Cole carefully withdrew his fangs and licked at the wound, sealing it shut. He tasted her blood on his lips, along with her arousal. He kissed her nape and nuzzled her neck.
Cherise tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let her go. Couldn’t let her go. He eased them both to the mattress with his cock still locked inside her. She reached behind and shoved at him, trying to push him away, but he wasn’t having it. “Stop it, Cherise. You’ll only hurt yourself if you try to pull away now.” Even if he wanted to, which he didn’t, he couldn’t release her. Not until the swelling in the base of his cock went down.
She stilled, but she didn’t relax in his arms. He rubbed his hands over her arms and back, petting her, touching her, but she kept herself stiff and unyielding. His cock might be inside her, but she’d never been farther away from him than she was at this moment.
He couldn’t even say it had happened in the heat of passion. It had, but the idea of claiming her had been in the back of his mind all along. He was a bastard for claiming her without her consent. She’d trusted him and he’d betrayed her.
But his reasons were righteous. If he was going to face her pack, he might not return from the confrontation. His death he could live with. But now he’d claimed her, Cherise would always have a place here with the Salvation Pack. She’d have a home and people who would look out for her.
She’d been alone far too long.
Cole knew he couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer. He withdrew from her and waited for the explosion. It wasn’t long coming.
She shoved away from him and spun around to face him. Her skin was pale, her features taut with anger. “What have you done?”
Chapter Fifteen
Cole pushed himself against the headboard and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve given you my protection. You’re mine now. My mate.” His voice was hard and uncompromising. Cherise’s fingers itched to slap him even as her heart urged her to cuddle up next to him.
“I told you that you were my mate.” His voice softened and he held out one hand to her. “Come here, Cherise.”
She shook her head and jumped out of bed, dragging the sheet around her as she went. Her body was still pulsing with aftershocks from her incredible orgasm. Her skin smelled like Cole and she could feel the stamp of his possession everywhere.
She touched the spot on the back of her neck where he’d bitten her. It was already healing, but she could feel the small scar that marked her as claimed. It would never fade as long as she lived. If she didn’t love him, she’d hate him for making it harder for her to leave him.
Everything had been going along so well. She’d been basking in the glow of their lovemaking, feeling him buried inside her, bringing them both to the edge of orgasm. And then he’d bitten her.
“I trusted you.” And that was the part she wasn’t sure she could ever forgive. Her voice vibrated with anger and hurt. “You knew I wouldn’t have agreed to this.” At least not now, not with so much hanging over her.
Cole scrubbed his hands over his face and, for the first time, she sensed his frustration with her and the situation. He was always so calm and level it was almost surprising to her when he showed any agitation. “I won’t say I’m sorry, because I’m not.”
She started to throw her hands in the air but stopped when the sheet began to slip. She grabbed it and held it around her. Not that it mattered. He’d already seen her naked too many times to count. But she was feeling vulnerable enough without adding that to the mix.
He swiveled on the mattress and sat on the side of the bed, feet on the floor. She backed up a step and then stopped herself. “You had no right.” She wanted to curl up in a corner somewhere and have herself a good cry. All her life she’d wanted acceptance and belonging. And now that she had it, she couldn’t keep it. Her very presence put everyone at risk.
There was a part of her that wanted to just go to Cole and have him take care of her, to handle all her problems for her. She despised herself for that weakness. She was stronger than that.
Anger flashed in his eyes. “I have every right. I’m your mate.”
She scrubbed at the mark on her neck as if somehow she could make it disappear. “You weren’t until you bit me,” she threw back at him.
He surged to his feet and prowled toward her like the menacing beast he was at heart. She backed up until she bumped the dresser. She desperately tried not to notice how damn good he looked naked. It wasn’t fair that he could affect her like this even when she was angry with him.
Cole placed one hand on top of the dresser, hemming her in. “Listen to me and listen well.” A shiver raced down her spine. She should be frightened to death of him. He loomed over her, angry and frustrated. He was so much larger than she was, could break her in half without even trying. But she wasn’t the least bit afraid of him.
That in and of itself was very telling. She still trusted Cole. In spite of the fact he’d clearly broken trust with her by claiming her without gaining her permission first. Oh, she knew male werewolves often did this kind of thing, which was why unmated females were watched so closely by their male family members. It didn’t happen as much as it had in days gone by, but it did still happen even in this day and age.
She was proof of that.
“Whether you wear my mark or not, you belong to me.” He leaned down until their noses were almost touching. She could see every harsh angle of his face, the vibrancy of his green eyes and the hard line of his lips.
She wanted to kiss him, which was proof she was obviously losing her mind. He’d tricked her, betrayed her. She had to remember that. Except it didn’t feel that way in her heart.
“I marked you so that no matter what happens other werewolves will know you belong to a pack, that you have a place.” He kissed her forehead and then released a sigh. “I won’t apologize for that.”
What did she say to something like that? Cole was so arrogantly sure of himself while she was an emotional wreck. She placed her hands against his chest to push him away. Instead, her fingers curled against the solid wall of muscle as if to pull him closer. Her body wouldn’t listen to her mind. She’d just had him and she wanted him again.
