by Alisa Woods
“Yes.” She nodded to back it up. Because she could. There was something inside her that knew—anything that came from their love would have his strength and hers. And she had a powerful magic inside her. One she no longer feared. It was given to her by her mother, and she would pass it on to their children. She would teach them how to use it—safely. And she would love them with the same bright, shining love she had for their father.
“Jaxson.” It was almost too much for her heart to contain. “Is it possible to die from happiness? Because I think I might.”
He grinned. “No one is dying tonight. But I’m going to claim you, Olivia Lilyfield, right here, right now. And I fully expect that to take both of us to heaven and back.”
She gasped as he dove back into kissing her, claiming first her mouth, then planting urgent kisses on her neck. His growl rumbled in his chest, but it was pressed so close to hers, that it vibrated her entire body. The heat between her legs was going to melt her entire body, and everywhere he touched as he literally ripped through her clothes, slicing and tearing them from her body, was a flashpoint of desire and longing. She was naked in seconds. His hands were hot on her body, leaving only to shove his own clothes out of the way of their ability to touch everywhere. The magic surging inside her yearned for every second of it, and before she could even voice her need for him, he was plunging his cock inside her. It was rough and fast, and he was large and hard, it immediately tripped her higher than she’d ever been.
“Oh God, Olivia,” he panted as he thrust inside her again and again, taking her hard against the floor, sliding her body a little each time with the force of it.
She clung to him, riding his passion, digging her hands into his back and calling his name incoherently. He filled her completely, stretching her wide and grinding a pleasure out of her that pushed her quickly to the brink.
“Jaxson!” she shrieked as she came, her body arching against his, fighting his urgent thrusts while dying to have him even closer and deeper inside her. Wave after wave consumed her, and it was like no orgasm she had ever experienced. She didn’t even know if it was an orgasm—more like happiness and love exploding inside her. It was heaven, just as he said—a magical one that was unearthly and threatened to float her right out of her body on waves of pleasure.
He stopped suddenly, pulling out and looming above her. His eyes were wild, animal-like, and hooded with lust. “Turn over,” he commanded.
It didn’t occur to her to even question it.
Jaxson’s wolf was growling with need so loud, he could barely hear anything else.
Olivia’s gorgeous body was writhing underneath him, and he reveled in her pleasure, her body squeezing tightly down on his cock on wave after wave of her pleasure, but he needed more from her. He and his wolf both needed to claim her.
She already owned his heart and mind. And his magic was already swimming in her veins. She already belonged to him. But the man and wolf in him both needed to sink his fangs into her while taking her in the lust-filled frenzy of a true claiming—a mating—the way he’d always heard of, always dreamed about in his hottest, wildest fantasies, but never thought would be a reality for him. And now, because of this brave, incredible woman before him, he was going to have his ultimate dream become his real life.
“Turn over.” He could barely growl out the words through his need for her clouding his mind.
She didn’t hesitate, just like before, turning over and offering herself to him. He grabbed hold of her gorgeous, curvy hips, allowing his claws to come out, just a little, just enough to mark her in the tiniest of ways—a small pain that should only drive her pleasure higher. Her gasp made his already rock-hard cock twitch, and he was aching to plunge inside her again. His fangs grew, and the magic pooled in his mouth. He gripped her hips and thrust hard inside her. She let out a shriek that every fiber of his being responded to. He pounded into her again and again, building her pleasure and his. She writhed and squirmed against his hold, driving him to impossible heights. He wasn’t going to be able to hold out much longer.
He bent over her, thrusting deeper and harder as he hovered closer to her, positioning himself so he could claim her simultaneously with his cock and his bite. And his love. She whimpered under him, and he could feel her muscles clenching around his cock. So close.
“You are mine,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with need.
“Yes,” she panted.
“Forever mine.” His words were stronger now, the magic surging in him.
“Yes, please, God, take me, Jaxson.” Her words were tumbling over one another.
It was more than he could take.
He buried his cock deep inside, released her hip, grabbed her hair and pulled her head to the side, baring her sweet, beautiful neck to his fangs. He pierced her skin, just enough to cause that last push of pain… and to release the magic into her blood. She wasn’t a shifter—he couldn’t ravish her with his bite without concern for recovery—so he was careful not to go too deep with his fangs. His cock made up for that by shoving as far and as deep into her as he could go.
She shrieked with pleasure and came around him, squeezing down on him and pushing him over the edge. Wave after wave pulsed through him as he emptied himself into her—his seed, his magic, his love. His wolf howled in triumph. The magic surged and strengthened inside him. He was alpha even more. To his infinite surprise, it was a true claiming, her love and her magic strengthening his wolf in a way that seemed impossible… but was undeniably true.
He kept thrusting, kept riding her, kept wringing out the last waves of her pleasure and his until they were both completely and totally spent. Then he withdrew his fangs and his cock, all at once, collapsing on the carpet next to her and drawing her down to the floor with him.
“Oh my God, Jaxson,” she breathed.
His smile almost broke him, it was so strong. “Did you enjoy that, my love?”
“Holy… what was that?” She was still panting.
