Once Upon A Midnight

by Stephanie Rowe

  “Easy, boss.” Lucas slid between Rafe and Tanner. “He didn’t mean any harm. You know he shakes everyone’s hand.”

  Begrudgingly, Rafe shook it off and ushered Mina to the other side of the kitchen, away from his crew and safely behind the island.

  “Why hasn’t anyone challenged Griffin?” Rafe pulled a carton of eggs from the fridge and began cracking them into a large glass bowl.

  “Because it’s never a fair fight,” Mina answered.

  “What do you mean?” Rafe handed Mina a loaf of bread and pointed to the toaster.

  “The last time Griffin was challenged was years ago. The challenger was a young, cocky jerk who had worked under Griffin’s command before wanting more power. He thought he had what it took to win the challenge.”

  Mina popped four slices of bread into the toaster and pushed the lever down. “Anyway, both men showed up to the challenge in human form and Griffin shot his opponent before he had a chance to shift. One silver bullet through the head. The other through the heart. After that, he gave a speech about how Twisted Tail was his pack and warned that anyone who dared to challenge him would meet the same fate.”

  “Please, tell me you’re joking?” Lucas questioned.

  “Why has none of this information ever made it back to the Council?” Rafe poured the eggs into a large cast iron pan. It was all he could do to keep his cool in front of Mina. The last thing he wanted to do was go off on another tangent and scare the bejesus out of her, like he did last night.

  “We were told the Council disbanded years ago. That the packs had voted against a ruling entity. Griffin threw a huge celebration.”

  Silence fell over the room. Four stunned faces met Mina’s gaze when she glanced up. “Did I say something wrong?”

  Rafe didn’t even know where to begin, so he started with the most obvious. “The Council is very much still in existence. They’ve been around for more than five hundred years, and they aren’t going away anytime soon.”

  Lucas, Tanner, and Eddie nodded in agreement.

  “Well, that changes things. Doesn’t it?” Mina twisted a strand of hair through her fingers.

  “Yeah, it does.” Rafe turned off the skillet and grabbed a stack of plates.

  The kitchen remained quiet, with all parties deep in thought as Rafe dished out the food, starting with his mate.

  “Thanks, but I can wait to make sure there’s enough for everyone.” Mina took a step back, offering her plate to the men.

  “You’ll eat first, always.” Rafe’s tone was firm yet kind as he handed Mina the plate he made for her. In this matter, he would not be swayed. She was his priority and she might as well get used to it.

  With a nod of her head, Mina took the food Rafe offered and padded over to the table.

  Silence stretched over the room until everyone had their plates and were seated. Lucas was the first to speak. “Wow!”

  It wasn’t often that Rafe or any of his men were rendered speechless.

  Chapter Ten

  With brunch out of the way, Lucas, Eddie, and Tanner stuck around for their later than normal morning meeting with Rafe.

  A million questions sat poised on the tip of Mina’s tongue, waiting for a few precious minutes alone with her new mate.

  What does being the Alpha’s mate truly mean? What does he expect of me?

  Not knowing was enough to drive her out of her mind with worry. She survived at Twisted Tail simply by knowing what to expect. Even though most of the pack treated her like shit, she was okay with it because it was expected. The unexpected made her hackles rise.

  Being able to see into Rafe’s mind calmed her fears a smidgen. It allowed her to see that he was kind and compassionate, and that his pack loved him. That alone should set her worries at ease, but it didn’t. There was no manual for suddenly becoming the mate of the most prominent male in the pack.

  Pacing back and forth, to and fro, across the living room floor did her no good. It only managed to wear an uneven pattern in the otherwise plush carpeting. Mina took a deep breath, then another, anxious to find out any information about her mom and sisters. Worries that flooded her senses ebbed a tiny bit when she remembered the conversation about her brother, Eric.

  I should have had Rafe show me that he was okay. Rafe wouldn’t lie to me, would he?

  Mina pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind.

  Rafe had no reason to lie. He’d been nothing but honest and caring since he’d found her.

