“Do you still want me? Is your need for me still there?”
The tingling from his bite was no longer in my shoulder. Instead, it had burst like a bubble of glitter and spread all over my skin. Now, rather than being isolated, it was a part of me. I could feel Holden and his pack. I could feel Colby and his wolves. He waited, and I could smell his pain. “Yes, you’re mine, and I need you.”
With a feral growl, he nudged my thighs apart and released my hair. It cascaded over my shoulders and fell, covering my breasts. The werewolf held my hips and drove his huge length into me. “Who are you?”
I gasped for breath, stretched to the point of pain but so close to finding my release. “Rozene,” I panted.
He pulled out to his tip and then slammed himself forward. “I am yours. For all of my days until I draw my last breath, I am yours.” Pulling back, he rammed forward, making the dresser rattle against the wall. Then, he sank his fangs into my shoulder. I watched as my blood, the same shade of red as my eyes, slid down my white skin. The werewolf was done talking. I held onto the dresser while he drove his pelvis forward and back. The pain of his fullness gave way to pleasure, and we came while staring into each other’s eyes in the mirror. Releasing my shoulder from his bite, he pulled his length from me. Then, he shimmered into his human form.
“Now, you,” he said. I tried not to be afraid. What if I couldn’t turn back? He could smell my fear. “Want me to spank you again?”
“No,” I said angrily. I willed my human self to return, and it was as easy as taking a breath. Covering my face, I sobbed.
Holden took my hands away and held me by my wrists. “Now, call your other self forward.”
“What?”
“Do it.”
Confused, I stared at him until I recognized it for the test it was. I drew upon my other nature. Instead of the hard push and pull to which I had grown accustomed, it was like walking into a warm room from the cold outside, subtle but noticeable.
“Look,” he said as he turned me to face my reflection.
“I’m me. I’m not her.”
Softly, he said, “Now, turn back.”
I saw my other eyes once more. Turning into his chest, I held him tightly and closed my eyes.
After a moment, he picked me up and carried me to the bed. “What about now? Do you still want me?” A needy sadness was in his eyes.
Reaching up, I gently grabbed him by the hair and pulled him down to me. “Yes, I want you and need you. Trying to deny it was hurting both of us, but are we being selfish?” Guiltily, I admitted to myself and to him my feelings. “I don’t despise you, but I’m not in lo….”
He brought his lips down to mine. “Please, don’t say it. Be with me here, right now. Don’t think about anything else.” He again silenced my lips with his. He didn’t want me to say out loud that I wasn’t in love with him. I lifted my legs and circled his hips. I could give him physical affection and kindness, but I couldn’t give him what he really wanted, my heart. He seemed willing to take what he could get. Then, he surprised me by making slow, gentle love to me.
Hours later when I woke from a deep, satiated sleep, he was watching me with guarded eyes. I chuckled at him. “What? Were you expecting me to wake up, see your face, and start screaming my head off?”
With a pleased smile, he said, “Yeah, something like that. I’m glad you woke up with a smile and laughing.”
Sliding from bed, I walked over our discarded clothing and to the dresser. I stared at my eyes in the mirror and shifted, watching them change to mahogany. Then, I frowned.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Feeling the top of my head, I said, “I don’t have antlers, not even little ones.” Turning from the mirror, I looked at Holden. One of his long, well-muscled legs was above the covers. “And, I’m still vertically challenged. Hunting Wolf and the others rival the trees in their Wendigo forms.”
He smiled and looked at my tits rather than my eyes. “They’ve got gray skin, muzzles full of sharp teeth, and a gauntness which you lack as well. They are scary looking fuckers. You look more like a sexy succubus.” His dick started making the covers lift.
“I don’t have wings or a tail.”
“Aw, sweetheart. It’s alright. Come here.”
Our libidos felt connected. Shifting back, I stared at him. “Why is it that you’re aroused, and it’s making me feel the same way?”
He winked at me. “Come here, and I’ll tell you.”
