. “And there’s a part of me that wishes it could be that way. But something tells me the reality isn’t going to agree with us. I’ve seen enough challenges for authority among the vamps I’ve worked for to know that these wolves are going to expect a lot more from me than a few simple shape changes or punches thrown. Am I right?”
I didn’t want to admit it, but he was. I nodded slowly. “Challenging Kevin in defense of me will be seen as a challenge to his authority over the pack,” I said.
“Precisely my point—not only do I have to prove that I’m stronger than Kevin physically, but I also have to prove that my personality is stronger, or his people aren’t going to recognize my authority over them. I’m supposed to be this all-powerful Beast Master, but what kind of master will I be if I can’t even control my own mate?”
“But Race, I’ve never challenged your authority, real or imagined.”
He sighed. “Yeah, you did. Back in that alley I told Mackenna’s goons they could do whatever they wanted with that wolf who’d chased us, because he brought harm to you and I frankly don’t give a shit what happens to him. You countered that by demanding they not harm him at all.”
I tried not to let the sudden spike of anger I felt take me over, and replied as calmly as I could, “Which I firmly believe I had every right to demand. You weren’t the only one in that car chase, Race—I was there too. And you may have this newfound insight into shifter culture based on what you’ve observed of vampires, but I still know more about it than you do. I am in no way condoning what that boy did, but as I told you, when an alpha gives a command, a member of the pack has no choice but to obey. He was only doing as he’d been told.”
I tilted my head then. “Answer me this… Are you wanting to take over the Dayton pack?”
“Not particularly, no. I just want that bastard to pay for what he’s done.”
“Well that’s too bad, because if you challenge Kevin and win, you will make yourself their Alpha. You’ve already recognized that you’ll have to prove more than that you’re physically capable of besting him in a fight, but just doing that will change how they view him. To the wolves, if their Alpha can’t win a simple fistfight, he can’t protect them. And a man who can’t protect them is seen as incapable of properl
y leading them.”
I sighed. “Believe me, Race, I want Kevin to answer for what he’s done just as much as you do. But you really need to consider the consequences of your actions if you fight him when we get to Dayton. The pack will become your responsibility—you can’t just pick some beefy looking werewolf and say, ‘You’re the new leader of this pack.’ It doesn’t work that way. One of them would have to challenge you, and there aren’t many who would be brave enough to do that.”
Race snorted derisively. “I thought werewolves were supposed to be a bunch of macho, take-no-bullshit, we’re-better-than-you types.”
“They are. But you’re the Beast Master.”
He groaned and raked a hand down his face, then back up over his hair. “I didn’t ask to be the damn Beast Master, Jules.”
“I didn’t ask to be a person who can turn into a dog,” I countered. “But I am. And as the only known chimaera, Race, the Beast Master is what you are, whether you like it or not.”
“I have no desire whatsoever to involve myself in shifter politics,” he retorted.
I shook my head. “Honey, being the Beast Master isn’t about politics. It’s about the nature of what you are. You don’t have to become the leader of our people—that’s a choice that is entirely up to you. But the fact remains that you have a power within you that none of us have, and even the most die-hard traditionalist is going to defer to you just because of it. You saw how Kevin Tracey reacted yesterday. You saw how my pack treated you once they saw what you were.”
It was then that I saw it—Race was afraid. The truth was hidden carefully behind his bravado, and I knew he was trying desperately to keep it from me. But I knew. We were bonded, after all, and there was very little he could think or feel that I would be unable to see—to feel with him. Race was justifiably angry over what had happened and he felt compelled to seek justice, but he was afraid of what it would mean. He was basing his need to challenge Kevin Tracey on his experience with vampires, and while there were some differences, he was essentially correct—we weren’t that different culturally. Realizing that in challenging Kevin he was risking taking on a burden he wasn’t prepared for or even sure he wanted, and having that confirmed by me, had frightened him. Race was so used to being responsible for only himself that being responsible for even one other person had made him paranoid.
If he fought Kevin and won, he would be responsible for nearly fifty others by default—and that had him scared to death.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Listen pretty boy… I know that all this cultural and biological imperative stuff is still pretty new to you. And that it’s kind of scary. I felt the same way when I first started phasing. I’d advise you to give some serious consideration to either making a real effort at talking to Kevin rationally or even walking away, but I know how angry you are.”
A ghost of a smile flitted across his face. “Do you, now?”
I returned the gesture and smiled briefly. “Yeah. And given how angry you are, even I can see that a fight is unavoidable. Just…be careful. Keep your wits about you, because not only have I heard that Kevin Tracey can fight, but I’ve also heard he doesn’t fight fair. He’ll probably cheat to try and win if he feels like he’s about to lose. He’s also likely to use a win as a means of forcing you to mate with Anna, which by shifter law he can do in that situation even if he’s not your Alpha.”
Race snorted. “I don’t have an Alpha,” he said, silently adding, Except for you. I know that I’ve forced dominance on you, Juliette, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still rule my heart.
I smiled. Race, I think that, in the bedroom at least, I won’t mind so much being dominated, I told him with my thoughts. The rest…we can work out later.
