Moon Touched (Zodiac Wolves: The Lost Pack Book 1)

by Elizabeth Briggs

  “Why isn’t it going away?” I asked when I was able to form words again. It didn’t seem to be getting better, each wave of desire turning me more and more into a mindless animal, unable to keep track of my train of thought.

  “Get on your hands and knees,” he commanded.

  I obeyed immediately, arching my back and presenting myself to him. He ran a hand down my spine, and I shivered, gooseflesh popping up in wake of his touch. I backed up, trying to seek out his cock without looking. I bumped into him, into his hard flesh—he hadn’t gone soft, either. He was right, the heat was affecting him just as much as me. He was better at controlling it, but I felt his cock pulse as I rubbed against him, trying to encourage him to put it in me. His hips twitched forward, and I couldn’t help the triumphant smile that crossed my face.

  He slid the hand up my back and wrapped my hair around his hands. I closed my eyes, trying to think past the need, but it was no use. He tugged slightly, and I whimpered at how good it felt. I wanted him to use me, own me, defile me. Anything, as long as he did it now.

  He pushed his cock into me roughly, no gentleness this time, and leaned over my back. “We’re going to be here all night,” he growled in my ear. “Fucking until the sun rises. I’m going to have you every way, every position. This is what you signed up for when you asked for my help, Ayla.”

  I shuddered at the way he said my name, which sent another bolt of desire through me. He thrust into me hard, as if to prove his point, and pulled my hair so that my neck was exposed. The first time we fucked he hadn’t touched me outside of his hands on my hips and his dick inside of me, but now that had changed. His resolve had crumbled, and now the flood gates had been opened.

  He draped himself over me, pressing our bodies flush together. His breath was hot on my neck as he thrust into me, hard enough to send me forward a bit. I braced myself better on the arm of the sofa and pushed back against him. His hand slid from my waist to my front, gliding across my stomach before dipping lower, parting the lips of my sex.

  His fingers found my clit, and I threw my head back, fully baring my throat to him. He bit into the juncture between shoulder and neck as he continued pounding into me brutally from behind, each slap of flesh against flesh sending a shockwave of movement through me. Pain and pleasure mixed, and then his tongue laved at the area, bringing an entirely new kind of sensation into the mix.

  “Not thinking of your Leo mate now, are you?” he purred into my ear, and I shuddered, back arching as another teeth-achingly good orgasm rolled over me. Jordan was the absolute last thing on my mind. I was only aware that Kaden was here now, taking care of me in the best way possible.

  My arms and legs gave out, and Kaden kept me propped up and thrust into me over and over again through my orgasm, a low noise that sounded almost like a growl building in his throat. The new angle pounded into my g-spot with every thrust, and my body came alive again, chasing that desire like there was no tomorrow. I came again on his cock, not moments later, and I screamed. It felt as if my flesh was melting off my bones. This much desire shouldn’t have been possible.

  He let my hips go and I slumped on the couch, unable to comprehend anything except that my thighs were shaking. When he nudged at me with his knee, I turned onto my side. His eyes looked down at me, hungry, angry, hot.

  I opened my mouth to ask him something, but again, another wave of desire rolled over me, and this time, I didn’t even bother holding back my groan. I reached for him, and he let me pull him close, wrap my hands around his dick. He stiffened against me, eyes flaring wide, and I climbed on top of him and slid his cock inside of me, and then I was lost to the world. I rode him like an animal, bucking and moaning, taking my pleasure from him, while he looked up at me. He gripped my breasts and squeezed, while his eyes carried a fire inside of them that let me know the need wasn't one-sided. Then I came all over him, milking his cock with my pussy as I bounced up and down and yelled his name.

  Every time I thought that the heat would clear and we’d have a few moments to rest, another wave would overtake me, and Kaden would fuck me again, finding new positions each time. At some point, we moved to the floor and he fucked me from the back, front, side, and everything in between. His heavy weight was reassuring on top of me, harsh pants punctuating each rough thrust. Every time I looked up and my eyes said, more, he complied. Even when we took a short break to get some water from the kitchen, he ended up bending me over the counter and thrusting into me from behind, while fingering my back entrance, sending a whole new level of pleasure through me. On our way back to the couch he picked me up and plunged his cock inside of me again, lifting me so we were clinging to each other as he claimed me.