“Oh, no.” Embarrassment had me inwardly cringing. “Did you know?”
“Every single time.” He crooked his finger at me and patted the bed beside him. “I’d tell you I’ll be quick, but you know that’s a lie.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, “What is this between us?”
“Look at your hand.”
I held it up. No evidence of my mishap with the pencil remained.
“Do you still burn with the need to mate?”
I shook my head.
“Is Elizabeth still making you feel guilty for unmaking her?”
“No.” I walked back to the bed. Reaching out, he took my hand in his.
“What this is between us is us making things right. I have a lot of things to repair with you. I saw your list, and I’ll admit that I was wrong to break down your door, drag you from your home, and run off with you.”
“I was wrong to bite your tongue.” I so regretted that particular mistake.
“No, I’d have bitten you even if you hadn’t.”
Sitting beside him, I said, “We should put it behind us.”
“What about this? Do we have to put this behind us?”
I watched him. He had gone still. “No, it wouldn’t be right, but I don’t know what would be right. We can’t treat this like scratching an itch. It would be a lie. Whatever this is between us was too powerful to keep trying to ignore. It was more powerful than my own will and conviction to remain faithful. I’m not gonna lie. I’m ashamed of myself. I don’t know what to expect. Is this going to hurt them? Have I ruined things? How do we fix this? I married them because I love them and can’t imagine living my life without them, but you’ve worked your way into my blood. How do I make this right?”
Grinning, he said, “I’ve got an idea,” and pounced.
Eventually, we showered, dressed, and made our way downstairs. It was a good thing that my Wendigo and werewolf forms had mended. Otherwise, I doubted I’d have been able to walk without the healing powers I had acquired. Holden was on his best behavior with what I thought might be a permanent grin on his face. He held out my chair for me. His wolves watched us with knowing eyes which unnerved me. It took the promiscuous, adulterous walk of shame to a humiliating new level.
Covering my hand with his, he gave it a squeeze. “None of that. We’ll get it sorted when they get back. They knew what would happen. Hell, they probably wanted us to get it over with. You were wearing their dicks out trying to get what you needed from them when all you needed was some of this.” He winked at me. He laughed at the withering look I gave him.
The atmosphere within the hotel felt charged, and I wondered if it was due to whatever Cecil had done to ward the place from evil spells. “Do you feel something in the air? Something almost like static electricity?”
“Yeah, I feel it. All of us do. A mated pair makes the pack’s magic stronger. Then, adding Colby and his pack into the fold through our mating has made us even stronger. That’s exactly what you’re feeling.” He shoved two pieces of bacon into his mouth and chewed.
“So, do you think Colby knows?” Pain seared my heart.
He nodded. Then, he smiled at our waitress. She filled our cups with hot coffee and placed a platter of pancakes and sausage on our table. I caught Holden smiling smugly at his men. “How about a little kiss?”
“You just want to show off. Anyway, it wouldn’t be appropriate.”
He looked as baffled as Cooper had looked while trying to calculate how much pr
ofanity he could afford.
Explaining further, I said, “I’m married. Remember?” I pointed from him to me and back again. “This requires a family meeting.”
“Oh, right. Um… you know it’s different with wolves. Right? They consider us mated.”
“Even so, it’s complicated, and you know it. Also, you know the kind of person, the kind of wife, I want to be. I just wish there had been a better way to go about this.” I stabbed two pancakes with my fork and dragged them over to my plate.
“There was, but they were in a hurry to make it official and didn’t give me a fair chance to make things right with you. They knew how I felt about you. They knew, so don’t you blame yourself for the unconventional means by which we’ve gotten ourselves sorted out. You let me worry about it.”
Incredulously, I glared at him. “Don’t even think about treating me the way the women in your pack are treated. I’m a strong, independent woman. I can handle my own problems. I’m tough and a survivor. I don’t need a man coddling me and fixing my problems for me.”
“You’re right, sweetheart.” He grinned.
“Now, you’re simply placating me.”