He pulled her closer, snuggling her back against him so he could fondle her amazingly gorgeous breasts—there had been nowhere near enough of that before now. He made a note to start there next time.
“That,” he growled into her hair, “was one hell of a claiming, my love. Goddammit, you are one sexy, hot witch.”
She peered at him, over her shoulder, with wide eyes. “Tell me it’s going to be like that every time.” She gasped between the words.
“No, my love.” He grinned. “It’s only going to get better with time.”
She closed her eyes and mouthed a silent thank you, and he couldn’t help the rumble of laughter that shook its way out of him. Then his gaze fell on the twin fang marks at the crook of her neck. He thought he might have to get her some bandages or some kind of first aid, just to make sure she was all right, but before his wondering eyes, the wound magically healed.
He gaped a little, but then he realized, of course. His magic had already healed her, already brought her back from death. A simple puncture wound should be nothing.
He slid her around to face him and cupped her cheeks in his hands, causing her to open her eyes again. “How in the name of magic did I get so lucky as to have you in my life?” he asked. And he meant it in all sincerity. She had saved him in every way and given him more than he ever thought possible.
But she didn’t answer him, she just shook her head. “I’ve never felt this… complete before. I didn’t think…” Her eyes were tearing up. “I didn’t think a family was something I would ever have. And I know your family may not want a witch in it, but if all I ever have is you in my arms, that’s all I’ll ever need.”
He frowned. Because she could be right—his family might not accept her—but that was the last thing he wanted her thinking right now. “You don’t worry about that,” he said. “I’ll take care of everything. In fact…” He kissed her, hard, trying to banish that thought from her mind. “I only have one question for you: what’s your previous record for the num
ber of orgasms you’ve experienced in a twenty-four hour period?”
She laughed, and it filled his heart. “Is that something I should be tracking?”
“Oh yes.” He slid his hand over the luscious mound of her breast and down between her legs. Her breath caught in a way that coursed satisfaction through him. “Whatever it is, we’re going to double it.” His fingers plunged inside the slick wetness of her sex, causing her head to tip back against him, and her eyes to drift closed. He could take her higher than she’d ever gone, again and again, an infinite number of times over a lifetime together, and it would never be enough to repay her for all she had given him.
But he sure as hell was going to try.
“It’s time, Olivia.” Jaxson’s voice was gentle, but it still ramped up her anxiety.
“Are you sure? Maybe we should wait.” The last twenty-four hours were a whirlwind—filled with more orgasms than she could count, but that was all before they arrived at the “safehouse,” otherwise known as a sprawling stone and redwood estate in the Washington mountains owned by Jaxson’s family. Since they’d arrived, she’d had her own room. She’d slept for about ten hours after they’d landed in the middle of the night before, so it wasn’t like she’d even been conscious in the safehouse for more than a couple hours. Long enough to get some food and say hello to the assortment of shifters populating the estate, now that they were all hiding out from this “Agent Smith” Jaxson had told her about. He and his brothers would find that guy and put him out of the business of kidnapping and experimenting on shifters soon, but for now, they were laying low and making plans.
And, apparently, telling Jaxson’s family that they had mated.
Jaxson drew her into his arms, running his hands through her hair and kissing her gently on the forehead. “I can’t wait any longer,” he said. “I need everyone to know that you’re mine, so when I drag you back to my room, and your screams of pleasure rock the walls, they’ll understand.”
“Jaxson!” She pulled back and gave him an incredulous look. “You are not doing that. I would die of embarrassment.”
“I am so doing that.” He smirked at her discomfort like it didn’t bother him in the least. “Precisely no one will be surprised. But if it really concerns you, we’ll use the bridal suite my mom keeps out in back, near the stables.”
She scowled at him, but she couldn’t keep it going for long. He was just so damn adorable and oozing with hotness. How could she complain about him wanting to drag her off and make wild love to her?
“Your mom has already been really nice to me.” Mrs. River had fixed a special meal for Olivia as soon as she had dragged herself out of her room. “But that’s all going to change when she finds out what I am.”
Jaxson’s grin faded. “There’s no love of witches in this house. I know that. And to some extent, that’s earned. But you’re no ordinary witch.” His fingers traced her jawline, then tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. The love in his eyes made her heart melt… and the magic in her body surge. “You’re my mate,” he whispered. “They’ll have to accept you or lose me. Either way, you and I are together. A team. They’ll recognize that as soon as they see us. It’s up to them to decide what to do with it.”
She nodded, but her heart still clenched at the idea of Jaxson losing anything over her.
He gently kissed her again, this time on the lips. Her heart swelled with the tenderness of it. “No matter what,” he said, “when this is all over, I’m taking you away for a while. Somewhere quiet where we can just be ourselves and not worry about the world. How does that sound?”
She pulled back to look into his eyes. “Like heaven.”
He grinned and took her hand, tipping his head toward the main room down the hall. “Let’s get this over with.”
Olivia pulled in a deep breath of courage and held his hand tight as they strode down the hallway. The River estate was decorated in a wonderfully rustic style—rough-hewn log and white stone walls, woven throw rugs over polished wooden floors, and the scent of the mountains drifting into every room. The walls held portraits of the scenic mountains and wildlife, but you only had to look out the windows to see it for real. She imagined it was perfect for an extended family of shifters to call home.
