Mated in Mist (20 page)

He stood and cupped her face, his wolf howling within. “I couldn’t see you die because of it. Don’t you understand? Every time I use a spirit, every time it slides through me, I weaken. I couldn’t let that happen to you. I don’t know what will happen when a bond forms. What if it gets worse? What if it
kills
you? I see death, little witch. What if death takes a new form with a mating bond? I’ve heard of gifts mutating before. I didn’t want to risk you.”

Leah let out a little growl. If he hadn’t been so sure the growl was because he’d hurt her, he’d have thought it was damn sexy.

“You don’t get to decide that, Ryder. But,
but
, I will forgive you. Only because life is hell and you had to live over a century burning in its flames. You didn’t know what to do with your gift, you weren’t trained. You didn’t know that as a water witch, I could help you maintain your control and find your peace. So I will forgive you. But you don’t get to keep secrets from me anymore. You can’t. When we decided to try to be together without the bond, I tried to understand. But now that I know why you pushed me away, I don’t know if I can be with you without the bond.”

He kissed her softly, his wolf scraping at him. “I want you, Leah. I want you in my life, in my bed. The goddess showed me what we could have, and I pushed it away because I didn’t understand. I didn’t know. Forgive me, Leah. Forgive me for risking everything because I thought I knew better.”

He was a dominant wolf and not good at groveling. He just prayed that what he’d done would be enough.

She kissed his jaw then ran her hands down his chest. “I’m your mate, Ryder. I’m not going away. With you I found out how to be the witch I needed to be. You made me safe, my wolf. You found me during the darkest part of my life and brought me to the light. Trust me and what the goddess gives us.”

“Be my mate, Leah. Be with me.” She nodded as he pressed his lips to hers, his wolf howling.

He didn’t know what would come next, what would happen once they mated, but he knew he couldn’t push her away any longer. The mating urge rode him hard, and frankly, he knew if he had to face a war with the humans and whatever battles happened with his Pack, he wanted Leah by his side…and in his heart.

She’d told him she could handle it, and he would have to trust the goddess. He’d never had that kind of faith before, but maybe, just maybe, it would work out.

Leah’s hand gripped him through his sweats and he groaned. “Get out of your head and get inside me, Ryder. I need you.”

He let out a deep chuckle then gripped her ass, grinding himself to her. “I can do that, little witch. I can fill you up and make you come so hard we’ll both be passed out, sated.”

“That’s a lot of talk, but not a lot of action.” She licked her lips then went to her knees. “Maybe I should show you just exactly what I’m talking about.” With that, she pulled him out of his sweats and pumped him hard.

He groaned, tangling his fingers in her hair. “Have I told you I love your mouth? You know exactly what to do with your tongue. I could fuck your mouth all day.”

She hummed along his length and rolled his balls in her palm. He let his head fall back as he slowly worked in and out of her mouth. She savored him as if she couldn’t get enough. When his balls tightened, he pulled out then lifted her up into his arms.

“I wasn’t done,” she said on a laugh as he stripped her down to her skin.

“I don’t want to come in your mouth first. I want to fill up that beautiful pink cunt of yours and mate. Does that sound like a plan? You ready for my cock in your pussy, little witch?”

He smacked her ass as she went silent, as if she were thinking. When she moaned, he smacked it again, rubbing the sting as her legs melted underneath her, even in his arms. She kissed his chin and he lowered his face, taking her mouth. They kissed softly, slowing increasing the fervor as their passion ignited. Together, they laid on the carpet, the thickness soft and sensual against their skin.

He kissed up and down her body, licking at her nipples, suckling as she moaned underneath him. When he parted her thighs to check her readiness, he let out a growl of his own.

“You’re so wet for me, little witch. Did you like my cock in your mouth? Did that turn you on?”

“I
loved
your cock in my mouth,” she teased. “But I’m going to love to have your cock in my cunt even more.”

