Bound to the Wolf

by Sennah Tate

  His hands on her hips helped keep her grounded. The bite of pain from his grip was lost in the torrent of pleasure that threatened to carry her out to sea.

  She felt him swell inside of her.

  “Oh god,” she moaned, her hands gripping the edge of the mattress beneath her.

  “That’s it. Let go, Sonya,” his thumb found her clit and before she could register the new wave of sensations, his mouth closed on hers, propelling her over the edge.

  Her entire body tensed, but José’s tongue worked in tandem with his dick and his thumb and everything inside of her exploded.

  Bursts of color popped in and out of existence before her eyes. For a moment, Sonya thought she was seeing things, but then everything went black.

  Light still peeked in from below the curtains, but José apparently didn’t need lighting to know every sensitive spot on her body.

  Relentlessly, he claimed her, each thrust pulling another strangled moan from her lips. He wasn’t going to let her come down before he pushed her even further, though Sonya didn’t know how much further she could go. The whole world felt fuzzy and distant and the only thing she could grasp onto was José and the place their bodies joined.

  He buried his face in the crook of her neck and she clung to him as if he were a life raft. She felt the surge rising in both of them. Her grip on him tightened – inside and out – and before she knew what he was doing, his teeth clamped down onto her neck.

  Her scream was a mix of pain and pure blissful pleasure as they came together, his body still jerking slightly within her.

  José licked the spot on her neck where Sonya felt the warm wetness of her blood: she was really his now.

  There were worse things, she thought with a little satisfied grin.

  It took a few minutes of fumbling around in the dark for José to find the breaker box, but once he did the lights were back on in seconds.

  “There,” he said, clearly pleased with himself as he returned to the bedroom.

  “Sorry about that,” Sonya said with a sheepish giggle.

  “It was you that installed this faulty wiring, wasn’t it?” he joked.

  She laughed, “No, but magic doesn’t always play nice with electricity,” she said.

  “So, candlelight next time?” José asked, kissing the tender spot on her neck where he’d marked her. She knew what that action meant to a wolf, but he’d just been caught up in the moment. He got caught up in the power of her magic. Neither one of them could control how their bodies reacted to one another.

  Her body still thrummed with anticipation just from being near him, but her mind was otherwise occupied.

  “Are you sure you can be with a… a…” she stumbled over her words, suddenly consumed with worry once more. What if it had just been her magic pushing them towards one another? What if the spark faded now?

  “A witch,” he said, slipping his fingers between hers. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close with a heated kiss.

  “My witch,” he corrected.

  Suddenly, her tension melted away. He accepted her and her son for what they were. He vowed to protect them. His wolf promised to protect them.

  His lips found hers again and this time she returned the kiss with more enthusiasm than before. She’d thought for so long that all wolves were as bad as Diego. José seemed to be the opposite. José made her feel at home.

  “Of course I’m sure,” he said, kissing the tender spot on her neck once more and she shivered with the enormity of the gesture.

  “I’ve never felt so… powerful,” she said, her fingertips still sparkling with energy as he traced lazy circles around her nipples. “I’ve always resisted my magic, thinking it would make me more of a target. But now…”

  She felt like a new woman. Her skin was alive with magic, her stores full to bursting. For the first time in her life, Sonya’s magic felt like a part of her. For so long it was like a blemish that she wanted to be rid of and now she was starting to realize it was more of a beauty mark than a zit. Something to be proud of. Something that made her uniquely her.

  “Now what?” José asked, stroking the sensitive skin under her breasts as they laid together tangled in the sheets.

  She felt strong. More confident that she’d be able to protect herself and her son from Diego if he ever reappeared.

  Not that she’d be alone. José would be by her side. She hoped he always would be.

  “I don’t know. I feel more like myself. It’s hard to explain. I’ve heard other witches talk about this feeling of oneness, but I didn’t know what it meant. I didn’t know what it was like. Everything is just… right.”

