It rang again several times before she finally plucked up enough courage to answer it. “Hello.” She had to force herself to speak up.
“It’s you.” A female voice. Since there was only one female that she had spoken to while with the wolves, Stephany’s blood ran cold.
“Luna.” Why was the female wolf using Ward’s phone?
“What do you want?” The female spat.
“I need to speak with Ward. It’s”—she chewed on her lip for a beat—“it’s…” She was going to say an emergency. How could she though? Ward had clearly moved on and rightly so. She had known he would. The selfish part of her hoped that it was out of obligation and not because he wanted to. The truly selfish part of her had hoped that he wouldn’t be able to. It hurt.
Closing her eyes, she cleared her throat before continuing. “It’s nothing.” She finally managed to squeeze out. “Forget I called.”
“Leave us alone.” Luna growled and then the phone went dead.
Stephany must not have realized how hard she was holding the device, because next thing she knew it was crumpled in her hand. The circuit boards cracked, the screen broken, rendering it useless. Better that way. She had been tempted to call Luna right back, to beg the female to get Ward to contact her, which would just complicate things further. It wasn’t fair that she’d called Ward in the first place. The jealous hurt that she felt was even more unfair. A part of her felt anger towards the alpha. Yet he was only doing his duty towards his pack. She was still convinced that he had felt just as strongly for her. She knew it deep down inside. Stephany would force herself to remember how it had been between them. How right, how beautiful. She wouldn’t allow this moment to erase that.
There was a familiar vibration, a thudding noise. As planned, Tanya was rutting her kings. Granting her a favor that Stephany would never need.
Chapter 11
Stephany was startled awake as a hand closed over her mouth. She tried to bite but could not find purchase. Another hand closed over her hip, holding her in place. A hot, hard, very naked body pushed up against her back.
“Shhhh.” Stephany relaxed as Ward’s musky scent enveloped her. As hard as she tried though, she couldn’t get her muscles to relax.
“I’m going to let you go. Keep very quiet. The kings won’t take it lightly that a wolf has breached their castle.”
She nodded against his hand and Ward released her. Turning, she threw herself into his arms appalled at a desperate sounding whimper that escaped her. Keeping her bracketed in his strong arms, he pulled her with him into a sitting position.
“I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’ve missed you so much.” He nuzzled into the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. His body tensed, this time when he sniffed her it was more deliberate. “Stephany, I scent”—another hard sniff—“You’re with child, my child.”
Wolves obviously had a better sense of smell than vampires did. Nodding, she pulled away. The alpha kept his hands on her hips, not allowing her to move too far.
Ward looked confused. “How is this possible? I thought you were infertile.” Before she could answer, he threw her a toothy grin. “You’re pregnant with my pup.”
“Shhh. This is no happy matter. I told you I couldn’t birth young, not that I was infertile.”
His hands tightened around her. “A pup.” His eyes shone and his grin widened. “I am very happy. This means that you have to mate me. Your kings will have to understand.” His hand slid to her belly, cupping the slight curve. “My heir. You are mine, Stephany. Mine.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.
Oh, how she wished it were true.
Her heart sang even though it was still splintered in a thousand prickling shards. Ward had wanted her before the baby. Still wanted her now. Yet, nothing had changed. Just because Ward wanted this baby just as much as she did, didn’t mean that they got to keep it.
“Luna must have told you…wait a minute, are you two not mated?”
He growled a negative response. “You have ruined me for any other female.”
“Be serious, Ward.” She tried to throw him a dirty look.
He moved further away, folding his arms across his chest. “I couldn’t be more serious, Stephany. Members of my pack take turns checking coms, they also sometimes go for needed supplies. The female was a part of the group today. Luna told me about your calls, about your conversation.” He sighed, taking her hands in his. “I knew it had to be serious even though you claimed it wasn’t. I tried to call you back, but your phone kept going to voicemail. I had to see you. Thank fur I came.”
