Out of the Darkness (The Cloven Pack Series: Book Two)

by D. Fischer

  Evo considers Flint’s emotions with a careful eye before nodding. Maybe he knows more about what Flint hides better than I realized. “And there could be more. We need to be prepared for that,” Evo says to Flint while placing a protective hand, absentmindedly, on Kenna’s belly.

  “Let ‘em come,” Flint mumbles, steepling his fingers.

  A timer beeps from the kitchen, breaking our silence. Kelsey springs from her seat. “Supper’s just about ready,” she declares.

  Giving Ben a kiss, I scoot out of the arm he has wrapped around me. “I’ll help get it ready.”

  Following Kelsey into the kitchen, I grab the plates and cups out of the cupboard while Kelsey silently works on pulling pans out of the oven. Setting the last plate on the counter, I turn to her. “Are you alright, Kelsey?”

  Without turning to me, she nods. I turn her body to face mine. “What’s wrong?”

  She lets out a big sigh and her body sags in defeat. “I’m happy for Evo and Kenna, I really am, but it’s just …”

  “You and Jeremy have been trying to get pregnant, haven’t you?” I run my hand soothingly up and down her arms.

  “Yeah,” she mumbles and looks at the floor.

  I pull her into a hug. “It’s okay. It’ll happen when it happens.”

  She returns my embrace and sniffles into my shoulder. “Thanks, Bre.” Pulling away, she grabs a spatula from a drawer. “Can you grab the silverware, too?”

  “Yep.”

  After the Pack meal, I excuse myself from the table and leave the Alphas’ quarters, intent on a hot shower. I kick up snow on the short trek, checking the tree line for any sign of danger. I am still on edge—Evo’s right, an attack could happen at any time.

  I open my door and find all my belongings gone. My entire quarter is empty, not a crumb left.

  I gape at my empty space before letting out a growl. “What the fuck? Where’s all my shit?” Realization hit me and I slam my door while marching out of my quarters and back into the frigged cold to hunt down the man who took it upon himself to remove my things without consent.

  Benjamin Grobin

  Leaving the table shortly after Bre, I exit the sliding glass door on the back of the Alpha’s quarters. I turn swiftly after Bre shouts my name. “Where the fuck is all my shit?” she screams.

  I stand my ground, unafraid of my little mate, as she marches her way to stand in front of me. “Shit is an appropriate description for that mess I had to riffle through,” I rumble, quirking an eyebrow at her.

  She growls at me and crosses her arms. “Where’s my shit, Ben?”

  Unable to help myself, a smile tugs at my lips. I thought this was how we would start this conversation once she concluded that I’m responsible for the disappearance of her belongings. “They’re in the Beta quarters.”

  She sticks her hands on her hips. “And what would they be doing there?”

  I cross my arms to match her antagonistic posture, a hint of humor tugging at my lips. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? I moved you in with me.”

  She brings a gloved hand up to her forehead, rubbing the space between her eyebrows. She’s clearly not finding this as amusing as I am. “Why?”

  “You’re my mate,” I huff. “There’s no reason we need to live in separate quarters. You’re going to be the Beta female once our mating is complete—you should be living in the Beta quarters with me.”

  She drops her hand abruptly. “That’s my point—our mating isn’t complete. Why are you jumping the gun on this?”

  Putting my hand at the small of her back, I guide her inside the Beta’s quarters. She takes a moment to take in her surroundings. Several of her possessions are scattered throughout mine. I’m an organized person, whereas my mate seems to enjoy living in a pigsty. When I had entered her quarters for the first time earlier today to move her things while she was unaware, I was horrified at the state of her quarters.

  Taking her coat off, I hang it on the hook by the door. “Why are you so against this?” I ask, curiosity thick in my voice.

  Bre makes her way over to a shelf that contains pictures of my family, trailing her hand over the smooth leather couch before doing so. “Well, for one, you didn’t even ask if I’m ready for this.”

  I knew she would buck at the idea of moving in together so soon. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think this would be such a big deal for you.”