  It was incredible, rough, and wild. We fucked like animals, overcome by our basest instincts, unable to stop ourselves. I had no doubt we'd be ridiculously sore in the morning, but that didn't stop us. I knew I’d have vivid memories of this night for years to come, but all I could do was live in the moment, drowning in Kaden’s eyes and body as he took me again and again, always ready for another round, always willing to bring me to orgasm. And each time the need for each other only returned.

  It seemed to go on forever, until finally, finally, the moon set and the faint traces of predawn began to appear in the sky. I rolled off of Kaden and fell to the floor, so bone-deep tired that I didn’t think I could move for hours. I knew we’d have to eventually get up—we were still in the living room where anyone could walk in on us, but right now all I wanted to do was sleep.

  My body felt sore, but in the best way, and it took several minutes for me to realize what we’d done. I’d just spent the entire night having hot, wild sex with Kaden, and I’d enjoyed it. A lot. He had too if the number of orgasms we’d shared was anything to go by.

  Kaden picked me up and carried me to my room, kicking open the door. I wondered how he still had the strength to walk, let alone carry me too, as he set me on the bed. I looked up at him with a tentative smile, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. His face was hard again, his eyes shuttered. Something sank in my stomach. So this was how it would be.

  He'd only fucked me out of duty, and now that the all-consuming lust had left us, he didn't want me anymore. He'd made it very clear the sex was only for one night because I would literally die otherwise. And during all that sex, he hadn't kissed me, not even once.

  “This can’t happen ever again," he said. Then he left without another word. The slam of the door was so loud it vibrated through me.

  I closed my eyes, the mortification filling me. Once again, I'd been rejected by a man I thought might actually care about me. How the hell was I supposed to live in this house with him now?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I wanted to shower, but I didn't think I could move. I was tired, yes, but underneath that was only shame as I came back to myself more solidly and realized the full gravity of the situation. The heat had passed, the mating frenzy over, and I couldn't believe I'd really done and said all those things.

  I’ll never leave my room again, I thought and shoved my face into the pillow. I considered screaming into it, but I was too tired to even do that. There was no way I could face Kaden again, let alone any of the pack. Nope, this room was my home now.

  I managed to drift to sleep for a while and was grateful for the reprieve from my own spinning thoughts. My body ached as if I’d done ten trainings with Kaden in a row, as if he’d had me punch the bag for hours on end, instead of the twenty-odd minutes he usually had me do. Well, you certainly went several rounds with him, my brain quipped at me. Shut up, I told it, and turned over in bed, wincing at the way my muscles twinged.

  A knock came at my door at about midday. “Are you all right?” Stella asked through the door, and I winced again. “Did Kaden do something?”

  Why, yes. He did a lot of things, in all different positions, I thought, and almost laughed out loud at the thought of Stella’s face if I’d said that. “I’m fine,” I called back and hoped that she coul
dn’t hear the blatant lie. If I opened that door I'm sure she would see a big sign with I JUST HAD SEX WITH YOUR BROTHER ALL NIGHT emblazoned on my forehead.

  "Okay." She paused for way too long. "Let me know if you need anything."

  I wondered if she could smell it. Shit, I wondered if the entire town had heard me last night. They’d probably figured out what was wrong with me, much like Kaden had. He hadn’t gotten me out of there in time, and I wondered if they all knew what exactly went down in Kaden’s house. It wouldn’t take much imagination. Which meant I could never face any of them again either.

  I could never live down this embarrassment. I punched my pillow into a better shape, mostly just to punch something. I’d hated feeling so out of control of my body. I’d felt more animal than human, as if I had no control, no judgment. Last night, in the middle of the heat with Kaden draped over me, doing his best to answer the overwhelming desire in my body, I wouldn’t have cared if the entire pack had been watching us.