  In the short time she had known him, he had done more for her than anyone at Twisted Tail had ever done to help her. Her mother and sisters would have helped her in her hour of need, but they would have been the only ones. There wasn’t another wolf she could think of who would go out of their way to help her, let alone anyone else in the pack.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Mina slowed her pacing and eventually opted for kicking back on the couch.

  Time to kill was something she wasn’t used to. A yawn escaped, followed by another. Pulling a soft comforter over her legs, she swore she’d only close her eyes for a few minutes. Just a little rest.

  Her wolf yawned, fully supporting the idea.

  It could have been minutes that passed or even hours. The next thing Mina knew, Rafe stormed into the room like the Big Bad Wolf that he was. She jumped from the couch, running her hands quickly over her hair to flatten any bed-head that sprouted during her nap.

  It was impossible for her to get a beat on his mood. Having seen him angry, she knew it wasn’t anger that flooded his vision—something was amiss. If she could just put her finger on it.

  Rafe’s nostrils flared as he looked her up and down. If she didn’t know better, her first guess would have been that he wanted to eat her for dinner.

  Mina nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw the feral look on his face.

  Her wolf sprung to awareness, excitedly wanting to take control of the situation. The wolf’s nose twitched. One scent of whatever she smelled sent her into a giddy frenzy that Mina didn’t understand.

  Down girl. We’ve got the Big Bad Wolf eyeing us up like a damn lamb chop, and you’re excited?

  Her sassy wolf responded by lowering her front paws and wiggling her butt, offering herself up as a playmate for the Alpha.

  Oh no, you don’t! You little—

  Mina and her wolf’s silent conversation was cut short when she suddenly found herself wrapped in Rafe’s muscular arms. Her heart pounded so hard she thought her ribs might crack from the force. His scent, which reminded her of cinnamon and spice, washed over her.

  She tried and failed to keep the tone of her voice even when she asked, “How did you get over here so fast?”

  Rafe’s lips crashed down on hers, surprising her yet again.

  Oh Goddess!

  The kiss burned through her body from the heat of his lips. His coarse stubble rubbed against her delicate skin. Pure unadulterated heat radiated around her, scorching her. Her wolf whined for more. The kiss demanded that she yield to him, all the while begging for more. Sure, Mina had been kissed before, but never like this.

  Rafe’s tongue brushed against hers, sending shivers down her spine, causing her body to hum with an awareness she couldn’t pinpoint. His fingers twisted through her hair, holding her close as the kiss intensified, making her body feel as if it might spontaneously combust.

  A sudden surge of heat washed over her body, sending her mind into a fog. Mina’s body quickly came alive under Rafe’s skillful seduction.

  His calloused hands seemed to be everywhere at once, ripping the clothes from her body.

  He cupped and squeezed her breasts, nibbling gently on her hardened nipples before sucking them into his mouth.

  She moaned in disappointment when he broke away to divest himself of his clothes.

  Oh, sweet Freyja, this must be Fólkvangr.

  Mina thought she’d died and gone to Heaven when bare skin met bare skin. Her hands boldly roamed over the muscled expanse of Rafe�
�s back and shoulders.

  Rafe kissed his way up her chest and neck, teasing her. His hand parted her legs. Stars danced before her when his fingers circled her clit before landing directly on the bundle of nerves.

  A slave to the sensations that coursed through her, Mina could do little more than moan her approval as her core flooded with heat.

  “Mina, wake up.”

  The words barely filtered through her foggy mind. She didn’t want the pleasure to stop. Wantonly, she grabbed Rafe by the neck, pulling him on top of her.

  “Gods, woman. You’re killing me. Wake up, Mina.”

  Twisting her hips, she bucked under Rafe, moaning when she felt his hardness pressing against her in all the right places. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him close for another kiss. It didn’t matter that she had never done any of this before. She had to have him.

  Mina’s eyes flickered open before dreamily closing again.

  OMG.

  Realization crushed her, as did Rafe’s weight. Her eyes popped open to see her mate fully clothed, smirking down at her. Panicking, she pushed with all her might, sending Rafe flying to the floor.

