Forever Broken

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  She gasped as he put his mouth on her, licking and sucking at her pussy. He put both of her legs on his shoulders and kept licking, kept sucking. When he worked his fingers inside her, she moaned his name, arching herself closer to his face as her body shook.

  This man knew how to eat a woman out and knew exactly what to do to get her ready.

  So, it was no surprise that she came hard and kept coming as he continued to lick. Before she could beg him to stop or keep going, he was standing again, and his mouth was on hers. She could taste herself on him, and it only made her writhe more.

  She moved back when she couldn’t handle it anymore and reached between them, her hand encircling his hard cock.

  “Cheyenne,” he groaned. “I can’t last if you touch me. Not this time.”

  “Then get inside me.”

  He licked his lips, then looked at her. “You know we can’t use a condom. Because I need to spill my seed inside you to complete the bond. I don’t have any diseases and can’t catch them as a wolf. And it’s not the right time to get you pregnant, at least for wolves and the phases of the moon. Okay? I have to go in bare. And then I have to bite you to mark you. It won’t hurt, not with how I’ll do it. I promise it’s not going to hurt.”

  She nodded. “I know. I trust you.”

  Heat flashed in his eyes, and he moved over her, kissing up her body before taking her lips. Then, he was right at her entrance, but he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes.

  “Yes, Max. Just the two of us. Now.”

  “As you wish, mate of mine.”

  They both sucked in ragged breaths as he entered her, his thickness stretching her almost to the point of pain. But he went so slowly, was so careful with the way he gently thrust in and out of her to make sure she could accommodate him, that it didn’t hurt.

  Nothing hurt with him.

  Not in this moment.

  Then he was inside her fully, and they were both moving, clinging to each other as if they never wanted to let go. And when she was close, and she knew he was as well, she turned her head to the side, baring her shoulder.

  Max’s fangs elongated, but she didn’t feel scared. Instead, a sense of purpose and becoming washed over her. When he slid his fangs into her shoulder, she realized he’d been right. It didn’t hurt.

  Instead, it made her come on his cock right then and there.

  She screamed for him as she came, and he filled her, warm and full, almost hot.

  The thread between them flared, cementing the bond even more than she thought possible.

  He was her mate in truth.

  Her mate forever.

  There was no going back.

  There never had been.

  Chapter Nine

  Max woke up far too early the next day, knowing he had studying to do and meetings to attend, but he also knew that he wasn’t about to get out of bed anytime soon. Not with Cheyenne sprawled on top of him, her naked body plastered to his.

  They were mated in truth.

  Their bond was stronger than it had been before.

  And, for some reason, she’d taken a chance on him.

  Cheyenne shifted in her sleep, and he pulled her in just a little bit more. He knew they needed to get up, both of them had more than a few things to get done that day, but Max needed this moment—and he figured she did, too.

  She might not be awake just yet, but given that she was lying peacefully in his hold, he figured this was something she needed. She hadn’t been able to rest recently. Everything around them had changed to the point where they were running quickly, the candle burning at both ends, and just this moment, this bit of peace, might be the best thing for both of them.

  Max let her sleep for another thirty minutes, and when she rolled over and stretched, he shifted as well, looking down at her. He didn’t smile, wasn’t sure he had enough of that in him just yet, but he did lean down and brush his lips over hers. She smiled lazily up at him before the meaning of exactly what they had done washed over them.

  They were mates. There was no going back from that. Yes, the moon goddess had altered their fate and made it so this was how they would live. But the night before, both of them had chosen their own paths.

  And she was the one who had taken the first step.

  Maybe he should have been the one to do it, but the fact that his mate was strong enough to do it on her own and tell him exactly what she wanted—and, frankly, what they both needed—told him that maybe the moon goddess had actually chosen well.

  He shouldn’t have even used the word actually. Because, given his cousins and brother with their mates, the moon goddess knew what she was doing.

  Though he would love to know what his deity was thinking right now, considering that he and Cheyenne had been mated before they’d even made that choice.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” Cheyenne looked so sleepy and sexy that it was hard for him to not want her again, even though this moment wasn’t for that. He didn’t deserve her, but damn if he would let her go.

  Max shook his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts. “I’m just looking at you.”

  “And you’re having some pretty serious thoughts as you do. But, then again, I guess everything we do is pretty serious these days.”

  Max leaned on his arm and used his left hand to brush her hair from her face. He loved rolling the honey-colored strands through his fingers. Sometimes, her hair looked darker, other times, a little lighter. He never knew exactly what color her hair was since it depended on the light she was in. Max had spent months trying not to look at her, trying not to notice her. Because she hadn’t been his mate.

  At least, that’s what he’d thought.

  But between the connections to the Pack and his own relationship with his wolf, he hadn’t been able to sense who she was to him. And maybe fate had changed completely when the moon goddess made her decision. Maybe Cheyenne hadn’t been meant for him at first. But there was no way he was letting her go now. If he could figure out the words to say, he’d actually tell her that.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Cheyenne reached up and brushed her fingers along his jaw. He nodded.

  “Of course. I bet you have a lot of questions.”