“Luna told you?” She heard the disbelief in her voice.
He nodded. “She is not a bad female. We are not meant to be together but she cares about me. She knows what you mean to me even though she does not feel that a vampire should be permitted to join our pack. I have been like a wolf with a sore tooth ever since you left. I told you, I am ruined for all others.” His green eyes smoldered. “I meant it when I said that. I am glad you called. So happy you carry my child.”
She shook her head sadly. “Listen to me, Ward. Please.”
His face turned serious and he nodded once. Taking her hand, he threaded his fingers through hers.
“I told you that I can’t birth young. My pelvis is too narrow, this child would never survive. There is a good chance that I would not make it either. I cannot go through with the pregnancy.” Her voice grew gravelly, even hitching as she said the final part.
Clasping her hands tightly in his, his brow furrowed. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” She answered without having to think on it.
“Come with me. Pack a bag.” As he talked, his face lit up with excitement.
“I can’t, Ward.” She shook her head. “That’s crazy talk. My termination is tomorrow, I need you at my side. That’s why I called. I can’t face this alone.”
His green eyes turned dark and stormy. “No,” he growled.
“Shhh.” She touched a hand to his jaw.
Ward pursed his lips for a few long seconds. “Don’t, Steph. No termination. Come with me.” He sounded desperate.
“Didn’t you hear a thing I just said? The child won’t make it.” A tear tracked down her cheek.
Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped it away. “Trust me. Please, Steph.”
“I trust you, Ward. It’s just that going with you won’t change anything. It’ll delay the inevitable, will only make things so much worse.”
Clearly frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. “Come with me, give me a chance to explain, to show you…if you want to come back after that…to terminate.” His throat worked, “I will support you.”
His eyes narrowed in on hers. Hope was such a dangerous thing, yet, it unfurled inside of her. Stephany nodded. “Okay.” If there was even the slightest chance then she was taking it.
Ward closed his eyes as the tension eased from his large frame. When he opened them, they held a feral gleam. “You are mine, Stephany, and I will have you now. By all that is furry, I have missed you.”
Her core clenched with a deep seated need. Her nipples tightened under her sleeping shirt as his eyes tracked down her body.
Shaking her head, Stephany said, “It would be best if your scent wasn’t all over me when we went to address the kings. I need to call and ask permission for you to be here. We need to do things the right way. I don’t want trouble for you.”
Ward gave a soft chuckle. “Sorry to tell you this, sweetheart, but my scent is already all over you. I told you that you are mine now.”
She shook her head. “My species cannot scent that I am with child. Your sense of smell must be better than ours.”
“Do the kings know of the pregnancy?”
She nodded. “They were understanding”—she paused—“considering. I had to tell them to be granted permission to terminate.”
His eyes turned stormy. “No termination. You are my mate. It’s only a matter of time now before it is made o
fficial.”
Her breathing hitched. “We’re still polar opposites, Ward. There is something I need to tell you. It will most likely cause you to change your mind. Besides, your pack would never accept me.” She had to tell him about Lance. It was on the tip of her tongue. Stephany could never be Ward’s mate. As much as they both might want it.
“As for my pack, I am their alpha and they will do as I say. I will convince your kings, even if I have to swear fealty to them, I don’t care what I have to do to make it happen. There is nothing you could tell me that would make me change my mind.” His voice had become so deep that she could almost feel the vibrations move through her.
She traced his jaw with her fingers, watching how he moved towards her touch. “No, Ward. I wanted you to swear fealty but not like this, not for me.”
His face softened. “I would do anything for you, Stephany. You need to know that.” His arms tightened around her. “I will take you now because I burn for you, because I’ve missed you so much, because I will put more of my scent on you to ensure that all know who you belong to.”
Surely she was the most selfish female that had ever walked this planet. Stephany mirrored each one of his desires. Once Ward learned of Lance, he would change his mind about her. Right now she needed to be close to him. To feel him inside her. Possibly for the last time. She would tell him about Lance. After. Hopefully he would understand and still take her with him.