“Oh, no. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Soft laughter echoed around us. His wolves didn’t believe him anymore than I did. Giving him a taste of his own manipulation, I kissed his cheek. “Our camping fiasco with the attacking crows, fire, and submerged truck wasn’t the best experience. However, one good thing came of it. You’re far more attractive cleanly shaved.” That made him think. I wondered how long it would be before he took a razor to his stubbly cheeks. I’d never been a fan of facial hair.
With a wider grin, he said, “You gave me some sugar and told me you find me attractive.”
I sipped my coffee and poured syrup over my pancakes. Holden’s mood had spilled over into the pack which was a positive occurrence. I’d learned the importance of morale while living in the underground bunkers during the war, and it was as if war with Sophia was what all of us were expecting. How her evil could reach us within the confines of the hotel was something about which we speculated. Holden’s men guarded against intruders in shifts, and each of them worked with a partner.
“What do you think is happening?” Doing nothing had put me on edge.
“I don’t know but probably nothing that was expected. My job is to keep you safe, so it’s all I’m worrying about. I don’t fail in my responsibilities or go back on my word.”
“I can protect myself.”
“Oh, I know, sweetheart.” He leaned back and balanced his chair on its back legs.
I resisted the urge to give him a push and watch him go sprawling. He’d finished eating and excused himself from the table to attend a debriefing from a man named Dunstan, who’d replaced the evil Gideon as his lieutenant. Before he left, he gave a sharp whistle, and the restaurant filled. Nervously, I realized that I had become the center of attention.
“Rozene, if there is a time when I’m not around, one of my top ten will be. You’ve met Dunstan.” He motioned at him with his hand, and Dunstan lifted his hand to wave at me. “He’s my second-in-command. You’ve met John, Moses, and Tim. Over there is Austin. That’s Gage.” I knew Gage. He was Henrietta’s mate. “That’s Judge.” He tipped his head to me. “Over there are Nigel and Zebediah.” They were respectively Abigail and Shana’s mates and familiar to me. “You met Cord at the door. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Why can’t I go with you? Am I not intellectually capable of comprehending the details surrounding our personal security?”
“Sweetheart, it’s not like that at all. Trust me.” He left before I could stop him.
The men in the room didn’t bother trying to hide their quiet snickers. They hadn’t quite forgiven me and my library friends for the literature we had taken out to Wolf Ranch. “Archaic, sexist quadruped,” I mumbled under my breath as I stood. The hotel was operating under a skeleton crew to give everyone an opportunity to pack, but I still managed to find the concierge.
“Yes, ma’am?” His demeanor had cooled since last we spoke. Calm professionalism had replaced his former admiration of my person.
“I need to make amends. I took a uniform and some boots from the supply closet and ruined them the other night.”
He gaped at me, and his professionalism vanished. “So what? Who cares about that? I was on the roof and saw what you did! You were amazing!”
My cheeks caught fire, and I had to stop myself from preening. “It was nothing.”
“Nothing? You were badass and so hot.”
A deep growl from behind me had his complexion turning to flour. Cord was standing behind me. He hadn’t been there seconds ago. He was a werewolf of whom the concierge had no prior knowledge or history, and knowing what one of them could do when angry, the poor man looked ready to faint. I sympathized since not too long ago Holden’s pack had reduced me to a stuttering mess.
“Will there be anything else, ma’am?”
“No, I just thought I should pay for the things I took and ruined. I was desperate. It was either that or fight naked.”
His eyes dropped down to my chest, but Cord’s growl had him jumping back about a foot and banging into the counter behind him. “It’s nothing to worry about. I assure you. We keep extra uniforms in our supply closets in case of spills and splatters.” With a nervous laugh, he said, “Seeing as how we’re moving, we might vote on new uniforms anyway.”
“How is the packing going?”
“Oh, good, good. Towels, linens, and most of the kitchen items are loaded. Chief Stillwater-Reeves is arranging for us to take over a hotel in Silver Springs that shut down years ago. It will need some work, but we’re not afraid of working. No, sir. Uh…” He realized he’d started to ramble. “Once we open, I’d like to offer you and yours a complimentary weekend stay.”
