by Rae Foxx
I slapped at his chest, but he didn’t wince. “Shut up. You are not.”
He chuckled, but pulled me in for a kiss. “No, but I’m glad to have you on my team.”
I kissed him back, loving the feel of the newness of the relationship. We were so hungry for each other all the time. I hoped that never faded. “You’re my wolfman. No one is going to separate us.”
I leaned down and kissed him, my lips soft against his as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back on top of him. His arms were strong, pinning me down as he planted kisses over my jaw, his tongue dragging along my bottom lips so gingerly that I shivered. He chuckled with a ripple that rumbled over my skin.
“Luke,” I moaned as his erection grew again, his stiffness pressing between my legs. I could already feel myself heat and spread in desire.
“Cami,” Luke said back with as much of a moan, his cock twitching. “Will you let me take you again?”
He asked the question, but he only kissed me, his hands moving over my back before he gripped my hips rolling us over so that he was on top of me.
“Let me fill you.” Fuck it all!
When he spoke like that there was no way I could deny him, not that I wanted to. Making love to him was like oxygen. I could never have enough.
I angled my hips again, attempting to spread my legs past where his knees were, spreading myself open to him.
He got the message, but he didn’t reply as I expected. His calloused fingers moved over my hips, my thighs, my calves, before gripping my ankles and swinging them up, folding me in half as he placed my ankles on his shoulders.
“I don’t want you going anywhere,” his wolf growled as he spoke, his bulking form bending over to place a kiss on my forehead, the head of his cock pressing against my opening.
Sliding into me.
“I want you to feel every inch of me.” He didn’t have to ask me twice.
At some point, I was going to fulfill his wish and hogtie him to the bed, but right now, I wanted him to take control. I wanted him to claim me.
He slid in slowly, my body spreading to accommodate. Every sensation, every inch of pressure, was so much more intense with my legs this way. I gasped as I took him, the pressure sensation almost too much.
“Oh God.” I already knew I could come from this. He knew it too, with how his wicked little smile was stretching, with how he was already moving in and out of me, with how the sheer bulk of his body was holding me in place, and with how his fingers were already searching out my clit. I gasped as he found it.
“I’m going to make you cum, darling. And then I am going to make you cum again. And again.”
I was already panting and moaning, my back trying to writhe as an orgasm took me, as every inch of my body tightened up.
I couldn’t move. I screamed out in ecstasy and Luke began to fuck me harder, his finger still moving over my clit.
The pleasure of it kept growing, heat and desire moving over every inch of me as my orgasm stretched, as Luke slammed into me again and again, as his finger pressed against my clit.
“Luke!”
I screamed his name as he moaned, the sound more like a howl as he stiffened inside of me, my pussy filling with him.
“Fuck, Cami,” Luke moaned as he rolled off me, both of us laying on the bed as we heaved.
“What?” I teased, knowing I was playing with fire but not caring. I wanted more anyway. “I thought you were going to make me come twice?”
Luke growled and laughed in a way that I knew meant trouble. I didn't care, I leaned into him, and let him take me.
14
Luke
The ax slipped through the shards of oak like a warm knife through butter sending the two pieces in either direction with a loud snap that echoed through the clearing in the forest. All of the cabins of my pack faced this clearing, the hard-packed dirt serving as a place for gathering, challenges, and celebrations. Which is what we were preparing for now.
My mating bite tingled at the thought, my stomach swelling as I grabbed another log, easily cleaving it in two.
Others could’ve chopped wood. And actually, someone should’ve already had this chore handled since we were getting deeper and deeper into the fall and whispering to winter, but somehow, now that I had a mate, it filled me with pride to do this little thing. To contribute to her comfort--her warmth.
I had turned into a fucking sap.
I liked it, not that I wanted anyone to know, which is probably why I swung the ax hard, grunting with the supposed effort. The ax hit hard and sent one side of the chopped wood spinning through the air and over the dirt.
“Shit.” I snapped, Trevor just laughed at me, the bastard leaning on his ax as he watched me.
“Everything okay there, Luke?” He teased, still staring at me. I glared at him and looked away, my focus automatically drifting to where she sat twenty feet from me, shucking corn with Emma and some of the other females for the feast tomorrow.
There were those, a larger percentage, of the pack that were happy about our mating and wanted to celebrate with a traditional pig roast. Grant and some of the older males were on the hunt for a fresh hog, the kids who weren’t quite old enough to shift and hunt were digging the pit for the fire and the spit. Although we had already had to stop them from slinging mud at each other twice, I still had every confidence it would get done.
The wood was another story. Seeing as I couldn’t stop staring at my beautiful mate.
Every time my eyes went to her, she was already looking at me.
“Damn, you’ve got it bad, Luke,” Trevor chuckled, finally going back to his wood chopping. “Maybe I was wrong about all this human stuff. I mean, I didn’t look that goofy when I first mated, and I had a shifter woman.”
“You keep telling yourself that, I vividly remember you walking into a wall because you couldn’t peel your eyes away.” I gave him an I told you so look and grabbed another log, standing it up on the chopping block.
