Gia nodded, not trusting her voice any more than she had to.
Marco growled. “It doesn’t matter. The full moon isn’t over yet, I can still win you.” Gia gasped as his muscles bunched and he hurled Sorin off of him. Sorin yelped as his body hit the trunk of a tree and her stomach clenched in fear. “You must take human form to fight. Or have you no strength left for the change?”
Gia’s heart nearly stopped in her chest. If Sorin couldn’t fight back his beast enough to retake human form, he would be disqualified. With the hormones soaking her body, she would never be able to resist Marco’s advances.
Aphrodite help him.
Her prayer wafted through her mind just as Sorin fixed his eyes on Marco. She held her breath, repeating her prayer over and over as Sorin’s body went rigid. She could practically feel his concentration reverberating in the air. He may not have the control over his beast that he desired, but in this case he and his beast wanted the same thing. Would that be enough for his wolf to give up its form?
Minutes ticked by and nothing happened. Marco lifted his head and howled, turning back to Gia as the last eerie note faded into the night.
“It seems I have no challenger,” he said softly.
Gia shook her head and moved into a fighting stance, her legs slightly bent and her arms loose at her sides. “Oh, you have a challenger all right.” She fought to keep her voice steady. “I won’t have my mate decided for me, Marco.”
Marco shook his head. “You always have to do things the hard way. None of this would have been necessary if you hadn’t chosen such a pathetic wolf for a mate in the first place.”
Anger flared hot in Gia’s mind. “Don’t talk about him like that.”
Seemingly oblivious to her anger, Marco took a step toward her. Her body clenched, wetness dripping down her parted thighs. She wanted to scream in frustration, unable to put her legs together to dull the needy ache while still maintaining a defensive stance. Fury colored her vision and she glared at Marco. To her frustration he just smiled.
“I know you want me to touch you,” he said softly. “You’ll say yes before I take you.”
Helpless and angry beyond sanity, Gia fought not to cry as Marco took another step.
“Your next step will be your last.”
Nothing in her entire life had sounded as sweet as the sound of Sorin’s voice in that moment. The tears escaped her eyes, but now they were tears of relief. She and Marco both turned to find Sorin standing in front of the tree, the pale skin of his human form glowing in the moonlight. In the darkness of the trees with only the moon shining down on him, he seemed as white as the fur of his wolf form. Such a dramatic contrast to Marco and his tanned skin. He stared at Marco with the single-mindedness of a true predator watching its prey.
She turned back to Marco, the hairs on her skin rising as anger and the threat of violence crackled in the air between the two men. She held her breath as a flash of confusion furrowed Marco’s eyebrows. A moment later his eyes widened and Gia knew he’d recognized Sorin.
“You . . . you’re a vampire.” He jerked his head around to stare at Gia. “That’s not—”
Sorin bolted through the air like an arrow fired from a crossbow. One minute Marco was staring at her in shock and the next, Sorin was standing behind him, he hands locking on the other man’s head and arm as he slid his fangs into his neck. Marco’s body stiffened and Gia’s heart thudded with painful intensity as the scent of his sudden fear laced the air. She knew his dilemma all too well. Any struggle on his part would only do more damage, shredding his neck on the vampire’s fangs. If he was going to fight Sorin off, he had to get him to let go first.
Gia watched in horrified fascination as Marco groped behind him for Sorin’s throat. Sorin tucked himself tight against the other man’s back, making himself as small a target as possible and keeping vulnerable spots out of reach. He wasn’t wasting an iota of the advantage Marco’s shock had given him. Her breath hitched as the sharp scent of copper filled the air.
Marco closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as Sorin drew the blood from his body and swallowed in large gulps. Unlike he had with her, Sorin wasn’t savoring the blood, taking the time to taste it before swallowing. Instead, he was using his thirst to drain Marco as quickly as possible, no doubt counting on severe blood loss to weaken the other man.
It seemed to last forever. Gia stared, frozen in place as Sorin leeched the strength from her pack mate. Marco’s face twisted in defiance, fighting to remain conscious despite the blood loss. Gia swallowed hard. Marco was
strong fighter, but his surprise at Sorin’s identity had cost him. The vampire had gotten the first hit—and he only needed one.
Her stomach turned as she listened to him feed. Even though she knew what he was, and she didn’t want Marco to win, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy as she watched a member of her pack fall victim to a vampire. The lupa in her wanted to intervene—the female in her just waited for the victor.
A wave of dark red spilled down Marco’s body. Sorin had drank his fill, now he was just letting the blood flow to weaken Marco further. Fear for her brethren’s life mixed with a rush of an alpha’s protective instincts and she stepped forward.
“Sorin, enough!”
Sorin pulled his fangs from Marco’s neck and the other man fell to the ground in a boneless heap. Gia ran to Marco’s still body, feeling for a pulse. A vice closed around her heart as she found nothing. She lowered her ear to his chest, straining to pick up even the slightest beat. Her own heart beat so loud, she couldn’t be sure if she heard one or not. Desperation seized her and she put her hands on Marco’s body. Just as she’d done with Sorin earlier, she reached into his body until she found the resting form of his beast, curled in that metaphysical cave that rested in the body of every therianthrope. With a grunt of desperation, she ripped it from his body.
Marco’s flesh erupted in soft brown fur and Gia nearly fell over with relief as his side rose and fell with breath. She lowered her head to his fur, breathing in the scent of her pack and reassuring herself that he was truly all right. When she finally raised her head, she noticed Sorin was no longer standing before her.