Cherise shoved him away and he moved, not because she’d actually moved him—he was much too heavy and strong for her to do that—but because he took a step back. She sidled away from him and went to the bathroom. “I can’t do this now. I can’t.”
A joining should be a joyful occasion that was celebrated by family and pack. Not something that happened in secret when one of the parties wasn’t expecting it. She whirled on him. “Are you ashamed of me?” That thought hurt her deeply.
The look of utter shock on his face dispelled that fear more than words ever could. “No, of course not. How could you ever think that, chère?”
He pulled her into his arms and she went without putting up a fight. She was a woman divided within herself. All her animal instincts were urging her to accept Cole’s claim. Assuring her that he was the right male for her. But her intellect was telling her something else altogether. Her brain was quick to point out this wouldn’t last with a death sentence stalking her every move.
If she died, Cole would be deeply hurt.
It was sobering to realize she was more worried about him than she was about herself. If she’d needed any more proof that he was her true mate, there it was. Not only was their physical connection off the charts, but she’d emotionally bonded with him as well.
Love and hate could be so close at times, and this was definitely one of those times. “You shouldn’t have done this, Cole. Not without talking to me first.” Emotionally and physically exhausted, she turned away from him. “You need to sleep somewhere else. I need some time alone, time to think.”
Cole stared down at her, his gaze searching her face for something. Then he pulled her up onto her toes as he leaned toward her, bringing their lips together in a torrid kiss. He claimed her mouth and she moaned at the taste of him. It
was so hard to think with his big body surrounding hers and his enticing masculine scent pulling on her with each breath she took.
His skin was so hot beneath her palms. His erection prodded her belly, a reminder of what they’d just done, what he’d done. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away. She was so afraid of what the future held, but when Cole was with her it was easy to forget all her problems, if only for a while. Her senses were alive with the essence of the man. Her fingertips tingled where she touched him and her entire body throbbed with longing. She wanted to rub against him and coat herself in his scent while spreading hers over him. It was crazy, yet somehow felt right.
When he pulled back, they were both breathless. He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. The tender gesture brought a lump to her throat and she swallowed hard.
Her grip had slipped from the sheet during their kiss. The only thing holding it up was his hard body pressed against hers. When he moved away from her, it began to fall. It was Cole who caught it this time and tucked it tenderly around her.
“Everything will be all right.”
She momentarily closed her eyes and shook her head. She could see her mother’s body lying there in a pool of blood. As much as she wanted to believe Cole’s words, she was a realist. She, more than anyone, knew that things didn’t always turn out the way you wanted, and that happily ever after was the thing of fairy tales and romance novels. Reality didn’t work that way.
She opened her eyes to find him standing just out of her reach, studying her intently. Cherise wondered what he was searching for and if he’d found it. “You can’t promise that,” she told him.
Turning, she started back toward the bathroom. “I really need some time alone.”
“You can walk away, but you can’t change the facts,” Cole pointed out. “You’re my mate. You belong to me and to this pack.”
Cherise wanted to go back to him. Longed to have his arms around her. She needed to talk to someone who would understand. She wanted her mother. But that was impossible. Cherise straightened her spine and didn’t look back as she walked into the bathroom and quietly shut the door behind her.
Cole wanted to put his fist through the wall, but that wouldn’t solve anything, and he’d only have to repair the damn hole. He deserved her anger for claiming her without first asking. But as irrational as it was, he was hurt by the fact she wasn’t happy about it.
He raked his fingers through his hair and stared at the closed door. He could easily break it down, but what would that solve? He’d done what he’d felt was the right thing to do and, given another chance, he’d do the same thing all over again.
Cherise was his.
He swore and stalked to the dresser. He found a clean pair of jeans, slipped them on and quickly zipped them. While he finished dressing, he listened for telltale signs from the other room. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the shower came on.
Cole swallowed hard. It was too easy to imagine Cherise standing beneath the warm spray, the water caressing her body like a lover. His cock jerked and he shook himself to try to get rid of the sexual fever consuming him. But it was no use. He wanted Cherise too much. And that desire would never fade.
She was his mate, his chosen one. Fate had brought her to him, and it was his duty to protect her.
He stood beside the bathroom door and pressed his hand against the wood panel. I love you. He said the words in his head, but not aloud. If he didn’t come back to her, maybe it would save her some heartbreak.
Cole left the room, determination in every cell of his body. The threat to Cherise could not be left unchallenged.
The living room was quiet and empty, for which he was grateful. The last thing he wanted was to have to explain to Gator why Cherise was in bed and he wasn’t with her. He loved the man like a brother, but Gator could be relentless at times.
Cole went to the desk in the corner and grabbed his cell phone from the charger. He checked his messages and scrolled through the information Armand had sent him on the Pike County Pack. He found what he was looking for and then plugged the location into his GPS app.
The keys to his truck were hanging up by the front door. He made sure they didn’t jingle when he lifted them off the rack. He could still hear the shower in the distance. He yearned to go to Cherise and hold her in his arms, to celebrate their joining. But she wasn’t ready for that, not yet, maybe not ever.