  “Oh Goddess! I’m so sorry. What was that?”

  Bolting from the couch, Mina stared down at Rafe, who stretched out on the floor. Her gaze greedily swept over him, imagining all the naughty things she thought they did only moments ago in her dream. The outline of his erection clearly visible through his tight jeans.

  A blush crept over her when she noticed a grin on his face larger than the Cheshire cat’s.

  Rafe jumped to his feet, pulling Mina into a warm embrace. “There’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. I am your true mate, Mina.”

  “I’ve never had a dream like that before. It felt so real, so—” Embarrassment won out and Mina quickly snapped her mouth shut.

  “I’ve heard of this kind of thing happening from time to time when there is a lag between when the mating mark is given and when the actual mating ceremony takes place.”

  “You mean, I’m going to have more of these…crazy dreams?” Mina’s eyes widened. Surely, he must be joking!

  “Yes, and each one will be more intense than the last…until we complete the mating ceremony. This would probably be a good time to mention that I can see the dreams through our connection. Not only that, I smell your arousal.”

  Mortified at the mere thought of Rafe seeing her dream, Mina desperately tried to pull away, but Rafe’s strong arms held her steady.

  His hands cupped her ass, pulling her even closer as his hips shifted slightly, letting her feel his arousal…wanting her to know what she had done to him.

  Surprised by the intimacy of the hold, Mina gasped as Rafe moved in for the kill. His lips moved expertly over hers, just as they had in her dream—only the feeling was ten thousand times better.

  The kiss a million times hotter.

  Her body felt electrified as his hands slid under her delicate tank top. A needy moan tore from her lips when his fingers slid under the waist of her yoga pants, meeting her soft triangle of curls.

  “I love the fact that you are so wet. I can’t wait to taste you.”

  Her body trembled as his caresses continued. Never had she felt anything so…oh so good.

  It was like a switch had been flipped on in her body, turning her into a needy hussy. She was putty in his hands.

  “I want to make you feel good. Will you let me, Mina?” Rafe’s husky voice was nearly a purr in her ear.

  A breathy “Yes” was all she could manage to mumble.

  Mina wrapped her arms around Rafe’s neck for support as her legs began to crumble under her. His touch never slowing as he carried out each teasing circle over her clit while his tongue teased her ear. With slow, deliberate steps, Rafe led them to the couch.

  With one swift motion, he stripped Mina of her pants before gently pushing her onto the couch, dropping to his knees in front of her.

  Rafe gently pulled her legs apart, kissing her inner thighs.

  Panic raced through her veins when the realization of what he was about to do hit her. Mina tried to scramble off the couch, only to give in to his silent demand when his warm, wet tongue brushed over her clit once, twice—by the third swipe of his tongue, she found herself gasping for air. Her fingers tunneled through his hair, pulling him closer, needing more of what his wicked tongue had to offer.

  Throwing her head back in ecstasy, a lone shout flew from her mouth when Rafe grabbed onto her hips, pulling her closer to the edge of the couch. Her back arched when his finger parted her core, pressing gently inside.

  Mina’s climax stole furiously over her as he sucked her clit into his mouth while adding a second finger, stretching her pussy to accommodate his rock hard cock. Mina’s breaths became short and quick as a blinding white light flashed before her eyes. The orgasm sent her flying past the moon to the stars above. She was left with the feeling of floating above the world as the pleasure continued to charge through her body.

  Rafe’s head snapped up when a lone howl filled the air, quickly followed by another. He flew to his feet, leaving Mina cold and empty.

  “Whatever you hear, don’t leave the house. You got it?”

  Mina nodded, quickly tugging her pants back on.

  Oh, Goddess, no. They’re here.

  “Please be careful, Rafe,” Mina called, but her mate was already gone.

  Chapter Eleven

  Pulling the backdoor open, Rafe sprang into a full shift. Snarls and growls filled the air as he lunged for the Twisted Tail mutt who tried to make his way onto the deck. Catching him completely off guard, Rafe tore through his throat in an instant, then made his way to the next intruder.