Aloud, I added, “I have every faith in you that you will win the challenge, Race. Kevin Tracey may be strong and devious, but you’re younger, you’re faster, and you have righteous anger on your side. Winning means that whether you want the responsibility or not, you’re going to become the Alpha to a pack of werewolves. So what you need to do in what little time is left before we get to Dayton is ask yourself this question:
“What kind of Alpha do you want to be?”
Fifteen
Both of us grew quiet after our conversation. And although our talk had served to calm him some (that and the sex), I could feel Race’s ire increasing again the closer we got to Dayton. The tenor of his thoughts told me that he still wasn’t sure about becoming the wolves’ leader, as he didn’t understand how losing one fight that was not even about a challenge to Kevin’s authority could diminish the pack’s respect for their leader so drastically. After all, his conflict with Kevin Tracey was about his intentions towards me and his lack of respect for our mating bond—he had no interest in taking his place as Alpha.
He just wanted it to be crystal clear that threatening me was a major mistake.
Race mulled over everything that I had told him, about how he was already viewed differently from other shifters because of what he was. He didn’t think he was anything special, didn’t think he should be regarded any differently than anyone else. He didn’t want to be viewed differently.
But the fact remained that he was and always would be. Race reluctantly accepted that as something he wasn’t likely to change, though he was clearly unhappy with the idea. And as he sighed resignedly, I sensed him coming to the conclusion that if he desired any respect at all from the two-natured community, then he was going to have to accept all the cultural aspects of being a shapeshifter that he’d grown up away from all his life, even the ones he didn’t care for or understand. He might well be able to refuse becoming the Dayton wolves’ Alpha if he won against Kevin, but Race knew that if he did he was putting himself and me at risk from further attacks. If he couldn’t accept becoming an alpha by default over a matter unrelated to pack business, then how could he ever hope to gain the respect of anyone in the shifter world? And not just for himself, but also the bond he shared with me? Another thing he wished to make abundantly clear was that I was the only person he cared to be with.
As we entered the residential district of Dayton that the Traceys lived in, I could feel Race tensing beside me. He had the fleeting hope that maybe he could resolve the situation in a way that didn’t end up with him shouldering a responsibility he didn’t want, but just as quickly dismissed that as futile. He knew that the only way that was possible would be if walked way without there being a physical altercation, which I’d already observed was unavoidable given how angry he was. Race knew that just one look at Kevin Tracey was all it would take to set him off—he already wanted to smash both fists into the werewolf’s face.
As our ride was pulling up in front of a colonial-style home with an immaculately manicured lawn, my cell phone rang. I retrieved it off of the floorboard where Race had caused me to drop it earlier and saw my mother’s cell number in the I.D. window.
“Hey Mom,” I greeted her once I’d flipped it open. “What’s up? We’ve not seen Kevin Tracey yet, but we have just pulled up outside his house.”
“That’s actually why I’m calling, honey,” Mom said in a worried tone that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “He’s not home.”
I frowned. “How do you know he’s not home?” I asked, grabbing Race’s attention.
“Well, I got a call from Martha a few minutes ago—she wanted to know how you and Race were doing after what happened yesterday. I expressed my concern for the fact that you were going to see Kevin and she informed me he wouldn’t even be home at this time of day.”
“She give you any clue as to where he might be? Because we really need to see him, Mom—this isn’t going to wait.”
Beside me Race banged his fist against the window, his expression going dark as he looked at me and waited for news.
“Honey, I know you said you’d explain when you’d taken care of things,” my mother said then, “but I really wish you’d tell me what’s going on.”
“Kevin Tracey is a damned fool,” Mom snapped bitterly. “What in the hell could have possessed him to pull such an idiotic stunt?”
“The wolf that chased us said he has some journals from an ancestor that claim it’s possible for the Beast Master to take more than one mate. Race and I think he may be related to Marian, the last known chimaera. Lochlan knew her when he was still a young vampire. She was wolf-born, so that part is at least possible.”
My mother snorted. “Well, that would certainly explain why the wolves, and Kevin Tracey’s pack in particular, are so damn high and mighty.” She paused, and then added, “Honey, does Race understand what going after Kevin will mean?”
I glanced at Race. “I’ve explained it to him. He’s not happy about it, but I think he’s accepting that he’ll have no choice, not if he wants to claim the right of fighting Kevin over what he’s done.”
“Damn right I do,” Race spoke up then. “So if the fucker’s not home, where the hell is he?”
Mom apparently heard him, for she said, “He’s at work, of course. He owns an auto body shop called Tracey Tire and Repair. It’s on Gettysburg Avenue, and quite frankly its better you confront him there than at home.”
I frowned again. “And why is that?” I asked.
“Well, for one thing, according to Martha he only employs members of his pack, so you’ll not have to worry about normal humans seeing anything they shouldn’t if he and Race change form, which you and I know is likely to happen,” my mother explained. “The pack will serve as witnesses to the challenge, and they’ll make sure each party involved upholds their end of the outcome, no matter what it is.”
From the Shadows (A Shadow Chronicles Novel) Page 23