And he couldn’t afford to wait. Better to go on the offense than to sit and wonder when the next attack would come. Cole left the house and made his way down the path. He breathed the crisp, cool air into his lungs. Around him, the woods were alive with nocturnal activity. An owl swooped down not ten feet away and scooped up a mouse. The poor creature gave a small squeak and then went silent. The owl would eat well tonight.
He’d parked farther away from the cabin, anticipating that he’d want to leave quickly and quietly. He hadn’t expected to be leaving in the middle of the night, but he’d been prepared for any eventuality. It felt wrong to be sneaking away, but he knew he had no other choice. Gator and the rest wouldn’t let him go on his own, and Jacque would outright forbid it.
Cole didn’t want to fight with his alpha. Better to do what needed doing and ask for forgiveness if he survived. Jacque and the others would be angry, but he had no doubt they’d eventually forgive him. Most of all, he knew they’d protect Cherise.
When he reached his truck, he put it in neutral but didn’t start it. He was still too close to the houses. He put his shoulder against the vehicle and pushed, steering it toward the road. With his enhanced strength, it was no problem. When he finally reached the main road, he jumped into the truck, started it and set a course for Kentucky.
Cherise turned off the water and grabbed a towel from the shelf beside the shower. She shivered and wrapped it around her. Although the water had been hot, she felt cold inside. The faucet dripped a couple of times before stopping. The bathroom was so quiet. She couldn’t hear Cole in the next room and knew he’d left her as she’d requested.
Why did that make her feel as though he’d abandoned her?
“Stupid,” she muttered as she dried herself off before wrapping the towel around her. The sheet was lying in a tangle on the floor. Cherise picked it up and brought it to her nose, inhaling Cole’s masculine scent. It was both comforting and arousing. When her breasts began to ache and the tips harden, she shoved the sheet into the hamper. Not that it helped much. Not with her keen sense of smell.
She caught her reflection in the mirror and made herself look. Her face was pale, but other than that she looked exactly the same. There was no outward change to mark the monumental milestone in her life.
Cherise turned her head to one side, leaned closer to the glass and studied the mark on her neck. The scar was visible but was already healing. She touched it, lightly running her fingers over the raised skin. It was a symbol, a sign of Cole’s commitment to her. She could smell his scent on her as well, in spite of the fact she’d just showered.
“What have you done?” She wasn’t sure if the question was for Cole or herself. He’d claimed her without first gaining her consent, but the blame laid squarely on her shoulders. He’d told her she was his mate, and she’d stayed anyway. And not only that, she’d willingly shared his bed.
When it came down to it, Cole was a male werewolf and his instincts were not something he could ignore for long. In her heart, had she wanted him to claim her?
Yes.
The truth was undeniable. She’d practically taunted him to do it with her continued presence in his bed. She could have left, could have snuck away. And even if she hadn’t been able to evade the vigilant males of the pack, she could have asked for the alpha’s protection. Gwen and Jacque would have taken her into their home. In fact, Gwen had even offered and Cherise had declined.
For better or worse, Cole was her mate. Yes, she could walk away, but that would only hurt both of them. She loved the overbearing, dictatorial male t
o the depths of her soul. There was a gentleness to him that called out to her. She loved just being around him, enjoyed lying in bed talking with him after they made love.
She just plain loved him.
“Then you know what you have to do,” she told her reflection. She had to end the vendetta with her old pack so she could embrace her new life with Cole.
She opened the door and went back into the bedroom. The bed was a wreck. The comforter was half off the bed and one of the pillows was on the floor. Cherise swallowed and slowly crept forward, half expecting Cole to burst through the doors any moment.
But she knew he wouldn’t. She’d asked for space, for time alone, and he would give it. Cherise quietly dressed, pulling on underwear, socks, jeans and a long-sleeved V-neck sweater. Then she perched on the edge of the chair in the corner. She needed to give Cole time to settle back to sleep on the sofa before she slipped out and borrowed the keys for one of the vehicles.
It was time to return to where it had all started. It was time to go back to Kentucky.
Ryan Hatfield rolled over in bed, hunting knife clutched in his right hand. Beside him, his mate stirred.
“Is anything wrong?” Massie asked.
“No, everything is all right.” He slid out of bed and grabbed his pants from the floor. “Go back to sleep.” Knife still in hand, Ryan left the room and headed to his living room. His anger grew with each step. “What the hell are you doing here? It’s not quite dawn.”
Matt was sprawled in Ryan’s favorite chair and looking far too at home. He’d always known his brother was jealous of him and wanted to be alpha. Too damn bad. “Get the hell out of my chair.” He put as much compulsion as he could manage behind the command and felt better when his younger brother all but jumped to his feet.
Matt scowled and Ryan could feel his resentment. Ryan yanked on his pants and strolled over and sat in the chair to make a point. He raised his eyebrow and waited.
“Amos found something.”
Ryan’s hackles rose. “And why didn’t I hear from Amos myself?” The last thing he needed was Matt to go off half-cocked and do something stupid. His brother’s son had already put them in hot water as it was.
Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 Page 16