Trevor laughed and let his ax swing, he was trying to outdo me, but his chopped wood fell lifelessly to the dirt.
Laughter swelled from where the women sat, all of them watching us. Trevor’s mate Gwen was whispering something to Cami. If I had to guess they were talking about nearly the same thing we were.
“Either way, now that you have a mate you are more protective than I would have expected. More of a love-struck clutz. Maybe it’s because she’s human.” Trevor chopped another piece of wood, but I froze, setting the ax against my leg.
“The fact that she’s human doesn’t change a damned thing as far as my wolf is concerned. The pack, however…” My words faded into the growl of my wolf and I snatched up my ax again.
Trevor slapped me on the back and picked up a log, slamming a larger piece on my chopping block.
“They will come around, Luke. They got their fur in a twist for a minute. It will all blow over. We all know who the true Alpha is around here.”
“I hope so. That way we can all get back to business and progress this pack to where it should be. We have so much potential.” I had so many plans for my pack and their future. We had already changed so much since I had won the title of Alpha from my father, and there was still so much to go.
Trevor didn’t respond, he was lost in his thoughts as we chopped our way through a five-foot pile of wood. Or maybe he was in the same place I was, wondering if this pack would get their fur out of a twist. The females had finished shucking the corn and had moved onto simply gossiping. Emma and the others had no problem with Cami, whatever she had said making them laugh.
I breathed in the crisp outside air and released a relieved sigh. I had been worried, down deep, that she would have trouble fitting in with the others, but clearly, it was unfounded. Maybe things would get better after all.
I swung my ax at the last piece of wood when the sound of a door to one of the cabins opening echoed behind the snap of wood, the hinges groaning as it swung and then slammed shut. The e
ntire clearing shook with the intensity of the slam, and I looked up, my heart falling as my wolf went into high alert.
Matt and the group of dissenters from the other day were streaming from the cabin, all of them looking determined as they emerged as one. So much for everyone getting over the sticks up their asses. I knew what this was, I didn’t need Matt’s snarling grin to know what was about to happen.
“Goddamnit, do you have to slam the fucking screen door?” One of the females said as she slammed her hand against the top of the picnic table.
“Mind your place, female,” Matt barked back, not even looking away from me. I locked eyes with him, my wolf snarling with warning about what he was about to do. He didn’t back down.
“Matt? What is this all about?” Trevor asked as if he didn’t already know, my beta stepping in between me and the gamma with his shoulders pulled tight.
Matt’s face was screwed up in anger, his bulbous nose red as though he’d spent the night building up rage and downing shots of vodka. The group of pack members behind him looked much the same, drunk and angry. Michelle was right up front, the bitch looked smug as fuck. Probably because of who she stood next to.
Grant.
He didn’t look drunk. He looked angry. Smug and angry.
Fucking bastard.
It would be my pleasure to wipe those smirks off their faces. They thought they had me--thought they could best me, thought they had some ground to stand on because I had mated a female.
They couldn’t have been more wrong. If anything, Cami made me stronger.
Fine, let Matt challenge me. We could finish this once and for all.
“I’ve got this, Trevor. Thank you.” I stepped around Trevor, facing Matt down as I prepared for his official challenge. He stood there grinning.
“How can I help you, Matt?” I prodded him, my shoulders straight and my chest puffed out. I was sure everyone could hear my wolf at that point.
His eyes laughed as he stepped back, and someone else stepped forward.
“Luke, you have brought disgrace and dishonor to this pack,” Grant began, his voice carrying over everyone and pulling focus. Everyone who was still in their cabins was streaming out now, called to attention by the challenge in Grant’s voice. “Your choice to bring this...this human female here was enough, but to mate her and expect us to see her as the Alpha Female is over the line.”
Grant dared tick his gaze to my mate before a growl ripped from my chest, forcing his stare back to me.
“As Alpha--” I began, my voice lifting above my growl and rattling dirt and windows, but Grant stepped forward, cutting me off.
“You have allowed your dick to dictate your leadership of our pack and put us all at risk. You are no longer fit to lead this pack. I, Grant Tarwin, challenge you for the position of Alpha of this pack.”
Gasps broke out from the females, movement shuffling from where they had all been sitting and laughing. I didn’t look away from Grant, even as Cami came to stand next to me, her warm hand linked with mine.
Gods, this guy had balls. I had so much to protect. So much to fight for. Like hell, if I was going to let him get his cock in a twist and try to take it all from me.
You would think that Grant knew better than that.
“I accept your challenge, Grant. Prepare yourself.”
We stepped back into the crowds that had surrounded us, the pack drawn with a line right down the middle. Those who supported Grant, and those who supported me. It only fueled me to see how many stood behind me. We more than doubled Grant’s prejudiced bastards, and right in the middle stood Beatrice, Sarah, Emmet, and the others. Once again, Emmet looked ready to jump into the ring himself.
He wasn’t alone.
“Luke, are we sure about this…” Trevor asked as I turned, pulling off my shirt and throwing it at him.
“Oh, I’m sure. I’d love nothing more than to shut this fucker’s mouth and make him regret the day he questioned my authority.”