  She turns away from the pictures to face me. “It’s not just that, Ben. You never take my feelings into consideration. It never occurs to you. We’re not even fully mated yet and already you’re trying to run my life without even asking how I feel about it.”

  I walk over to her, wrap her in my arms, and apologize sincerely. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ve never done this before. You’ve got to give me room to screw up. All I’m trying to do is love you.”

  Her body stiffens. She pulls back to look in my eyes. “You love me?” she whispers.

  Trying to find the right wording, I answer as honestly as I can, “After the interrogation, when you came over to check the guy’s pulse, you never looked at me with disgust or revulsion. This is my job, Bre. This is what I’ll have to do, and that is what I’ll have to become from time to time. So, when you looked at me and saw me for me—not the guy I must become—that’s when I knew.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I do love you, Bre.”

  A wide grin spreads across her face before it falls into a frown.

  “What? Talk to me,” I ask softly, stroking her cheek. Her silence is killing me.

  Sighing, she walks over to the table and sits down on a chair. I follow her and take a seat on the kitchen chair beside hers. Crossing her arms over her chest, she says, “That’s not the only reason I’m hesitant to move in with you. I’m afraid to advance the mating.”

  I scowl, confused. “Why? Do you not want to be mated to me?”

  “Of course I want to be mated to you.” She runs a hand through her hair. “It’s just … for years I knew we were mates. When I found out, I understood it may have been difficult for you to recognize me for what I am because of all the distractions with my father. But after he was dead, you failed to see me. Then you became Beta, and you still ignored me. I’m scared, Ben. I’m scared all the time. What if you decide this isn’t what you want? What if you decide that I’m not what you want?” she pleads with her questions.

  I take a moment and let her compose herself while I think over an explanation. Words and feelings have never been my strong-suit. I pull her into my lap, straddling me, and dab soft pecks to her lips. “I was an idiot who was wrapped up in my own shit. I was so wrapped up and I buried myself in my work after I was named Beta. I spent my days ignoring all my issues and therefore, I failed to see what was right in front of me. Now that I have you, I’ll never let you go. You have no idea what you do to me.”

  She softly kisses me back. “What do you mean?”

  I pause, thinking of a situation as an example. “Remember in the parking garage at the hospital?” She nods in confirmation. “After I took care of the Rogues, I struggled to contain my anger. I wanted to kill those wolves and dance on their grave,” I pause, remembering the dark place my mind had gone to. “Then you came over to me. Your scent anchored me. Before that moment, my wolf and I have had anger issues. We were quick to anger and always made irrational choices in that state. Evo taught me how to control those emotions, but I’ve always had to work at it. When you came over to me in the parking garage, that was the first time in my life where I found something that calmed me more than anything else ever has. You ground me. That’s when I truly accepted that you were mine.”

  Touching her forehead to mine, she smiles. “So … I’m your sedative.”

  My chuckle shocks my system. Before I recognized Bre as my mate, I had barely laughed. I was such a serious person that I found humor a waste of time. “You’ve brought life back to me,” I add from my thoughts.

  She inhales my scent
as she nuzzles my neck, a low content growl rumbling her chest. She fits perfectly in the crook of my neck. She fits perfectly everywhere—her small frame against my broad frame. She balances my personality and sanity.

  Unable to help myself, I nibble and suck on her earlobe. Bre moans softly and rocks against me. She brings her lips to mine and we capture each other’s moans while I continue to rock her back and forth. Breaking our kiss, she tugs on the bottom of my shirt and pulls it off. After she flings it to the floor, I unsnap her bra from the outside of her shirt, quickly lifting both items over her head.

  “You have no idea what you do to me,” I rumble.

  She brings her soft, plush lips back to mine, our kiss urgent and frantic as our bare skin touches during each rocking motion. Every time her nipples graze my chest or her hair brushes my skin, it sends electric shocks straight to my cock.