He growled at her dirty words and moved so he hovered over her, his cock at her entrance. “Do you know what comes next?” She winked at him, and he laughed. He never thought to mate with another, and he damn sure didn’t think he’d laugh and have
fun
with his mate during their mating bond. Leah was perfect for him, and he’d kick himself until the end of days for taking so long. “I meant the mating, little witch.”

She nodded and arched up against him, her nipples pressing into his chest. “Yes. You’ll fill me and come, connecting our human halves. Then you’ll bite my shoulder, marking me as yours for all to see and mating your wolf to my witch.”

He kissed her softly. “Perfect, darling.”

“Can I bite you, too?” She sounded almost shy.

He growled again and reached down to hold the base of his cock so he wouldn’t come at her words. “You can bite me all you want. I will proudly wear your mark.”

She licked her lips and met his gaze. As she sucked in a breath, he slowly, oh so slowly, entered her. His hands roamed her breasts and arms as hers did the same to his back. He worked in and out of her, loving the way her pussy clenched around him when he reached a certain spot. Their tongues tangled as they kissed, their bodies sweat-slick as they made love.

When his fangs elongated, Leah tilted her head, baring her neck for him. His wolf howled as he slowly bit into the meaty part of her shoulder where it met her neck. He’d heard from others that it wasn’t a painful bite, but he was still as gentle as he could possibly be. This was his mate, and he didn’t want to hurt her in any way.

As soon as he slid his teeth in fully and bit, he felt the first part of the bond slide into place. Leah gasped, and he moved his mouth from her shoulder, licking the wound. His wolf prowled inside him, eager to complete the bond yet almost at peace with what had happened. She was a warm part of him for eternity now, and he couldn’t wait to finish the bond.

He tilted his head to the side, and she kissed his neck. Though he kept moving in and out of her, he tried not to move too quickly and startle what was happening between them. When she bit down on his shoulder he shuddered, his wolf pressing into him in bliss.

“Fuck, little witch. You’re mine,” he bit out.

She kissed up his neck then took his mouth. “And you’re mine. Now fuck me, my wolf. Make me yours in truth.”

He pressed a hard kiss to her mouth then lifted her ass slightly as he angled his thrusts, pumping in and out of her until her breasts bounced and his body ached. She pinched her nipples and licked her lips, smiling as he reached up and cupped her breasts. He couldn’t stop touching her, couldn’t stop needing her.

When his balls tightened, he lowered himself and kissed her again, not losing his rhythm. “Come for me, little witch. Come around my cock.”

He angled his hips just right and her pussy clenched around him. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and he grinned as she came. When she looked back at him, he pumped hard once more then came.

The mating bond between then clamped shut, a warm burst of lightning and tingles down his spine. He
felt
her soul.
Felt
her magic within him. The water in the glass on the counter near them floated into the air and swirled around them, mixing with the magic of the bond between them. The spirits quieted for the first time in longer than he could remember, and he fell to the carpet, rolling and bringing her with him, his cock still deeply inside of her.

“Holy goddess,” Ryder whispered.

“That…that was…yeah.”

No words, he thought. There were no words. He had his mate in his arms and in his soul. The mating bond flared between them, a pulse of love, passion, and connection he’d never thought possible.

The goddess had blessed him with a woman who not only fought back but also fought
for
him. Now that he’d given in to the temptation of a future, he knew he’d do whatever it took to keep it.

Leah was his mate, his heart.

And now he’d prove it to her, to him, to everyone.

For eternity.

Once again, Leah found herself standing in front of the Coven, yet this time, she felt no true fear, only anticipation laced with worry. The man that had tried to take her life after giving it to her in the first place lived no longer. The gnawing ache that had once come with the presence of Luis and Darynda was no more.

Ryder hadn’t wanted her to come to the Coven meeting with him and the other wolves, though he hadn’t voiced as much. She’d
felt
it through the mating bond. She still couldn’t believe they’d mated. It had once seemed like a dream, or at least something so farfetched it would never happen, but now it was reality.

While she understood why Ryder had pushed her away for so long, she also knew it would take longer than an evening of pure passion for her to get over the idea of being left behind because of it. He might not have known what to do with his powers or how they would affect her in the long run, but he hadn’t given her a choice in the matter.

