What the hell is going on?
The women disappeared, and the men continued to breathe heavily. As everything around Kayla became still, she turned her gaze back to Aedan. Her breath completely stopped. As she stared at the scene before her, fear engulfed her entire being.
Right before her eyes, the men started to grow tall, so tall they had to be easily eight feet in height. Their muscles started to swell, and the sound of material rendering and bones breaking filled the area. Each one of them panted heavily, their fangs clearly visible under the moonlight.
There was only one word that could describe them. Terrifying.
Chapter 15
Kaleb stood behind his brethren, reveling in the change. It overtook him, giving him the strength and power he needed to crush his enemies. His bones broke and realigned. His muscles stretched and grew. He tensed, the pain slight compared to the strength and heat that poured through him.
He was breathing heavily, just like the other males. It was imperative that he get as much oxygen as he could into his body to make the transformation smooth and seamless. His cock grew hard, the scent of the aroused females fleeing spurring his need. He would chase them down, find a willing female, and fuck her, hard.
When the change overtook, it consumed. It was power, anger, fear, and love all combined into a glorious transformation.
He tilted his head back and roared. The other males did the same, each one of them taking off into the forest to find the one they would fuck. Kaleb ran hard and fast. His heart beat frantically as he searched out the female. This is what his kind did, what got their blood pumping. It was the most primal thing one of his kind could do on a full moon.
He didn’t like leaving Kayla alone, not because he feared for her safety, but because he knew she was probably confused at what was happening, but he was helpless against the pull of the moon. The chase is what the Lyken males
loved
…what
he
got hard for.
He ran faster.
There she was, no more than fifty feet in front of him. She was breathing heavily. Her hands were in tight fists by her sides as her breasts rose and fell with her respiration. The wind stirred her dark hair around her face, gently caressing the strands like a lover’s touch. The movement was tender, soft even.
He wouldn’t be.
Kaleb stopped several feet before her and clenched his fists as he dragged his eyes over her large breasts and down her long legs. Their breathing mingled together as he pressed his body against hers. Her response was a gasp of pleasure.
The sound made his cock harder.
Her nipples were hard and tight and pressed erotically against his chest. The tips were engorged and elongated and scraped sensually along his flesh. He grabbed her waist and turned her around. He ran his hand down her back and gave her ass a good swat. The sound of his palm making contact with her flesh was his undoing. He held her in place with a hand to the middle of her back. He grabbed his aching shaft and stroked it a few times.
“Spread.” The lone word was low and distorted. It was a command that he knew she liked. He could smell her arousal heighten.
She spread her legs wide and leaned forward so that her ass was presented to him. Her pussy lips were bare and glistened under the moonlight from her wetness. He quickly grabbed a condom out of his pocket, which hung from his jeans by threads, and slipped the latex on. He started running the head of his cock over her swollen pussy lips and gritted his teeth in arousal. His cock head now poised at the entrance of her cunt, Kaleb slammed into her.
She screamed in delight. He growled in pleasure.
Hands on each side of her waist, Kaleb reared back and pushed all his hard inches into her willing body. Over and over he did this, not stopping until her pussy walls tightened around his shaft as she climaxed and he howled out his release.
A shiver raced down Kayla’s spine as several wolflike howls wrenched through the night. No one was left but her, and she suddenly felt so alone. After everyone had run into the forest, she had just stood there in shock. What was she supposed to do? Anger toward Kaleb had coursed through her momentarily at the fact he had just left her out here, but that anger had diminished as she had remembered the feral look in the males’ eyes. It was clear they couldn’t have stopped themselves even if they wanted to.
Question after question slammed into her mind until her head was reeling. She took a few steps back, not about to stay outside any longer. She turned around and ran back to the compound. She didn’t stop until her bedroom door was slammed closed behind her. Could she really be part of this world? She didn’t think so.
Kaleb pulled into Kayla’s driveway the next afternoon. That morning she had insisted on going back home. He had tried to get her to stay longer, but that one night had been plenty for her. Apparently, whenever the moon was full, they fucked out in the woods.
“Why didn’t you tell me that was going to happen?”
A suspended moment of silence settled around them before he finally answered. “I should have, but would it have mattered? Would you have agreed to go if I told you what the moon does to us?” Kaleb’s voice sounded distant.
She thought about it, knowing that he was right. She wouldn’t have gone. Although she wished she hadn’t experienced last night, Kayla knew all of that was part of her heritage. She was a Lyken.
The people she had met and the things she had learned were very important. “No, I wouldn’t have gone, but I’m glad I did.”
He looked over at her and nodded.
“But I don’t know if that’s the life for me.”
Kaleb didn’t look surprised by her statement. “I figured as much, but it isn’t like you have to live there. The Lykens are there for you if you need anything.
I’m
here for you if you need anything.”
“Would they accept my relationship with Adrik?” There was a bout of silence, and that was all the answer she needed. “You don’t understand, Kaleb. I love Adrik. I need him.” More silence.
“I know, and as much as it pains me to see the two of you together, as much as I’d like to see you with one of our own, you are my sister, and I’ll love you no matter what.”
That was her brother, adding an endearment to an insult.
Kayla touched up her lip gloss as she waited for Adrik to arrive. Butterflies had been constant in her stomach ever since she spoke with him earlier today. When he had asked her where she wanted to go, she had told him she just wanted to go somewhere quiet and relaxing, a complete contrast to last night. Again, he was to pick her up at sunset. She planned on finishing what they started the previous night.
The grandfather clock in the living room chimed six, and her heart started to beat faster. Just a few more minutes and he would arrive. Like clockwork, someone knocked at her door. She smoothed her hands down her skirt and walked toward it. Before she opened it, she took a deep breath. She felt as though she hadn’t seen him in ages.