  His hand stilled on her hip and Sonya sensed José had something he wasn’t saying.

  “There’s something you should know… I didn’t want to tell you because I thought I could protect you from it without you ever finding out… But I think you should know,” he said, tracing the outlines of her fingers with gentle sweeping strokes.

  Her stomach dropped — what now? Why couldn’t they just have this moment?

  “There is a witch from the Coven trying to orchestrate war between the shifters. I haven’t given into her demands, but she’s threatened to use other wolves in my stead… mainly…”

  “Diego,” Sonya finished his sentence with a sigh. “But why try to start a war? Is there anything we can do to stop her?”

  José laced their fingers together and squeezed her hand, bringing it up to his lips for another kiss, “My only concern is for you, Manuel, and the pack. The other clans will have to sort out their own problems. She… well she threatened to trade you and Manuel to Diego for his cooperation.”

  Sonya stiffened at that. What kind of witch would sacrifice her own kind?

  “But I want you to know I’m never going to let that happen. None of us will. You’re safe in this pack, Sonya. You’re one of us.”

  She kissed him, moved by his words but unsure of how he’d match up against a Coven witch.

  Sonya reminded herself that she was a full-strength witch again, too and that together, they’d be able to conquer any threat.

  “And now you have a magical secret weapon,” she said with a grin, letting her fingers explore his muscled body again.

  “That’s right. I’d like to see them try,” he chuckled, kissing her senseless again.

  Chapter 12

  JOSÉ

  After his night with Sonya, José felt like he was on Cloud Nine. Nothing could bring him down or even come close to touching his pure unadulterated joy.

  How had everything just fallen into place so perfectly? How could everything be going so damn well?

  He’d never been the type to get this lucky. To have all the pieces join together in this flawless picturesque way.

  And while everything was going splendidly with Sonya, he knew she was only one part of the equation. Manuel and his mother were a package deal and he hadn’t had a chance to bond with the little tyke at all.

  Sonya stirred next to him as sunlight crept in through her windows and she yawned with a big stretch, thrusting her bare breasts against his chest and she snuggled into him.

  “Good morning,” he said in a deep husky tone.

  “Mmm, mornin’,” she answered with a sleepy smile. She certainly hadn’t had much opportunity to rest last night. Once he knew how intensely gorgeous she was in the throes of passion, once he’d heard her plaintive moans and felt her legs wrapped around him, her pussy milking him so perfectly… Well, he hadn’t really been able to give her a break.

  Though she didn’t seem to be complaining.

  “What are your plans for the day?” he asked, stroking her mussed hair away from her face.

  She yawned again, “Um, I have the day off, why?”

  “I was thinking we pick up Manuel, grab some breakfast, and spend the day together?”

  “All three of us?” Sonya asked, propping herself up on her elbow.

  “Well… yeah.”

&
nbsp; She kissed him so hard that José was sure his heart stopped for a minute, “That sounds incredible. I’ll get dressed.”

  They dropped by the clubhouse to grab Manuel and the kid had a thousand and one stories to tell about his slumber party. Sonya listened to each and every one with genuine interest and José couldn’t help how he just watched her dreamily as she interacted with her son.

  She was perfect.

  He took them all to a little diner in town where they ordered one of nearly everything on the breakfast menu.

  Manuel’s favorite parts were bacon and chocolate chip pancakes.

  “I don’t think I could eat another bite,” Sonya said with a hand over her belly. “What’s next on the docket?”

  José feigned a thoughtful look and watched as Manuel blew bubbles in his chocolate milk until it frothed up over the top of the glass, “Hmm, I don’t, know. Manuel, have you ever been fishing?”

  The little boy looked up and José was struck again how his eyes were identical to Sonya’s.

  He pulled a face, “No. What do you do?”

  José grinned, “Well, first you have to find the right dirt.”