She’d forgiven him for it all because she loved him, but she wouldn’t forget what had happened anytime soon. If she were to do so, she might forget how hard she’d worked to get where she was, and forget what it had taken to make that happen.

The bond between them flared, and she held back a gasp. She looked to her left at her mate, her
mate
, and gave him a slight nod. When he reached out and gripped her fingers, she squeezed his hand back. Before, showing any form of attachment would have only painted a target on his back. Now that wasn’t the case. The dangers weren’t gone completely, not even close, but the main one she had worried about all her life was. Now the idea of a mate, someone who would have her back and cherish her wasn’t a burden, but something to be celebrated. She wouldn’t have to protect him from her past, but rather, they would protect each other in their future.

Together they were stronger than they ever had been before.

Ryder gave her a slight smile, and the bond pulsated once again. She knew they were in the middle of the mating heat, and if they hadn’t needed to meet with the Coven to deal with the Humans First problem, they’d be in bed—or on the floor—right now.

She couldn’t wait to get Ryder home and strip him down so she could lick up every inch of him. And boy how many inches that man had in certain places.

Brandon let out a small cough, and Leah blushed. She’d forgotten the Omega stood to her right. The Omega who could not only scent her arousal but
feel
her emotions.

As Ryder’s mate, she was Pack. She was officially a Talon. She’d been so enraptured with the mating bond and Ryder’s body inside hers, she’d completely missed the snap of the Pack bond going into place. When she’d woken from her sex-hazed fog, she’d felt the first stirrings of the Pack bond, as well as those of being the Heir’s mate. It would take a while to get used to, but she would. Eventually.

However, that meant she needed to focus on the here and now and focus on whatever the hell was going on between the Pack and the Coven instead of giving Brandon a show with her emotions.

That morning, after a wonderful post-mating shower that had including another bout of mating because, dear goddess, she couldn’t keep her hands off of him, Brandon had called to let them know the Coven had requested their presence.

Or rather, what was left of the Coven. As it hadn’t been a summons like the previous time the witches had wanted to speak with them, Leah was a little more hopeful on the outcome of this meeting.

The Talons had brought Ryder, Brandon, and herself. The Redwoods had Finn, Drake, Charlotte, and Bram. Charlotte had requested to be there for Leah’s sake, and Leah was grateful. Bram, Leah figured, was there for Charlotte. Not that the two looked ready to talk about what the hell was going on with them yet.

And that was how they found themselves, once again, in an older building on neutral ground. They weren’t meeting in the previous one, as it had been compromised thanks to Luis. The Coven’s numbers had grown since the last time they’d been there, as well, and that was something Leah needed to know more about.

Not all witches were evil, power-hungry, elitist snobs, far from it, but Luis and Darynda hadn’t shown that to the Packs.

“Thank you for coming,” the pregnant witch finally said. “I’m Amelia, an air witch and the new leader of the Coven.” She gave them a self-deprecating smile. “We’re in limbo at this point with our leadership.”

Ryder tilted his head, looking so much like a wolf she had to hold back a smile of her own. “We’re here because the problem hasn’t gone away. Humans First, the government, and countless others don’t understand our people, and the lack of knowledge leads to dangerous times.”

Amelia nodded and looked around at her fellow witches before landing her gaze on Leah. “The Coven has made mistakes. Not all of them were made with the knowledge of the Coven, but we allowed Luis and Darynda to rule us for far too long.”

“They threatened our families,” another witch said from Amelia’s side. He was younger than Luis had been, as were many of the current members in front of Leah.

Amelia’s jaw tightened. “We will not allow that to happen again. We are a peaceful people. Do no harm. That is the first rule of being a witch, and yet, some of the former members of the Coven didn’t seem to understand that. We might be in the middle of a transition within our own borders, but we know there is more at stake than who rules a coven and what happens within our people.”

Ryder nodded. Leah knew the Talons understood this better than anyone. Their change might have happened over a decade ago, but they were still feeling the aftermath of that hierarchy shift. That was what happened when one lived hundreds of years.