“You are mine.” He growled, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that caused her toes to curl and her eyes to squeeze shut. Oh, how she wished it were true.
Chapter 12
“Yes.” His female acknowledged as he broke the kiss. Ward pulled her shirt over her head. Her admission was like vision to a blind man or food to the starving. That one little word was like a colorful rainbow at the end of a storm. It meant everything to him.
His eyes dropped to her breasts which were fuller than he remembered. Her belly was slightly rounded. The thought of his unborn son growing inside her drove him insane with need. The need to claim, to brand, to make her his.
His gums itched as his teeth sharpened. Ward put a sharp rein on the beast inside. This needed to happen in stages. When he finally got to mate this exquisite female, it would be with her full consent. As far as he was concerned, they were already mated. His heart had beat for her that first day that he had sunk himself into her. The mating would only become official though when he announced it to his pack, and more importantly when she acknowledged him as her mate. He couldn’t wait.
Right now, rutting with her would need to be enough. Ward had to suppress a growl as he closed his mouth over one of her distended nipples. Swirling his tongue around her areola, he nipped softly at her tender flesh. Her breathing hitched and her hands tightened on his shoulders.
“I want to taste you, but you have to keep quiet,” he whispered.
She nodded, swallowing hard as she leaned back on her elbows. Ward pushed her legs open, his eyes zoning in on the feast nestled between her thighs. “Shhhh,” he whispered as his fingers trailed over her soft mound.
Hairless. Pink. Glistening. So beautiful. So his.
Ward felt his nostrils flare as he inhaled her delicious citrus, vanilla scent. She whimpered softly as he closed his mouth over her clit. Stephany threw her head back, her mouth a thin white line. Her back bowed off the bed as he gave her throbbing nub a suck.
A low moan filled the quiet space as he laved over her sensitive knot of nerves. Alternating between sucking, nipping softly and licking, it wasn’t long before she clawed at the sheets, panting heavily.
Stephany’s hips rocked in time with his thrusting tongue, so responsive, so sensitive. Ward inserted a single finger into her tight, wet sheath. His female moaned, thrashing her head from side to side.
“Shhhh.” He smiled while moving over her, careful to ensure that his weight was distributed on his arms, which he anchored on either side of her face. “Put your legs around me, sweetheart.” She did as he said, locking her ankles at his back. Ward nudged into her welcoming pussy, swallowing her cry with his mouth.
She was just as tight as he remembered, although not as vicelike as their first time together. He waited a few beats before sliding a little further into her wet heat. Ward closed his eyes, feeling sweat bead on his brow. He waited until she grew accustomed to his girth, until she squirmed beneath him. Pulling out, he eased back sliding in a little further each time until his hips finally met hers. She whimpered into his mouth, her fingers dug into his back. Stephany pulled her legs up higher. Ward groaned as his cock slid deeper into her tight sheath. Already, he could feel his balls pulling up in anticipation.
Using slow easy strokes, he moved within her. Loving the way they fit so perfectly together. Ward cupped her chin, deepening their kiss. She rocked her hips in time with him. He could sense that his female was close by the way she clawed at his back. By how he felt her quiver beneath him with each thrust. Ward pulled back, her eyes were squeezed shut and she bit down on her lip as they broke the kiss.
“Look at me.” He whispered, his voice thick and gravelly.
Stephany opened her eyes. They were as blue as a winter sky, only more beautiful.
“You are mine, just as I am yours.” He took back her mouth, keeping his eyes locked with hers. Her sheath tightened around him. Ward thrust deeper, picking up the pace as she shuddered beneath him, her pussy clamping down hard, sucking on him greedily. He was forced to break the kiss so that he could grit his teeth as he felt himself cum. Stephany buried her face into his neck. When she bit him, he came harder. When she sucked, he just about saw stars, his movements turning jerky. His dick swelled, making it harder to move. Intense pleasure flooded through him. On a low growl, Ward clamped down on her shoulder trying hard not to break her skin, but failing as the taste of iron hit his tongue. His female moaned, taking another long draw that had his balls pulling higher into his body. He released her neck as he continued to grind into her tight heat. His body shook with the need to roar.