When the door swung open, her eyes grew wide at who stood on the other side. “Callum?” His eyes skimmed down her body, and she felt as if he could see right through her clothes.
“Hello, lass.”
Adrik was to be here any minute, and here was a werewolf standing on her porch. “What are you doing here?” She had to get rid of him.
“Yer brother told me you dinna want to come back tonight, so I came to you.” He ran a hand over his hair, and his shirt stretched along his biceps.
“Kaleb told you to come up here?” She would beat his ass.
“No, I wanted to surprise you. He doesn’t even know I’m here.”
Lucky for him.
“Tonight really isn’t a good time.”
“No?” He looked behind her. “I don’t sense anyone here with you. You have a date tonight?”
She nodded almost absently. As if he read her mind, Adrik’s tank of a vehicle pulled into the driveway. The windows were tinted, and she couldn’t tell what his reaction was, but she knew it wasn’t going to be good.
“Is that yer date?”
She nodded, but didn’t take her eyes off Adrik’s vehicle. The SUV turned off, and the door swung open. Adrik stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut so hard she winced. Callum growled low in his throat. Kayla finally turned and looked at Callum, only to see him watching Adrik intently.
“It canna be.” Callum looked down at her with a knitted brow, then stepped slightly in front of her. His gaze went back to Adrik.
Callum filled her doorway, so she couldn’t see around him.
“Lyken.” The one word was anything but a greeting. “I suggest you step away from her.”
“Ye’re her date?” Confusion and anger vibrated through Callum’s voice.
“No, she is my Chosen.” Adrik’s voice was low and calm.
Why in the hell does this shit happen to me?
“Bluidy hell. You have got to be fooking kidding me!”
“I think not. Now if you don’t step away from my female,
wolf
, I might have to shed some blood.” There was deadly intent in Adrik’s voice.
Kayla would not let them fight. Callum just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. She wasn’t going to watch two people fight over her
again
. “This is ridiculous, Adrik. I think
you both
are blowing this out of proportion.”
Callum looked behind his shoulder at her and raised an eyebrow. He held his hands up and stepped away from her. She let out a breath, thankful at least one of them was being rational. She looked at Adrik, his gaze still on Callum, his eyes changing from black to blue.
Kayla grabbed her purse and shut the door quickly. “Thank you for the offer, Callum, but I’m sorry.”
He smirked at her. His green eyes went to Adrik again, and she tensed. “Ye’re a lucky male,
vampire
.”
Adrik smiled broadly, which did nothing but showcase his fangs. “I know.”
Chapter 16
Callum bowed at the waist and headed toward his truck. She watched him leave and felt herself sag in relief when his truck pulled away. She turned her attention back to Adrik, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Adrik?” It took him a second before he responded. “Is everything okay?”
“No.” That one word was filled with hatred. He looked down at her. Whatever he saw in her expression made his whole demeanor change. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t act this way, especially not in front of you. I guess I’m just too possessive for my own good.” He smirked.
Although she didn’t condone fighting, she couldn’t deny the thrill of excitement she got at the knowledge that Adrik wanted her all to himself.
He led her to the SUV and helped her in. His big hands slipped smoothly around her waist and sent heat through her whole body. He was around to the driver’s side and in his seat before she could blink.
She let her eyes roam down his long, hard body. The simple tee he wore molded to his huge muscles. She swallowed and licked her lips, aware that he hadn’t started the vehicle.
“Is everything okay?” Her heart pounded as he turned and stared at her. The blue of his eyes seemed to glow in the darkened car.
“Your scent has saturated everything.”
She swallowed again, her cheeks becoming red as embarrassment flooded her. His words had sounded lazy, dreamy almost, as she watched him scan her body with his gaze. She shifted uneasily in her seat, knowing she was wet just from looking at him.
“What does it smell like?” The words just flowed out of her mouth, and she instantly wished she hadn’t said them.
“Like nothing I’ve ever smelt before. Like the sweetest flower or the finest aged wine.”
His eyes still roamed over her as he spoke. Kayla got wetter. He inhaled and closed his eyes. The soft groan that came from him made her hotter. Her nipples tingled, and her clit throbbed. Could she honestly wait until they got to his place?
They stared at each other for a moment. He ever so slightly leaned in until she could feel his warm breath against her ear. “You intoxicate me, Kayla. I’m going to ravish you tonight.”
A little noise left her. He started the vehicle and pulled out, their breathing ragged as he drove off.
Thirty minutes later, the SUV pulled into the gravel driveway in front of Adrik’s cabin. They both got out of the car and made their way toward the cabin. Once inside, she shut the door behind her and walked to where Adrik was lighting a few candles on the dining room table. She smiled even though he couldn’t see her. The table was dressed elegantly.
He took a step back and went into the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry. Although, I haven’t cooked in ages, so if you don’t like it, we can go out.” He opened the oven, and a delicious aroma wafted out. “I thought eating in would be more quiet and relaxing.”
“You actually cooked dinner for me?” She leaned against the island and watched as he pulled out aluminum-covered dishes from the oven. “I can’t believe you actually cooked dinner and left to come pick me up.”
He turned around, confusion clear on his face. “Why would you come to me?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, weren’t you worried your house could have burnt down leaving the oven on like that?”
He laughed, a rich and deep sound that made her heart stutter. “I wasn’t worried about leaving the oven on. I wanted to make sure you got here safely.” He set the rag on the counter and turned toward her. “Besides, I love seeing you. It feels like forever since I’ve seen you.”
Again, her heart sped up at his words.
“Would you like something to drink? Perhaps a glass of
kvass
?”
“What is k-vahs?” She sounded the word out. It sounded much better coming from his lips, lips she was now staring at. He didn’t answer right away, and she brought her gaze to his—caught red-handed. Although from the look he was giving her, he didn’t mind.