She turned to find him watching her from a few yards away. Her breath caught in her throat. He was so beautiful. His flesh had glowed under the moon before, but now that he was full of a werewolf’s invigorating blood he looked like a heavenly body himself. His skin looked even brighter with his dark hair falling in waves around his shoulders. His naked chest gleamed smooth and perfect, its white planes darkened by a sheen of fresh blood that glittered like liquid rubies in the light.
A strange emotion wove through her brain, moving down her body to infuse every muscle, every cell. Her beast rose to fill her body, but she didn’t change. The sensation of her wolf so close to the surface, yet still held inside human skin, sent a ripple of awe through her. She looked at Sorin as if seeing him for the first time.
Her eyes traveled down his tight stomach to his cock hanging heavy and straight between his strong legs. The world seemed hazy, as if it were all a dream. She stood and went to him, each foot drifting out in front of the other until she stood staring up into his face. His gaze traveled over her flesh, lingering on her breasts. Her nipples throbbed as if they could feel his stare. She ached with a physical need to feel him inside her, to let him take what he’d fought for.
He needs us.
The thought echoed in her ears from somewhere deep inside her soul. Even under all that blood, all that adrenaline, she could still feel his fear. He’d repressed his beast for so long, suffered such horrible abuse. He needed someone to help him find his way back to harmony with his wolf. She could help him. She wanted to help him.
A warm wave of security washed over her. It melted her resistance. Her arousal took on a sharper edge, no longer dulled by doubt. She needed a strong mate to help her earn back the respect of her pack, to help her protect her pack. Sorin had that strength. He could be a true lycaeon, a true mate. He could help her just as she knew she could help him. A symbiotic relationship with neither forcing their will on the other. A true mated pair.
“Sorin,” she whispered, raising her arms.
He didn’t need further encouragement. He stepped up to her, gathering her body in his arms and running his hands over her back. The feel of his strong fingers kneading her muscles, coaxing her to mold her body to his, sent shivers down her spine. The slickness of the blood coating the front of their bodies touched something primal in her. She tilted her face up to receive his kiss. Liquid pleasure leaked from her body as he plundered her mouth, taking everything she offered. For the first time since Aphrodite had first laid a hand on her, she willingly gave herself over to the desire.
The soft green earth lay like a soothing balm on her back as Sorin lowered her to the forest floor. He was trying to be gentle, but his body vibrated with the effort. He’d just fought a challenge fight, spilled the blood of another man just for the right to mate with her. Between the need to mate and the energy the massive infusion of blood had given him, it was a wonder he wasn’t already pounding her into the ground.
She pulled back from the kiss and his lips fell to her neck. A pang of regret echoed through her that he’d already fed so well and probably wouldn’t be biting her this time. Desire soaked her body, making her pussy ache with the need to be filled.
“Sorin?”
He lifted his head to look at her and the sight of his wolf’s green eyes, lit up with the dark knowledge that his conquest was assured, tightened her body. She had to try twice before she could speak.
“Fuck me.”
A wicked smile curved his lips, flashing the sharp points of his fangs. She gasped as he rose up and locked his hands on her hips, flipping her over in one quick motion. Her heart leapt into her throat as he jerked her hips into the air.
The breeze caressed her soaking entrance and she sucked in a sharp breath. His fingers parted her, sliding through the wetness there and spreading it around. She rocked back, impatient with need. Her arms burned with the urge to thrust herself back, to impale herself on him and fill the emptiness between her legs. When the head of his cock finally pushed inside her, she almost wept with joy.
The feel of her pussy squeezing the head of his cock seemed to undo him. With a desperate cry, he slammed his hips into hers, driving a scream from her throat. She barely had time to breathe before he pulled out and rammed himself inside her again, the force of his thrust a thrilling reminder of his strength and power. Her body ached with a dull reminder that this was the third round of enthusiastic sex in less than twenty-four hours. The thought added to her pleasure, assailed her senses with memories of their previous couplings. Her hands gripped the forest floor, claws sprouting from her fingertips to pierce the ground and hold her still to better receive his thrusts. The scent of blood remained strong in the air, reminding her of his victory, his dominance. The thought turned her on and she lowered her upper body to the ground, holding herself up on her forearms and offering herself up to him. The gesture seemed to please him and he growled his pleasure as he accepted her offer.
Over and over again he pierced her body, every stroked sending a wave of golden heat outwards through her limbs until she burned with it. Pleasure built higher and higher, pulling her upward until the thought of the coming fall almost frightened her. When the orgasm finally hit, she closed her eyes and screamed into the night, holding onto the ground for dear life as wave after wave of bliss crashed down on her back, pounding her into the ground. Sorin roared behind her and his body stiffened as he followed her over the edge into oblivion.
The cool night air ruffled Sorin’s fur as he ran, pure ecstasy burning through him as he bounded through the trees. His prey’s heart betrayed its location, calling to him even as it struggled to get away. His teeth ached and his mouth watered. So close.
Blood. Red coppery liquid gushed down his throat, bathing his face and fangs as he reveled in his kill, gulping down the sustenance it provided. The taste of fear lingered in its blood, adding a spice to the meal and making him howl his pleasure to the sky.
A deathly pale face loomed out of the darkness, eyes flashing with fury and its face contorting in disgust. Sorin’s blood turned to ice in his veins as a deafening voice boomed around him.
“Sorin, what have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”
He stared down at the carcass before him, horror closing like a vice around his heart. Gia’s face stared up at him, her eyes empty and lifeless. Her body was a pile of gore, a red ruin that reeked of death as only shredded intestines can. Stale blood
burned the back of his throat as he shook his head.