And just like that his control snapped. His hips pulled back and then moved forward impaling her soft flesh again on his dick. Her channel convulsed and he picked up the pace. He sank deep inside of her, his balls slapping her ass, and then he slid out her channel clenching his cock as though to beg him to return. And return he did, over and over, faster and faster.
Her nails dug into his shoulders and her hips moved in time with his thrusts. Her little noises of pleasure spurred him on. Her little teeth, feline fangs included, scraped the side of his neck and a small tongue laved at the place where his shoulder and neck met. His balls swelled even more the need to spill deep inside her almost clouding his mind.
Her hips faltered in their rhythm as she gave a strangled cry just before she struck piercing his skin with her teeth. He would have howled at the feeling of being complete for the first time in his life had he been able to relinquish his bite on her neck, but his wolf demanded they finish this.
Her channel squeezed his dick and it wasn't long before he was filling her in long spurts as he came. And just like that their souls seemed to snap together like the pieces of a puzzle, once lost and now found to complete a work of art. He could feel both Aspen's and Xavier's souls melding with his own and he sighed.
Skylar released his hold on her shoulder and licked at the wound. Soon it would heal, but always be a mark showing his ownership. Aspen's small tongue lapped at the brand she'd placed on him and his dick stirred once more, hardening within her depths. She moaned when he began moving in slow, steady strokes. He'd taken her fast and hard the first time, now he would savor her. Skylar kissed her lips, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth before licking along the seam of her lips to gain entrance. When she allowed him entrance he sank within her, tasting and teasing.
Even as he continued kissing her sweet mouth, Skylar tunneled his cock slowly in and out of her core. The franticness of before was replaced with a slow exploration. A purr broke forth from her throat and her hands skimmed over his shoulder and back pausing to knead his flesh every so often. He wanted to stay like this forever, but knew that was impossible. Skylar wanted Xavier there with them as they all reached the pinnacle together.
Aspen pulled back from the kiss and gasped as her channel clenched rhythmically around his shaft. Skylar groaned and sucked the flesh of her neck into his mouth as he too climaxed filling her again with his seed. This time he settled beside her and cupped her abdomen, proof that he'd already claimed her in the most primal way.
"I'm scared," Aspen whispered.
"Baby, it'll be okay being mated to two wolves. We'll take care of you and-"
"Not that, Skylar, although at times you two can be...overwhelming, I'm talking about having a baby. I mean I don't know the first thing about taking care of a baby. I was an only child because my parent's didn't really like each other."
Skylar kissed her lips gently and Aspen sighed into his mouth.
"Don't worry about all that baby, besides, Xavier is excellent with children. Maybe it came from being from a pack."
Aspen placed her hands over Skylar's and he looked into her eyes.
"Where is Xavier?"
"He's working on something."
"What's he working on?"
Skylar didn't want to worry her; another murder wasn't something one told their pregnant mate. Wasn't a pregnant female supposed to be kept calm? Hell, the first time they'd been reunited he'd nearly had a heart attack when he thought he and Xavier had caused her harm.
"Dammit, Skylar. This is what Xavier was talking about. How do you expect us to be a mated trio if you won't tell us anything? Do you know how it makes Xavier feel to know that you don't trust him enough to talk to him about some of your past, hell your job? Is that what I'm going to have to look forward to also? I can't-"
Aspen's eyes filled with tears and she pulled away from him. He was stunned. One moment they were basking in the afterglow of their completed mating and the next she was crying and from the sound of a slamming door complete with a click, locking herself in the bathroom.
"It's just the pregnancy hormones. Most of the time she's pretty level-headed, so it'll pass."
Skylar looked up at Xavier as he entered the bedroom--the master bedroom they'd all began sleeping in since that first night.
"What did you find out?" Skylar couldn't help himself. He needed to get to the bottom of this. Xavier shook his head. What was that supposed to mean?
"I hacked the Council's files, which in all honesty should be kept better hidden."
Skylar sat up on the side of the bed and smiled at Xavier.
"They want it easy to be found, at least somewhat. The council gets its funding from profiting from the stories that each case tells. We've got plenty of hands in books and movies. We figured the best way to hide in this day and age is in plain sight. I mean, the website was set up like a paranormal research group right?"
Xavier nodded. "I see, so me actually hacking into their supposed private databases wasn't that big of a deal to the Council because they hack it all up to paranormal research."
"Right."
Skylar strained to hear Aspen and his gut clenched at the continuation of her sobs. Xavier seemed to understand him, because he sighed.
"Don't just let her cry, let's go get her."
He nodded and stood his cock jerking to attention at Xavier's obvious interest. Later. They had a mate to console. He slid on the pair of sweats he'd discarded when he first entered this room, because Skylar thought it might look better if he didn't come to her ready to take her again.
Xavier knocked on the bathroom door and her sobbing paused only for her to yell.
"Leave me alone."
Xavier smiled and Skylar had a moment to think he'd lost his mind before Xavier's canines elongated. His brown eyes gleamed in the shadowed hallway before he sniffed at the door.