  “And I hope I have many years to figure out all those answers, but my question is actually about the bond. Does it feel stronger? Or is it just me?”

  “I was just thinking that while you were sleeping. The bond we had before, it was there, we could both feel it, but now? Now, it’s different.”

  “Because we both chose it. And I know we need to talk about what’s happening, and what the future means, but right now, I think we’re okay. And I think we’re just going to have to figure it all out. Because running away from fate before didn’t help me, and I’m done trying to wait for the calm and analytical parts to work out. I spent forever it seems, trying to make sure I fit the mold of who I needed to be, trying to make sure my brain worked exactly the way it needed to. And then, as I watched my friends drop one by one and fall in love and mate into this Pack, my brain decided that, okay, it’s time for me to walk away.”

  Max held back a growl, not wanting to think about the fact that if Blade hadn’t taken Cheyenne, Max might not have her in his life. But that was far too selfish of a thought for him to even think, so he wasn’t going to say it out loud. But from the look in her eye, he had a feeling she knew exactly what he was thinking anyway. And that scared him.

  “I don’t think you would’ve left completely. I don’t think your friends would have let you do that.”

  “I’m a little more stubborn than they think I am. And, honestly, I didn’t want them to watch me age and fade away. And I know that I’m going to have to change into a wolf, Max. I know that a human mating into the Pack doesn’t work out. And because I’m not a witch like some of the others, I’m going to have to change. I know that. And it’s scary. Because I know not everyone survives. But that’s something we can think about later. Maybe afte
r we figure out exactly what this artifact is and what Blade’s final plans are for it. Because I never want to watch someone die like that again, Max. I never want to watch Gideon fall to his knees and scream because of the pain of losing all his power. And I never want to feel it in my veins again. I’m not supposed to have that kind of power, Max. I’m not supposed to have anything like that. I’m human. Even if now I’m mated to a wolf.”

  Max leaned forward and brushed his lips along hers, the tremble of her voice bringing his wolf to the forefront. His other half pawed at him, but Max just held it back, knowing that he would soon show her his wolf, and she would be one, as well. But she was right. First, they needed to figure out the end of the world.

  The end of their world, at least.

  “Max? We’re going to do this together. The rest of the Pack each has their own duties, and you and I are going to figure out exactly what Blade is doing. And we’re going to end him. Because this was personal before, but now, it’s painfully so.”

  And from those words alone, Max knew that he could love Cheyenne. He’d truly thought he would be alone until the end of his days. He had believed the moon goddess blessed him with life after his near-death experience. The fact that he had lost part of himself physically, and even part of his connection to his wolf had somehow put the thought into his brain that this, mating, wasn’t for him.

  He would always be the lone man standing on the side, watching the others live. Because living for him after everything that had happened wasn’t the same as it was for everyone else. He always felt like he was on borrowed time, stolen time. And having a mate never made sense.

  But the moon goddess had once again changed everything for him. And now, he was going to have to figure out how to live with that.

  “We need to go to the meeting. And we’ll make sure that everyone knows we’re here to help. That we’re here to figure out what the hell is going on.”

  Cheyenne rose on tiptoes and kissed his jaw, and his wolf howled while the man shivered. He could lose himself in her touch, become intoxicated with the idea that she was his forever. And maybe that should scare him more than it did, but he wasn’t scared. Because the rest of the world was falling apart around them, and believing in something other than himself might just help him save everything.

  Or at least save himself.

  * * *

  The first time Max had sat in this building, he’d found himself part of the Talon and Redwood Pack Joint Council. Now, instead of using the building as a meeting place between Packs trying to find a tentative accord so they could remain not only healthy but also stave off any outsiders who wanted to harm them, they were using it to try and protect the world. Again.

  Only this time, there were more than just two Packs and their leaders.

  The Alphas of each of the surrounding Packs in the area, including one from far across the Atlantic, had decided to come together in person—at least with those in America—to try and figure out exactly what they were going to do with Blade. Because there was no way they could let this continue.

  They had all done their best to get at the other Alpha, but it wasn’t easy when Blade had his witch and the rest of his Pack using dark magic and every other putrid thing their Packs wouldn’t use.

  A few decades ago, when the Redwoods were battling the original Central Pack, the Centrals had summoned a demon, sacrificing some of their own daughters to bring it into the world. The Redwoods had almost lost because they hadn’t been able to sacrifice their souls and part of the world to take out the demon.

  It had taken not only the moon goddess, but also the Redwoods and Talons working together to bring down that demon, and the infected Central wolves who had come from that disaster.

  Because once dark magic entered a Pack, the bonds frayed and decayed. The current Central wolves were only alive because the original elders, and some of the mothers and children, had been able to get away. And when they broke from the Centrals, the moon goddess had protected them. She hadn’t been able to do much, but she had hidden them from view, shielded them from the old Alphas and that demon.

  Now, the Centrals were stronger. They were an actual Pack again. The Redwoods were far stronger than they had been before, too, and they had been formidable back then.