“Gee, thanks.” Smiling, I wandered off to spy on Holden.
As long as I was nowhere near the exits, his men left me alone. It didn’t take me long to discover a new ability since healing my forms. I could track Holden’s scent. With my Wendigo and werewolf abilities fully merged, I felt powerful. Pleased with myself, I took the stairs up to the roof. Four sets of eyes were directed my way before I had managed to exit the stairwell. I held onto the cold metal door and was uncertain of whether I should step out onto the roof or retreat. Lifting my chin, I strode toward them where they sat on the raised roof ledge.
Holden’s eyes were full of amusement. “She came looking for me.” John, Tim, and Moses tore their eyes from me long enough to grin at each other. “You miss me already, sweetheart?” His eyes no longer appeared amused. Instead, there was something unsettling in them, something I’d never seen within them and didn’t know how to interpret.
“No, I didn’t miss you at all. I came here to spy on you like any normal person left out of the loop would do. That’s all. I have a right to know what’s going on. It’s bad enough that we got left here and aren’t helping them hunt down the evil, wrinkly, old witch you had a thing for.”
The left side of Holden’s mouth lifted in a grin.
John said, “Looking for you and jealous. Whew wee!”
Affronted, I said, “I am not jealous. Furthermore, I know exactly what it is you’re trying to do. Stop trying to deflect the conversation to me and instead try to become informative.”
“She’s a feisty one,” Tim said.
“Ever been pushed off of a three-story building?” I asked him.
Without taking his eyes from me, Holden said, “Alright. Carry on. I think Rozene is bored and needs attention.”
“Don’t you dare condescend to me, Holden. I can unmake you, and you know it.”
His grin got bigger. He didn’t move, but I could feel something from him. I just didn’t know what it was. His men knew, though. I could see it in their eyes. “You found me by tracking me. I could feel you searching for me, reaching out for me through our bond. It was like a caress against my soul. Can
you feel it? I’m doing the same thing to you right now.” My eyes widened. I could feel whatever it was he was doing. It was like a soft fuzzy sweater rubbing against me. “It’s the silent call of one mate to another. Oh, my, Rozene. What big eyes you have.”
All of my prior protestations were meaningless. Holden was one of my mates, and in my innocent plan to spy on him, I had inadvertently done something which for a werewolf was incredibly intimate. He looked ready to toss my skirt up and have his way with me on the roof. A dangerous glint had entered his eyes, and I was pretty sure that I knew exactly how to interpret it.
“I know the cure for your boredom. How about a game of hide and seek? You’ve got until I count to a hundred. One….”
I did the only rational thing. I turned tail and ran. Their boisterous laughter followed me down the stairs. There was safety in numbers, so I returned to the restaurant where a few of Holden’s men were eating. Other than them, I only spotted two waitresses and the chef, but even with the low body count, it was better than being caught alone. Was there a way to hide my presence from him? Inviting myself to join the men who were trying to eat in peace, I sat.
“Hi. Excuse me. Could you please answer a question for me?” I smiled.
“Yes, ma’am.” He wiped his mouth and didn’t seem too annoyed at my interruption.
“How does a werewolf hide from his or her mate?”
I jumped when the man to my left snorted and shot water out of his nose. All of them had started laughing. “Hide from a mate? It’s not possible. Mates have tethered souls.” He shook his head at me and resumed eating.
Disappointed at my inability to escape Holden’s notice, it did give me other ideas. Could I track Colby, Hunting Wolf, and Sam?
“Found you. Oh, Rozene. You’re not even trying,” Holden said from behind me and right into my ear. His whisper tickled and raised chills on my neck.
“What’s the point?”
“You tell me.”
“There is nowhere I can go where you won’t find me, and I can’t even leave the hotel.”
“You’re sexy when you’re thinking.” He touched my arm with his fingertip. “Found you. Now, you have to find me.”
Wendigo Conjuring Page 14