  “Dirt? I thought fish lived in water,” Manuel said skeptically.

  Sonya’s laughter tinkled in the air, making José’s insides feel warm and fluffy like he was lined with fur.

  “The dirt is for the worms,” José said, watching Manuel’s interest grow. “You dig for them, with your hands.”

  “Really? Don’t you get dirty?”

  “That’s half the fun!” José said, seeing for the first time the impact having only a mother had on the little boy. What kid didn’t like digging in dirt?

  Manuel turned to his Mama, but Sonya just shrugged, “He’s right. I’m pretty sure the fish won’t even bite if you don’t dig with your hands.”

  “Okay!” Manuel said loudly enough to draw amused looks from other diner patrons.

  “You haven’t heard the rest of it,” José said with a smirk.

  Sonya shook her head, sliding a hand over José’s thigh, “You’ve sold him, quit while you’re ahead.”

  José chuckled and nodded, “Okay, I’m just going to pay the bill,” he said, walking to the register before Sonya could even try to argue with him.

  It didn’t take long for them to wind up back at The Den and José pulled up at the lake next to a little fishing shack they kept for anyone to use. He grabbed a couple of adult poles and a miniature bright blue one for Manuel.

  “Oh, I don’t need one of those,” Sonya said as he re-emerged from the shack.

  Manuel was already off, looking for the “right dirt” even though he had no idea what that meant. The kid definitely had enthusiasm to spare, but it was endearing.

  “Why not?” José asked with a little frown.

  She laughed, “I’m totally fine just watching. I’m not big on playing with worms and slimy fish and stuff.”

  José shrugged, “Well, okay party pooper.”

  “Am not!” she cried with a grin splitting her face.

  “Just for that, I’m gonna make you in charge of baiting the hooks,” he teased and she wrinkled her nose.

  “Eeeeewww.”

  “Hey! Is this the right dirt?” Manuel called from a few yards away.

  José tossed the spare pole back in the shack and hurried over to Manuel.

  “Hmm, this isn’t bad, but you want really dark wet soil. That’s what worms love. Like over here,” he said, pointing to a spot a few feet away.

  Manuel hurried over to that spot and dropped to his knees, his hands just hovering over the dirt as he turned to Sonya for permission.

  She smirked and nodded, “Knock yourself out, kid.”

  Manuel pawed at the dirt, digging a hole in no time once he tapped into his wolf instincts. He wouldn’t be able to shift until puberty hit, but he still had the instincts, the affinity for nature, for tracking and smelling. He’d just never had anyone to help him understand it.

  “Woah!” he yelled, pulling a long squirming earthworm from his hole, “Look Mama! I did it!”

  “That’s great sweetie,” she said, still hovering a few feet away from them, looking a little squeamish as José offered Manuel a little bucket for his prize.

  “What’s a matter, Sonya, don’t like worms?” José teased, dangling one in front of her as Manuel found worm after worm in his little glory hole.

  “Nope, you can keep those to yourself,” she said with another wrinkle of her nose.

  Manuel dropped a handful of earthworms in the bucket, his hands black with rich soil.

  “Now, we have to put the worm on the hook,” José said, bringing Manuel’s little pole out and demonstrating the technique.

  “Be careful, baby, don’t stick yourself with the hook,” Sonya called.

  “I can do it,” he said with determined independence as he wriggled the slimy creature onto the hook.

  “Woah, it’s still moving,” he noted with huge eyes.

  José laughed, “Yep, that’s what the fish see. A yummy juicy worm squirming underwater and then they bite it and they’re stuck on the hook!”

  “Cool!”

  After a quick casting lesson, Manuel was all set to catch his first fish.

  Sonya watched on with mirth sparkling in her eyes as José helped Manuel get a feel for the rod and reel.

  After only a few minutes, Manuel hopped forward with a wide-eyed “Woah!”

  “There you go, now reel him in!” José said, abandoning his own rod to supervise. “Not too fast or he’ll get away! That’s it, nice and steady.”