"Open this door, sweetheart."
Xavier's plea and sweet words were shadowed by the growl he emitted. God he wanted to fuck him so bad.
"Go away!"
Skylar frowned at the shrill screech that came from the bathroom. Aspen had never been bratty. Something didn't feel right.
***
Aspen ran before the tears could start. She hated that she wanted to cry, and for what, just today she'd mated to Skylar and Xavier, whom in the short time that she'd known them had found a place within her heart. She couldn't imagine a life without them. The thought of losing either one of them made her tears flow faster.
Aspen locked herself within the bathroom. She knew that they could kick in the door if they wanted too, hell each of them were strong and sexy... What the hell was wrong with her?
One minute she wanted to cry and the next she wanted to fuck them. Images of them together, each one taking her, sometimes both taking her at the same time flowed constantly through her mind. Her pussy clenched in want and she swiped at the tears. She took a seat on the toilet trying to get a handle on her crazy emotions. She caressed her abdomen, the little baby bump becoming a little more pronounced each day. This was all happening way too fast, although, that was how a shifter mating happened.
One sniff was all it took and boom instant family.
Her human side wanted to slow down, but her cougar side growled at the thought of taking their relationship backwards.
So, what was really upsetting her?
Was it the fact that she didn't know Skylar and he made no attempt to tell her anything? On some level she knew that was to be expected since they'd only spent a little over a week together. But they had their whole lives to figure this out.
Aspen smiled despite the tears that kept flowing down her cheeks. She loved Skylar and Xavier so everything would work out. Aspen’s heart filled with joy when she heard their voices outside of the door and she stood her body already clamoring for both of them. They would make love again and then she would talk with Skylar and Xavier. She had a lot to learn about them, because she wanted to know everything about them.
Her hand had barely grazed the door knob when hands grabbed her from behind, careful to clasp a hand over her mouth. She began to struggle, her cougar growling within her mind. This wasn't her mate, the touch and smell was wrong.
"Stop struggling or I'll gut you here and now," his breath washed over her ear when he whispered.
A sharp, burning pain on her abdomen stopped her struggles. Her baby.
"That's right; I'll cut that baby right out of your belly and make you watch."
"Open the door," Skylar's voice brought a sob forth only slightly muffled by the hand holding her mouth.
"Get rid of them," the male behind her said.
His palm lessened on her mouth and the sharp object, a knife, pressed alarmingly into her side.
"Leave me alone."
A sob tore from her throat. She couldn't help it, her baby was in danger. Aspen felt the fur ripple over her skin and she forced her cougar to stay down. She had to be in control to keep her baby and herself safe.
Her heart sped up when the knock came again. Xavier's voice growled out his second command. His wolf was closer to the surface. If she didn't do something now, then all hell would break loose.
"Go away!"
Aspen winced at the shrill scream she'd emitted. This wasn't like her, and she could tell by the wiggling of the door knob that no matter what, her mates weren't going away anytime soon.
The male behind her clasped his hand over her mouth again his breath caressed her ear and she struggled to calm herself so she could listen to him.
"Now, I want you to open the door."
Aspen shook her head in denial and her scream of pain was muffled by his hand. She looked down to see a line of red form along her belly. The bastard had cut her. Rage and fear combined a potent combination that only years of control taught from birth to each shifter kept her from shifting. From turning and ripping this male's throat out.
"You'll do it or I'll cut this baby out and then make you watch as I kill your mates. Slowly."
A boom sounded through the bathroom as though someone had kicked the door.
"Open this damn door, Aspen."
The male led her to the door and she felt him let her go. Aspen reached for the door knob, but a hand on her arm stopped her. She looked up into the face of the man who'd threatened her. Beautiful sculpted features, almost perfect except for the small flaw of a once broken nose. His curly blond hair was cut in a messy fashion and bright, baby blue eyes that almost screamed innocence stared at her. Almost. Behind that baby blue shined a coldness that made goose bumps rise on her flesh. He was a killer.
He stepped beside the door so that when it opened it would hide his presence. But they would smell him, wouldn't they?
She sniffed trying to scent him and was taken aback by his smile. Pure predator.
"Open the door then step back."
His whisper was almost too quiet to hear, but the gun he produced and held at her abdomen garnered her cooperation.
She took a deep breath and unlocked the door. A part of her was relieved she was opening the door because her two mates would ruin it. Another part of her told herself to shut up, her life and theirs was on the line.
Aspen turned the knob and let it open a little before stepping back. Her breath caught in her throat as the door pushed open and slowly Skylar's face appeared. Her vision clouded with her tears and his nose twitched.
"Aspen, baby, what's wrong?" His eyes took in her body and he ran forward when he noticed the blood on her belly.
Aspen sank to her knees, though she knew she should yell out, the next few moments happened too quickly.