  Decades ago, the Talons were just coming into what they are now. When Max’s uncle finally succumbed to his fate. Gideon and Mitchell had even gone to the Redwoods to help fight on that final day. It had been the start of their new alliance that was now forged in blood and bonds.

  Max had wanted to go back then, but someone had to stay within the Talon den walls to ensure that their weak were safeguarded and that those who were on the old Alpha’s side were weeded out.

  It had taken what seemed like forever for their Pack to become who they were now.

  Max just prayed they were strong enough to beat the Aspen Pack and Blade.

  Because even though they had won every battle so far, the fact that Blade was still alive and coming at them, told Max that it hadn’t been enough.

  But it would be enough.

  It had to be.

  Cheyenne sat by his side, talking with Dawn as the two of them caught up. When he and Cheyenne had walked into the building together earlier, not hand in hand but with her fingers wrapped in his belt loop like she was prone to do now, the others had all turned. He secretly loved that Cheyenne did that. He needed it. They couldn’t hold hands, but they had their own version.

  But when they walked into the building, everyone had looked at them. Cheyenne bore his mark, and he wore her scent. It wasn’t just a bond that only some would notice because that was what they were in-tune with. Now, it was true. And while some looked surprised that it had moved so quickly, others just smiled—perhaps thinking that some light in this darkness was worth it.

  And maybe he was already falling for her because of her strength. Maybe, if he were lucky enough, she could fall for him, too.

  But he wasn’t going to think about that right then.

  Each of those in the hierarchy and the center family had been invited to this meeting. And considering that the Jamensons and the Brentwoods had a lot of siblings, there were more than a few people in the building. Not everyone had come, of course. Because the council building was situated in the middle of the Redwood and the Talon Pack lands. And that meant they were closer to the Central den than anything. However, considering that this was neutral territory, that meant everybody was safe from each other—just not the outside world.

  They were hidden from the human satellites, even though the government probably knew where they were. They liked to think they knew where everyone was at all times. But that wasn’t something Max was going to get into just then.

  The Talons had left some of their hierarchy and their stronger wolves back in the den to protect their people. They could’ve had the meeting at any of the dens, even going all the way to Europe to meet the European Pack Alpha in person if they needed to. But this first meeting, where they were truly coming to terms with exactly what had to be done, needed to be held in this place that had started the treaty between the Redwoods and the Centrals and the Talons.

  Max knew he and Cheyenne had just succumbed to their fates, had taken each other as true mates. They knew if they were worried about what was going on between them, their focus wouldn’t be on what was going on around them. But they’d still had a moment just to themselves. That counted for something, but couldn’t be the only thing between them.

  Max shook himself out of his thoughts because, right then, there were three Alphas speaking in person, with the fourth on the screen above them. The Coven leader of the highest Coven in the United States was also near. That told Max the strength of magic that was located in the Pacific Northwest.

  Leah had once been part of the Coven, or at least her family was. When her brother died, Leah had become part of the Talons, and everything had shifted once again. The Coven had to be restructured. When the witches were fo
rced to come out into the public eye just like the wolves had been, they moved to the Talons’ side. And that meant, over time, their connections had grown even stronger.

  Max figured having some of the strongest witches in the world as allies was a good thing.

  It was Kade, the Alpha of the Redwood Pack, who began speaking. “I know I’m not the only one who felt what happened yesterday.”

  This wasn’t surprising to Max, because his cousin, Brynn, who was now a Redwood Pack member since she was mated to the Heir of the Pack, had told them what had happened. But from the look on the European wolf’s face, he hadn’t expected it.

  Allister, the Alpha of the Thames Pack, what Max always referred to as the European Pack, shook his head, a mix of anger and relief on his face. “It happened here, too. He killed two members of my Pack and took away my power. But then he gave it back pretty quickly. He didn’t even give us a message that was just for us. It seems that he reused the message from the Talons. Apparently, over here on the other side of the Atlantic, we’re not even good enough to have our own video message.”

  The others started growling, speaking to one another as the ramifications of exactly what had happened hit them.

  “That means Blade was able to attack four Packs that we know of, all at once.”

  Gideon pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke, and Brie reached out and rubbed his shoulder. In any other grouping of wolves, the fact that a submissive wolf, a mate, was there to soothe their big, bad Alpha, might have been seen as weakness. But it didn’t when it came to the wolves in this room. Every single one of them had been through their own torture, their own pain, and having Brie there soothed them all. Max wasn’t even sure they would’ve been able to meet in a room like this with so many internal dominance battles happening without someone like Brie there.

  The Alpha female was a gift, and it had taken some a while to figure that out.

  “I’m trying to figure out if it happened anywhere else, but for now, it seems we’re the big four in Blade’s eyes.” Parker took notes as he spoke, and Max looked over at his cousin-in-law. Parker had once been a Redwood Pack member but had come over to the Talons when he mated the Talons’ Omega, Brandon, and their other mate, Avery. Parker was the Voice of the Wolves. It was his job to go to every single Pack in the United States, and some in Europe, to figure out exactly how they were going to communicate, keep some of their secrets, and just survive in a world where technology and humanity had changed to the point where they couldn’t hide anymore.