So damned good. Damned perfect. Both were covered in a sheen of sweat. Both panting heavily, Ward was still careful to keep his full weight off of her.
Mine.
It wouldn’t be long before he made it official. Within the next day or two if he had anything to do with it. The vampire kings would hopefully see it his way. If not, he would take her anyway. One way or another, this female would be his. Stephany was his already. He wasn’t sorry he had bitten her. Hearing about her missed calls had been just the excuse he was looking for. In fact, if it had taken much longer, he would’ve come anyway. Would’ve found a way to convince her to mate with him. They belonged together. The knowledge lifted a heavy weight from his shoulders. One he hadn’t even known that he was carrying.
Ward brushed the wayward strands of blond silk from her face, noticing how her lips were swollen from their kisses. How her face was flushed from her orgasm. “So beautiful,” he murmured, his voice still smoky. His wolf clambered just below the surface wanting to claim her a second time. The swelling in his dick eased, but he remained hard. “Since when did you decide to grow your hair out?”
She shrugged beneath him, pulling a full raspberry lip between her teeth. He noticed that her canines were still distended.
Perfuckingfection.
“Not that I didn’t think you were beautiful before”—he paused taking a few strands between his fingers—“but you look amazing. Pregnancy suits you.”
Her eyes flashed with vivid pain and she looked away. He longed to reassure her. To tell her everything. Instead, he chose to take her mind off her fears. “Did you grow it so that you could find yourself another male?” He teased.
Her eyes flashed with panic for a second, then she cocked her head, her eyes narrowed. “No.” Far too serious for his liking.
“Why else? Were you so ready to take another male to your bed?” He smiled.
His female gasped, giving his arm a harmless slap. “No…I would ne
ver…I told you I don’t rut…”
He had to chuckle. “You don’t rut?” He felt his brows pull up as he made his dick twitch inside her.
Stephany smiled. “I don’t rut with other males. Neither do I want other males. I grew my hair…” She looked away for a few beats before her eyes locked with his. They narrowed with determination. “Because I felt like it.” There was something about this line of questioning that was making her uncomfortable, so he dropped it.
Ward kissed her. “I missed you so much. For the record…” He kissed her again. A quick brush of the lips, “I said that I liked your hair just fine short. Hounds, long, short…you could paint it pink and I would still love it.”
“We need to talk.” She stiffened beneath him, placing her hands on his chest. He wanted to rut her again and had to force himself to pull out of her glorious heat. Didn’t she realize that there was nothing that she could tell him that would change how he felt about her?
Nothing.
A loud crash sounded behind them. It was the sound of a door being opened with such force that it was ripped from its hinges.
In one swift move, Ward sprang away from Stephany, falling in a crouch at the foot of the bed, sure to put himself between the intruder and his female. A big male vampire with predatory eyes.
“Wolf.” The male growled low, a long, thick blade in his hand.
“Lance.” His female gasped behind him. From the rustling of sheets, Ward suspected that Stephany was scrambling to cover herself from the male. “Get out!” she shouted.
The intruder’s face contorted in rage, his hand tightened on the blade as his eyes moved to Stephany. Ward was unable to stop the threatening growl that was pulled from his throat.
“What the fuck, Stephany?” The male said between gritted teeth.
Ward’s growl turned to an all-out snarl. “Do not speak to my female in that way.” His voice was guttural. He felt his nails extend and his canines sharpen.
“A fucking wolf?” The male ignored him, his eyes still on Stephany. “You chose to rut with a”—he paused as his eyes began to glow—“a mangy animal?”
The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3 Page 53