  Bre leaves my lips and kisses her way down my chest to my stomach. Carefully, she unbuttons my pants and pulls the zipper down. I lift my ass off the chair so she can pull them off with my underwear. My cock springs free and begs for attention before she grips it firmly with her chilled hands. I suck in a breath when my warm shaft meets her frigid fingers. Not giving me time to adjust to the difference in temperature, she pumps her hand. A moan escapes my throat and I briefly close my eyes, losing myself in the sensation.

  Everything she touches on me feels like a delicious fire, scorching all my nerves with pure pleasure. My eyes fly open when I feel the hot lick of her tongue touch the tip. A drop of precum sits on the edge of her pink tongue before she swallows it.

  Putting my hand on the back of her head, I guide her mouth around my cock. Slowly, she takes me in her mouth, inch by inch, while she continues to thrust the bottom half with her hand. I let out another moan when she clutches my balls and massages them. They’re so tight with the need to come, it’s almost painful.

  I watch her head bob up and down. The sight of my mate taking my cock in her –mouth—of pleasuring me—is the most erotic sight I’ve ever seen. “Shit, baby. That feels so good,” I hiss between clenched teeth.

  Her eyes flick to mine, a wicked intent stirring in them. She slowly takes my cock all the way down to the base, deep throating me and taking every inch with ease. When her throat constricts around me, I suck in a breath. “Holy shit,” I whisper. My other hand flies to the back of her head, burying in her hair.

  Slowly, she moves her mouth up and down, raking her nails against my inner thighs. A tingling sensation begins at the base of my spine and my moans become louder, more urgent. I’m so close, so fucking close. “Yeah, baby. Keep going.”

  My breathing grows quicker before feeling the pleasurable release. Grabbing her head, I shove my cock down her throat and come with a loud moan. She takes every ounce, her eyes never leaving mine.

  “Holy shit, baby,” I grunt. I had no idea she could deep throat. I’ve never had sex with someone who could take all of me at once.

  Releasing her head, she returns to straddling me. I lean forward and swipe my hand across the table. Its contents fly to the floor with a loud crash. Grabbing her hips firmly, I lift her up easily and lay her on the table.

  Brenna Johnson

  My bare back lies against the cold, wooden table while Ben removes my pants. As soon as they’re flung to the ground, he wraps my legs around his shoulders and dives between my legs.

  Inserting a finger, he stretches me while circling my clit with his tongue. I moan at each skilled swipe to my sensitive nerves. He inserts another finger, stretching me further and causing me to buck my hips against his hand to get them to go deeper.

  Pumping his fingers slow and leisurely, his tongue continues the same unhurried torture. With nothing to grab onto, my hands fall to Ben’s head, gripping his hair. Delicious heat blooms in my lower abdomen and my legs quiver with anticipation. My breathing becomes harsh as I fight against my climax. I don’t want this to end so soon.

  He inserts another finger and growls against my clit. I moan against my own control at the vibration. “Look at me, Bre,” Ben says. I lift my head and he slides his fingers out. I watch him suck off my juices from his fingers, his eyes glowing wolf at my taste. “You taste so fucking good, baby.”

  My eyes mirror his and glow wolf while I watch him enjoying my taste. Gradually, he slides three fingers back in, his glowing eyes never leave mine. “Whose pussy is this, Bre?” he asks. Too consumed in the sensations, I don’t answer his question. He circles his fingers inside me, touching every swollen bit there is. “Whose is it, Bre?”

  Sick of the questions, I snarl at him. “Yours, asshole!”

  His lips quirk a satisfied smile at my outburst. “Very good, baby. I want to watch you fall apart around my hands. Stop holding back, Bre.” He uses his other hand to pinch my clit while the three fingers pound into me. “Come for me,” he demands.

  Moaning in pure bliss, the heat that’s been building in my lower abdomen explodes. My thighs quiver and I let out a scream as wave after wave of scorching hot pleasure courses through every inch of me. When my quivering subsides, Ben slides out his fingers and replaces it with the tip of his cock. I look into his eyes. Like mine, they’re still glowing wolf.

  Grabbing my hips, he slowly slides himself into me, letting me adjust to his size. When he’s fully settled, we both moan as my walls clamped around him from the aftershocks of my climax. “Ready, Bre?” he rumbles, his voice thick with lust.