She just didn’t know how she would ever fit in.
When they rounded the corner to the great room, she sucked in a sharp breath. Jaxson’s entire pack must be here—between the floor-to-ceiling window at one end and the two-story stone fireplace at the other, there were more than two dozen shifters. She recognized Murphy and Rich and Taylor, as well as the others from Riverwise. Jared and Jace stood nearby, with their mother between them. Even a few of the Wildings hung out at the edges of the room, where it opened up to a vast dining room capable of seating dozens.
Olivia swallowed and held tighter to Jaxson’s hand.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming,” Jaxson started.
Even though he was the one talking, Olivia felt like all eyes were glued to her. She kept her gaze on Jaxson’s face, strong and confident, standing before all his friends and family and pack about to tell them his darkest secret. It made her stand a little taller. If he could be that brave, the least she could do was stand strong by his side.
“As you know, someone in the government is stalking shifters,” Jaxson continued. “I don’t know why, but they’re performing experiments that mess with our ability to shift, and there’s no way that’s a good thing for any shifter, whether you’re on their radar or not. I’m confident we can ferret out whoever is behind this—we’ll expose them to the light of day and bring an end to this crime against shifter-kind. But you’re going to need full faith in your alpha in order for us all to work together and defeat this common enemy.” He took a breath as he slowly scanned the attentive faces. “To do that, you need to know a secret I’ve been hiding from all of you for years.”
Several furtive glances were exchanged and a murmur rose up.
Jaxson waited a moment before he continued. “When I was sixteen, I made the mistake of letting a witch seduce me.” Some eyebrows rose, but the room quieted. “When she couldn’t get what she wanted from me, she cursed me. Any mate I claimed… would die.” An audible gasp went around the room.
Even from across the room, Olivia could see Terra Wilding’s eyes go wide and her face pale.
Jaxson held up a hand to quiet them again. “I should have taken a mate years ago, but because of the curse, I’ve been stalling. I knew that, eventually, I would have to step down.” An angry murmur swelled up this time, with sounds of disagreement and growls mixed in. “I had hoped…” he said loud enough to rise about the noise. “I had hoped that I would be able to carry you through this crisis. But instead, an answer to my problem stumbled into my life.” He looked at Olivia then, with an expression so soft, it melted her heart. “An answer I wasn’t expecting and would never have dreamed possible.” He turned back to them. “Olivia broke the curse.”
Another gasp went around, along with frowns of confusion.
“How did she do it?” a voice from the crowd threw out. Olivia searched for the source—it was Jace, standing next to Jaxson’s mother, a scowl etched deep in his forehead. “You’re talking about a magical curse. How does a human break a curse like that?”
Olivia swallowed. Here it comes, she thought. They’re going to toss me out the moment they know the truth.
“Olivia is half witch.” Jaxson’s voice was soft, but it carried over the crowd like a gong sounding.
Jace’s scowl grew deeper. He crossed his arms and stared hard at Olivia, like he might see the witchy part if he looked hard enough. Olivia tried not to shrink away. He wasn’t exactly glaring at her… more like he was trying to figure this whole thing out.
“Olivia used her magic to break the curse,” Jaxson continued. “She nearly died last night taking the poison of the curse into her own body and battling it there.” He dropped her hand and slipped his arm around her shoulder, drawin
g her close. “I knew she was brave before she did such a stupid thing trying to save me from my own foolishness.” He looked back at the gathered shifters. Their faces were mostly blank with shock. “But this thing she did for me… if I hadn’t already fallen in love with her, that would have pretty much sealed the deal.” He took another breath and blew it out. “And so, we’re here to tell you that, last night, I made Olivia my mate.”
Jace uncrossed his arms and lurched forward. Jared’s hand landed on his shoulder, trying to hold him back, but Jace shook him off.
“How is that even possible?” Jace asked in an angry voice. “You say she’s a witch. You can’t mate with one of those.” He glared at her and turned back to Jaxson. “Maybe she didn’t save you, Jaxson. Maybe she’s put a love curse on you! Maybe this is just her messing with all of us. You know how they are.”
Jaxson locked gazes with his brother. “I know because she’s carrying my magic in her blood, Jace. I can feel her love for me.”
His eyebrows flew up. “What?”
But instead of replying, Jaxson swept his gaze back to the others. “I’m stepping down as your alpha.” He raised a hand toward them. “I release you from your pledges.” He dropped his hand. “I always knew this day would come. I fully understand why you wouldn’t want an alpha who has mated with a witch, but trust me when I tell you, she hasn’t cursed me. She hasn’t thrown a love spell over me.” He turned to her with love in his eyes. “She’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not letting her go.”
The shifters looked uncomfortably at one another, but they were keeping quiet.
Jace lurched forward again, reaching Jaxson and gripping his shoulder hard. “Think about what you’re doing here,” he said quietly, but his face was aghast.
“I know exactly what I’m doing, Jace.” Jaxson’s voice was calm.
“How can you be sure she hasn’t—” Jace was cut off by Jared looming behind him.