  I groaned and tried to find a more comfortable position. I’d do anything to get rid of this mate bond. I hated it. It had turned me into a beast, unable to control myself, and even worse, it would happen again and again because I was never going to be with Jordan. Not even if he showed up out of the blue with flowers and candy and begged me to be his mate. Yeah right, and the sky is falling, I thought bitterly. Which meant I was doomed to spend every full moon in this state.

  I managed to avoid leaving my room all day, sleeping on and off, and letting my body rest. I got up to shower eventually, and Stella, bless her kind heart, left me some food outside my door. I devoured it as if I'd never eaten before, then chugged a ton of water. My body needed it all to recover.

  Another knock sounded at my door just after night fell. I sighed, wondering if Stella was going to come in and question me after all. “I’m fine, Stella. Just tired.”

  “It’s me,” Kaden’s voice said, and I sat up straighter, any drowsiness gone. What could he want? “Can I come in?”

  I paused, unable to stop the wild thought that he might be coming back to apologize and tell me how much last night had meant to him, but then I shook that fantasy away. "Yeah."

  I tried to figure out what the hell to do with my limbs as he came in. I finally settled onto the bed, legs crossed and hands in my lap. Not that it would have mattered.

  Kaden glanced around the room, carefully avoided looking at me. “Are you willing to go on a supply run tomorrow to get some things?”

  Wow, so we weren't going to talk about last night at all. Just move on, back to business, as if it had never happened. Like I didn't know the sound he made when he came inside me. "Sure."

  "Be ready at 7. Don't be late."

  I crossed my arms. "It won't be a problem."

  Kaden opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something else, but then nodded and walked back out, closing the door behind him. I let out a long breath, my shoulders sinking. I hadn’t expected anything different from him, but it was still disappointing. I almost wished he'd been mad at me or something. At least if he’d exploded at me, we could have addressed what had happened. But no, we’d let this sit and fester between us until the end of time, which I was certain Kaden could do.

  I woke almost exactly at dawn, feeling much more aware and alert, and I sprung out of bed to get ready. I showered and dressed, but skipped breakfast, still too guilty to face Stella. There was no avoiding Kaden though. He stood at the door of the van that was parked in his driveway, talking with Clayton in a low tone. I swallowed, realizing there were other people in the van too. Would they say anything about the other night? Maybe we could all just pretend it never happened and move on like Kaden had done. I was starting to think that was the best move.

  When Kaden saw me approaching, he fell silent and let his eyes roam over me, although not in a sensual way. More like a dad who was checking to make sure my outfit wasn't too sexy for a date. “Be careful today,” he said. “With the other packs looking for us, it’s dangerous to even be leaving in a vehicle. They could easily track you back here.”

  “You’re not going?” I asked.

  Kaden shook his head. His eyes were back to being completely emotionless as he held my gaze. “Are you willing to put your life on the line to help a pack that isn’t even yours?”

  I nodded and steeled myself, lifting my chin as I stared back into Kaden’s eyes. “I’d give my life for this pack if need be.”

  I meant every word too. He’d made sure to make the distinction that this wasn’t my pack, but this felt like the place where I belonged. Even with my mortification over the mating frenzy, I wanted to be one of them, and I’d spend as much time as Kaden needed to prove myself a worthy member.

  Kaden’s eyes held mine for a beat longer, as if testing my sincerity. I let it all show in my face and eventually, he nodded. “Get in the van.”

  He walked away without another word. Back to normal, I thought and climbed into the van. There were six wolves total, most of them Kaden’s friends. Clayton was driving, and I was sharing an aisle of seats with Jack and another guy I'd seen around town, who was about the size as Kaden, aka big and muscular, except his hair was long and blond, almost like a surfer. When I glanced behind me to the back row, I noted two pack members I’d only seen once or twice. They looked like warrior twins, both with caramel-colored hair and bright green eyes.

  The female gave me a smile, and there was nothing soft in it. “Welcome aboard. I’m Harper. This is my brother, Dane.”