  He slides out slowly and slams back into me. I let out a deep moan and prop myself on my elbows so I can watch him fuck me. Again and again he pounds me. Tilting my chin up, Ben’s lips capture mine as he continues his pace. He pulls away and looks into my eyes. His eyes are glowing brighter and I watch as his teeth lengthen. “The mating,” Ben says around his wolf’s canines.

  As he said those words, my wolf slides to the surface with me, sharing my space. It’s a little frightening at first because this hasn’t happened to me before. Kenna explained the experience to me once, but it doesn’t compare to the real thing.

  Slowing his pace, Ben asks, “Is this what you want, Bre?”

  I take a moment to think about it. For years I’ve known who I loved. I’ve watched him from afar while I waited for him to see me. Now that I finally have him and he’s declared his love for me, I’ll never turn back.

  At my nod, he repositions himself inside me so that he rubs a bundle of nerves against my walls. His eyes never leaving mine, he pumps his hips back to the frenzied pace. The tightening in my lower stomach begins again—the sign that I’m close to an orgasm.

  Screaming when it hits, my wolf temporarily takes over my actions and lunges forward, biting Ben in the crook of his neck. He groans as my teeth sink in and I feel him explode inside me. Grabbing the back of my hair, he angles my head and returns the bite.

  As soon as his teeth sink in, another orgasm hits me. Black spots and stars take over my vision and I feel something in my mind stretch and move aside. The sensation is unreal—both pleasurable and disorienting—as my body adjusts to the mating. Holding onto Ben’s shoulders, I use him as a physical anchor to keep me conscious.

  Pulling his teeth from my neck, he rests his forehead against mine. We breathe raggedly as our bodies continue to adjust and our wolves retreat inside us.

  Do you feel it? Ben asks. A small smile graces my lips. He used our mating connection for telepathy. Words failing me, I nod confirmation.

  “You’re stuck with me, Bre. Aren’t you glad I moved your stuff in this morning?” he asks cockily.

  I chuckle. “Smartass.”

  I can feel his heartbeat in a tiny new space inside my mind that belongs only to Ben. His frantically beating heart matches my own. I can feel his and his wolf’s emotions. The emotions I can feel coming from them are shocking. It’s one thing to be told you’re loved, it’s an entirely different thing to feel it.

  My wolf basks in his love for me. She finally has her mate and she finall
y feels protected. I can’t remember the last time she felt like this. I don’t think she ever has.

  Love is an indescribable emotion. There isn’t one way or one word to describe what it truly means or what it actually feels like. You may be able to come close to the real meaning with a few choice words, but they’d never do it justice.

  But I know love. I know that feeling. I have it. I feel it wrap around the space that belongs only to my mate—the man who’s now the other half of my soul. His love brings light to the dark where my demons shine the brightest. It brings a dawn to my endless black night. And in this light and in this dawn, my torment is vanquished to trouble me no more.

  That’s how powerful love is—to cure the incurable and to heal what can’t be seen. There’s only one word I’d ever use to describe love: miracle.

  Chapter Eight

  Brenna Johnson

  Kelsey turns to her mate and throws her hands in the air. “Oh, for crying out loud, Jeremy. Would you stop brooding? I had several ounces of liquor when we had a girls’ night and I kept control over myself the entire time.”

  It’s the night after mine and Ben’s mating and Evo and Kenna had suggested the mated pairs go out for a triple date. Flint and Dyson are in charge while we are gone. We didn’t plan to be gone long—the men wanted to take us snowmobiling. We rode around for an hour and ended at a bar that’s popular for snowmobilers at this time of year.

  Jeremy looks at her from the corner of his eye while he sips from his straw. “That’s your third rum and Coke, Kels. I’m just saying, we have an hour drive back. It will be a much longer trip if you keep falling off due to intoxication.”

  “Kelsey can hold her liquor,” I say around the straw I’m chewing on while Ben nuzzles my neck. “I’ve witnessed this myself.”