“Luke?” Cami pulled my focus, her hand back in mine as she stood in front of me. Blocking me from moving. Hell, with the fear in her eyes and the way her lips downturned she didn’t even have to say anything. I swept her up in my arms, pressing her against me.
“Don’t worry, babe, this is all normal pack life, I promise. Nothing to worry about.” I believed it, but I wasn’t sure she did with how her heart was rattling around me.
“Remember we’re in this together,” she whispered into my hair, peppering my cheek with kisses. “You and me. I can fight with you. Together we can…”
“No, Cami,” I pulled her away from me, setting her back down as I framed her face with my hands. “Not this time. Not for this challenge. If you were to help me in any way, it would forfeit my right to the Alpha title. It would be seen as cheating. Plus, it would mean the dismissal of both of us from the pack. And I’m not going to let that happen.”
“That’s bullshit!” She snapped, several heads from both sides of the line turning to stare at us. “You expect me to stand around and cry while you get hurt?”
I chuckled, more for show than anything else. Grant wouldn’t see an ounce of fear from me. Not now, not ever. “Trust me, mate. It’s going to last three seconds and I’m not the one who will be damaged.”
It was clear that Cami didn’t quite believe me, but she didn’t have another choice. This was happening. I guess I would have to prove it to her.
Grant grunted and stepped into the clearing that was forming, all of the pack standing around in a wide ring.
“Right here, right now…Alpha. Let’s fight, Luke.”
“Trust me,” I repeated, pressing my lips against hers as I held her close. I only gave her one stern look, the fire in her eyes making it clear she wasn’t quite ready to let me go ‘fight to my death’ just yet.
“Stop kissing the human and come here.” The crowd erupted in laughter and growls, my wolf snarling inside of me. He wanted to make this a short challenge with how he was taunting me.
“Stay with Trevor.” I kissed her again and turned to Grant, the guy’s skin rippling as he prepared to shift.
It had been a long time since an Alpha was challenged in this pack. So long that the last time a challenge happened, it was during a human war.
Cami. It was all about her. For some reason, this beautiful fire of a woman threatened an entire pack of wolves by being here. Sounded pretty damned stupid to me, but if the man was threatened by my mate, then he needed to be shut up--put down if necessary. That was part of being an Alpha, putting out fires when it was called for. And Grant was blazing hot.
My entire role as Alpha was to protect my pack and my position, but moreover to protect Cami. She was my mate, and it was my job to keep her safe, even if that meant killing everyone else in the world to make sure of it.
15
Cami
“They’re going to fight right now? No warning or anything?” I was bristling, angry, and confused at what was unfolding right before. Partly because this whole challenge thing was weirdly archaic, and mostly because Luke wanted to be a tough guy and do it all himself.
Even I was aware I wouldn't be much help in a fight against a giant wolf, but banning me completely was pissing me off.
“Yeah, we can stay and watch, but you need to stay back,” Trevor was already pulling me back like some kind of bodyguard. “They are going to shift and once the kill instinct has kicked in, you might get hurt if you’re too close, especially because you are… well… you know...”
“Are you kidding me?” I pulled my arm away from him to stare at him. Emma bounced up on the other side of me, looking between us in confusion. “If one more person calls me a weak human…”
“No, no, no!” Trevor waved his hands frantically. “It’s because you are kind of the topic of this challenge. It puts you at risk.”
“Even more reason I should stay here,” I planted my feet and turned toward where the two men were staring each other down. All of this was
making me even more pissed off that I couldn’t be involved. Seems I already was and I should be able to get at least one good punch in… At least I could watch Luke rip Grant’s throat out. Little blessings.
The crowd shuffled around us, my focus on Luke as he stood with his back to me, facing Grant. The muscles along his spine and between his shoulders bunching and stretching as the sun beamed down on him, making his olive skin glisten and the highlights in his hair shine.
Grant was on the other side of the clearing, staring him down as Michelle grinned and said something to him. Based on what Luke had told me, the girl was putting her money on Grant for more than one reason. Bitch was desperate to get in an Alpha’s pants.
Michelle stepped back, both guys growling before all of those rippling muscles flexed and moved and stretched as two massive wolves ripped out of their bodies. Where his skin once was, fur now burst from every pore. Fingers swelled and like knives, his claws came forth. In mere seconds, he was on the ground, completely beast--completely wolf.
Grant’s transition was so violent and forced that a scream tore from his mouth, sounding like a part of him was being tortured and murdered by the shift. The complete opposite of what Luke explained about his wolf.
Grant and Michelle were made for each other.
Emma’s grip on my forearm tightened as the ruddy brown wolf of Grant moved and circled, his motions quick as he faked a lunge at Luke. My mate didn’t flinch one inch. Instead, he stood his ground, completely steady except the line of hairs that rose along the back of his neck. He allowed Grant his show. Luke, the wolf, rolled his eyes while Grant snapped his teeth and bared his jaw, spittle stringing down in clear streams from his mouth.
That was until Grant tried to get even closer. Luke, in one swift blur, sank his teeth into Grant’s thigh and shook his muzzle a little, causing his teeth to sink in further as the brown wolf cried out and tried to free himself.