  “It’s really strong!” Manuel exclaimed with a grunt, stepping backwards to plant his heels in firmer ground.

  “Need help?”

  “No, I got it,” the boy said, his face screwed up in intense concentration.

  José grinned like a fool and he didn’t care who saw. He was enjoying this more than he could remember enjoying anything… apart from Sonya, of course. The instant connection with his mother was surprising enough in and of itself, but José had never expected his wolf to claim the little cub in a heartbeat.

  It made sense. Sonya was spectacular and there was no way a child of hers wouldn’t be, but still… José had never really considered being a father, step or otherwise. At that moment, it sounded like a glorious prospect.

  Manuel tugged until the glimmering scales of a large mouthed bass broke the surface of the water. It flopped and wriggled, trying to escape back into the lake for its life.

  “Don’t let it get away!” José said and Manuel dove for the fish, tackling it like a linebacker.

  Behind him, José heard Sonya’s barely stifled snickers and he began to concoct a little bit of payback for her avoiding all the messy parts.

  He pulled his bowie knife from his pocket and dispatched of the fish quickly and humanely.

  “There, now you know what we do?” he asked Manuel who looked to be having the time of his life.

  “What?” The kid practically bounced with excitement.

  “We howl.”

  “We do?”

  José nodded, “Yep, after every successful hunt, you howl and the whole pack howls back to congratulate you.”

  Manuel’s eyes grew until José was sure they’d pop clean out of his skull, “The whole pack?”

  “Yep,” José grinned, “Wanna try?”

  Manuel nodded energetically.

  “Okay, so you know that feeling when you’re really happy about something and you feel like you’re just gonna blow up?”

  Manuel nodded.

  “So, you tilt your head up to the sky, grab onto that feeling and just push it all out like a rocket. You ready?”

  Manuel scrunched up his mouth, “You’re gonna do it with me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Okay,” he said, furrowing his brows deep in thought for a moment, “Okay, I grabbed it.”

  José had to chuckle, he tilted his head back and peeked out of the side of h
is vision to make sure Manuel did the same before they both let out a gleeful high “Arrrrrooooooooo!”

  Once their howl finished, Manuel opened his mouth again, but José held up a finger, “Shh, hear that?”

  At first, it was just one answering whoop of excitement. Then another. And another. Some human, some clearly wolf, the howls rose up in the air until they surrounded them in a nest of happy praise.

  Manuel turned to his mother and ran up to her, “Mama! Mama! Did you hear? They all howled! The whole pack!”

  She smiled and ruffled his hair, “I heard, baby. You’re a real bonafide member of the pack, huh?”

  He grinned from ear to ear and José called him back over, “Hey, come here, I wanna show you something else.”

  “The last, and in my opinion coolest, part of all of this.”

  “What?” Manuel asked, clearly disbelieving anything could be cooler than howling with the pack.

  “Yanking out the guts!” José said before leaning in to whisper, “And grossing out your mom with them.”

  This inspired a new gleeful sparkle in Manuel’s eyes as he giggled to himself.

  José looked over his shoulder to see Sonya looking on with a dreamy expression and he nearly lost his breath. He wanted this. All of this. This woman, this child, this family.

  She got a little suspicious and took a step toward them, “Hey, what are you two whispering about over there?”

  Manuel giggled out an unconvincing “Nothing!” while José explained how to pull the guts out of the fish. They reached in the fish’s big mouth together and José helped him get a firm grip and yaaaaank.

  Sonya was right behind him when Manuel turned around dangling the slimy bloody innards of the fish from his filthy little hands.

  “Ack!” she screamed, paling and stumbling backwards.

  Manuel took great delight in his mother’s discomfort and chased her around laughing maniacally.

  After a minute or so of this, José chimed in, “Alright, give your mom a break. She can’t help that she always wants things clean.”