  “Ayla,” I said, inclining my head.

  “Oh, I know who you are, trust me,” Harper said, grinning like she knew a private joke. "After the other night, everyone knows who you are."

  Jack cleared his throat. "Yeah, about that. I'm really sorry, Ayla. I didn't realize..."

  My cheeks burned with mortification. "It's okay. Really."

  He rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. But seriously, I had no idea you were in heat, or that you were Kaden's woman."

  "I'm definitely not his woman," I sputtered.

  "That bite mark on your neck says otherwise," the guy next to Jack said. "I'm Tanner, by the way. I'd shake your hand but I don't want Kaden to bite mine off."

  Everyone else in the van rumbled with laughter, except for me. I wanted to sink down through the floor of the car and melt into the ground. They had no idea of the truth—that Kaden didn't really want me. Not like that.

  Clayton got in the van and snapped his head around. "Are these pups bothering you, Ayla? Should I make them get out and run alongside the van?"

  I ducked my head with a small smile. Good old Clayton, always looking out for me like a big brother. And to think I'd once been annoyed at having him always watching my back. "No, it's fine."

  He shrugged his big, broad shoulders as he turned back to the front. "Okay, but just say the word and they're out."

  "Aw, we're just having a bit of fun." Harper patted me on the shoulder. "I'm just happy we have another girl in the group, anyway."

  "Especially one that puts Kaden in his place," Tanner added with a grin.

  I relaxed a little then, realizing they weren't teasing me to embarrass me, but more as a show of camaraderie. I'd spent so much of my life being bullied, I hadn't noticed the difference at first. This was what it felt like to have friends. To be part of a real pack.

  “Everyone buckled up?” Clayton asked, eyes meeting ours in the rearview mirror, and the corners of his brown eyes crinkled with a smile. No one bothered to answer him, and he pulled out of Kaden’s driveway.

  “What kind of supplies do we need?” I asked, once we were on the road. Excitement thrummed through me now that I realized we were actually leaving pack territory—my first time since being brought here. I might actually get some answers, for once.

  “Anything we can’t get easily in the town,” Tanner said and looked as if he expected me to be satisfied with that answer. Duh, that much was obvious.

  “We have safe house drop sites all
over the province," Jack added. "Our supplies are dropped off by people we work for or buy from, and once or twice a month we do a supply run.”

  Province. I didn’t know if Jack meant to let that slip, but I clung onto it like a lifeline. It was the first real hint I’d gotten of where we were. Province meant that we were in Canada, not the US. “Which province?”

  Jack shot me a sharp look. Busted.

  Harper laughed from the backseat. “They really haven’t told you much, have they? We’re in Manitoba. Have you ever heard of the Narcisse Snake Dens?”

  I frowned. “No.”

  Harper leaned forward, putting her arms on the back of my seat. “It's full of red-sided garter snakes. Gotta love them. They hide in these dens in the winter and reappear in spring. We have the largest number of red-sided garter snakes in the world in one place. You should visit sometime. It’s a big conservation now since they’re lower in numbers, and it's a cool place to visit.”

  “What happened?” I asked. Garter snakes were everywhere, why would they be concerned about conservation? “To the snakes, I mean. Why do they need conservation?” I added when Harper cocked her head at me in a silent question.

  “Big frost killed a bunch of them before they could winter down a couple of decades ago, and some ecologists got worried. Highway 17 cuts right across their path to the dens, and nearly ten thousand were hit by cars every year until we made tunnels for the snakes to go under. Now it’s a bad year if even a thousand are hit.” She sounded proud of the fact like it was something she'd helped with.

  "How do you know all of this?” I knew the Ophiuchus pack was called the "snake bearers," and Kaden had that snake tattoo on his arm, but I didn't know much more than that.

  “The Narcisse Snake Dens are part of Ophiuchus pack lands, along with the other wildlife areas around it," Harper said. "One of the tasks we give teen pack members is to run maintenance on the fences to stop the snakes from getting hit."