The sound of a gun, though it sounded wrong to her ears, echoed in the bathroom and almost instantly Skylar fell face first in front of her. A sob tore through her throat and she felt the shift that she couldn't stop. Didn't want to stop. Someone would pay for this. Another shot sounded and Xavier who'd rushed in behind Skylar crumpled to the floor. Her cougar raged and leaped intent on shredding their enemy to nothing anyone would be able to recognize. The sound was foreign to her and her cougar growled at the sharp pain that exploded on her shoulder.
Her world faded as she sank between her mates. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. They were gone.
Chapter 15
Shawn couldn't help the smile that broke his face. Didn't even try. He had his brother's killer right where he wanted him. Of course he could kill him now and save himself a lot of trouble, but where was the fun in that? Instead he picked up the rather beautiful female the wolves had claimed.
Such a beautiful female would scream enticingly under his blade and teeth. His dick hardened at the prospect of watching the life fade from her gorgeous grey eyes. Ahh, but maybe this would be more fun than he'd originally thought. His brother had always preferred humans; exerting his power over such a weak species was quite entertaining. But he bet this female would put up a bigger fight.
He held her nude body close to his and stepped over his brother's killer and the other male. He'd have plenty of time to toy with them later, especially since he intended they follow--eventually. Knowing it would enrage them further, he stopped to smear some of the female's blood on the door.
Shawn had some playing to do before they found them. He hurried from the house and disappeared into the woods. It wouldn't take long for the wolves to filter the tranquilizers from their blood stream, and though he and his wolf craved the confrontation, he knew vengeance would be even sweeter later.
***
Zackary hung up his phone and sighed as his cougar calmed after speaking with Essence. These murders were starting to worry him, starting to get a little too close to home. He'd left Caleb, Wesley and Daphne at the crime scene. Murder just wasn't his cup of tea.
He stepped out of the woods and into Aspen's back yard. The back door opened and he growled when he saw an unknown male carrying Aspen. The change happened so quickly he didn't have time to think about it. One second he was standing in his human form and the next he was growling as a cougar at the threat to his pride mate.
"Night, night kitty," the male said before producing a gun.
It didn't matter. He wouldn't stand by and allow another male to harm a female.
Never again.
His cougar growled low in his throat and pounced. An angry growl followed the small burst of pain that hit his side and his consciousness faded before he hit the ground.
Hands on his shoulders jerked Zackary back from nothingness and he came up swinging satisfaction flowing through him at the feel of his fist connecting with flesh.
"Damn it, Zackary it's me"
Zackary quit swinging at the sound of his alpha's voice and his vision cleared.
"Aspen?" The sound was growled and he watched as everyone grabbed an enraged Skylar and Xavier trying to hold them back.
"Let me go I'm getting her back."
"Hold him Wesley, he'll make a mistake and Aspen will have my balls if her mates come to harm."
Zackary released his breath."So Aspen is okay?"
Caleb's lips were pressed into a grim line and his eyes glowed. His alpha's cougar was close to the surface.
"She was taken," Caleb growled out.
Zackary closed his eyes and the past rolled over him like a wave drowning him. He'd failed, yet again.
He could hear his sister when she cried at night, sobbing while her husband did unthinkable things to her. Things he'd rather forget. What was worse were the bruises, the black eyes, and the defeated look that always seemed to be in her beautiful hazel eyes. But one night he was going to put an end to it. He was going to save his sister.
The crying started, he could hear her tell him no. Zackary couldn't sit by any longer. He ripped open their door and pulled him off her, his teenage mind not allowing him to connect what was happening. It didn't matter, because he didn't stop it, just delayed it. He could barely move the next day from the bruises that covered his body, one that had yet to gain the muscle
s he now boasted.
"We're leaving, Zackary. I can't do this anymore," Essence had said the next day while they were alone.
He didn't understand why this time would be any different. They'd incurred her husband's wrath before. Jason wasn't one to allow any trespass without violence. Spilled milk was punishable with fists.
He didn't say anything, honestly his jaw hurt so much that he didn't think he could, but nevertheless she understood his unasked questions.
"I won't raise my baby here, not like this."
Essence swiped the tears and hissed when she touched her freshly blackened eye. Zackary growled, but it came out pained as it rumbled through his bruised and battered body.
"We'll leave tonight, Zackary. Be ready."
The growls pulled him from the past and he opened his eyes again to find Wesley and Caleb trying to control Xavier and Skylar.
Zackary stood and walked toward the frenzied males. It was understandable. Their mate was missing. He took a deep breath and growled.
"We're wasting time!"
Everyone stopped and he could actually hear the echo of his voice as it reverberated in the air.
Skylar's tawny wolf growled and he hissed."Do you want to get your mate back?"
"He's right, son. You need to calm down and keep your head if you want to get her back."
Chapter 16
Skylar's wolf growled when the familiar voice called him son. If losing Aspen wasn't enough, now he had his guardian to deal with. Charles Ashmore's light brown hair had lightened further with grey over the years, even his wolf form had become greyer than the matching light brown of his hair. As always his hair was shorn short and his dress immaculate. He had always groomed himself in the same fashion for as long as Skylar could remember.
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