  Rafe bounded from one opponent to the next, his razor sharp incisors hitting the mark with each new target.

  Keeping an eye on Lucas, Tanner, and Eddie, he quickly picked his way through the Twisted Tail ranks, dropping one after another. Something was wrong, it was too easy.

  The wolves Rafe took down were not Twisted Tail’s top fighters. They couldn’t have been, they barely put up a fight.

  Taking a step back from the scene, Rafe scanned the field to confirm that Lucas and the others had fought with ease.

  “Did they put up much of a fight?” Rafe silently asked Lucas.

  “The first couple did, but after that, it’s like they sent in the replacements.”

  “It doesn’t make sense. Why would Griffin send less than his best fighters to the home of an Alpha?” Tanner questioned.

  “As a distraction.” Rafe was the first to come to the conclusion.

  The Alpha’s ears twitched as several twigs snapped around him. The four of them drew closer together, scenting the air.

  Warning the rest of the pack and calling for backup became a priority when he found himself face-to-face with five wolves.

  There was nothing ordinary about the wolves. Their eyes glowed an eerie red, foam dripped from their mouths as if they were possessed. He didn’t need to turn around to know that three more just joined their little pow-wow.

  “Eight against four and they’re hopped up on something.” Rafe sent the thought to any pack members in wolf form. He heard a single series of yips before another sounded. It was Black Paw’s secret messaging system. The high-pitched noises were barely audible and Twisted Tail would have no idea what the message meant.

  “Have you ever seen anything like this before?” Lucas moved closer to Rafe.

  Rafe nodded. “Once, and it wasn’t a fun experience. Don’t let them bite you. Their teeth are tipped with silver.”

  Thankfully, within minutes of having sent the message to his pack, the members of Black Paw started to arrive on the scene, howling to let the others know exactly where they were and what was going on. Seconds later, a second wave of reinforcements arrived.

  Rafe, Lucas, Tanner, and Eddie no longer worried about being outnumbered. They widened their huddle, pushing the wolves who surrounded them further
apart into the waiting jaws of Black Paw.

  “I want at least one of them alive,” Rafe ordered.

  Snarls filled the air as Black Paw attacked the intruders. As for Rafe, he went after the one who appeared to be the leader. Instead of going for his throat, he latched on to the wolf’s hamstring, ripping his leg open.

  The force of the injury Rafe inflicted caused his opponent to shift to human form. Rafe clamped down on his arm, dragging him further from the fray. Unable to communicate mentally with an opposing pack member, Rafe shifted to human. “You have five seconds to talk before I rip your throat out.”

  “Go ahead and kill me, you piece of shit. We already got what we came for.”

  Every hair on Rafe’s arms stood on end. His heart pounded when he opened the connection to his mate and got no response. He couldn’t locate her. Panic nearly overwhelmed him as he thought back over the fight. No one got past them to get to Mina. They couldn’t have.

  He was sure of it.

  “Lucas,” Rafe yelled for his second-in-command.

  Lucas shifted to human form. “Take this scum to the holding cells and meet me at my house. Wrap it up here as quick as you can. I need to check on Mina.”

  “You got it, boss.”

  Rafe shifted back to wolf, hoping to get a better idea of where Mina was. With any luck, his wolf would be able to pick up the connection better than his human form could.

  Dashing back to the house, Rafe kept his nose to the ground, sniffing for any foreign scents. When he failed to detect anything, he shifted and made his way inside.

  Rafe’s throat filled with bile as several unknown wolf scents filled his nose.

  “Mina. Mina!” Rafe yelled as he charged into each room, skidding to a halt when he made it to the bedroom.

  Broken picture frames, an upended dresser, and a shattered window filled his view. Sounds of labored breathing came from the left side of the bed.

  Rafe’s nose worked overtime as he tried to catalogue each of the different scents. There were several that didn’t belong, and one that surprised him. When he reached the opposite side of the bed, he looked down to see Erin in human form, her throat torn open. Lifting her gently from the floor, he laid her on the bed and grabbed a towel to stem the bleeding.