Authors: Aliyah Burke
“Yes, Ranger.” She didn’t seem to have heard them.
“You alone?”
“Nope. Travelling to Washington with a Casimir Lars to take care of some paperwork.”
“Casimir Lars?”
“Yes. Apparently my grandparents did some things which I have to undo and whatnot. Nothing important.”
Casimir sat up full and tapped his fingers on one thigh. Who was this Ranger? Did he have feelings toward his wife? Not important? Seriously?
“Be careful, babe. I’ll see you in California.” A warning rumble reached him and it took everything in him not to respond in kind. He was an alpha and didn’t respond well to threats.
“I will be and yes, see you there.” Their call disconnected.
“Who is he to you?” Casimir demanded.
“None ya.”
He angled his head to the side. “None ya?”
“None ya damn business.”
“Tell me.” His words fell on a low thread of command. The tone he used and received instant obedience from his pack.
“No.”
“No?”
What is it about her that makes her have little to no regard for my orders?
“I get it. You’re used to this instant compliance”—she whipped around a large RV who had a child’s face pressed up against a window—“from your pack. But you came to me—got that order—you came to me for a divorce. I’m not pack.”
“You’re my wife.” The words were on the far side of dangerous.
She shrugged nonchalantly. “Whatever. That’s going to be rectified for you in a couple days.”
His wolf bared its teeth and growled low in displeasure. Casimir agreed. He glanced at the mirror and frowned. His fangs had begun to descend. He unclenched his fists and took deep, calming breaths.
“Tell me what that leopard shifter is to you.” He was proud he managed to do it with a calm voice.
“No.”
“I really dislike that word.”
She gave an amused chuckle. “Get used to it.” She turned up the music and pressed the accelerator.
That night they stayed—at his insistence—in a hotel with suites. He walked to hers and opened the door after knocking but receiving no response. Music from Two Steps From Hell filled the room.
“Dyana?”
He approached the bathroom and froze. She stood there in various stages of dress. Or undress. Lust slammed him hard enough to rock him back.
Her pink bra matched her boy shorts. Both were one hell of a contrast to her darker skin. Even his wolf had come to attention.
Go to her,
his beast encouraged.
She is ours.
“Something you need, hoss?”
Her voice stroked him to an even harder state. He blinked and found her tying off the drawstring of her pants. She wasn’t shy and approached him. For a second he compared her to Jetje. His future mate would have been all about seduction with each step. Dyana? Not so much.
“Cat got your tongue?” A blink. “Or a dog in your case?” Her accent was thick and syrupy.
“You didn’t answer.”
She walked by him close enough to tease and tantalize, or to touch should he move a fraction, but there was no contact. He pivoted and watched her shrug into her shirt.
“Didn’t hear you.”
She rubbed her left leg and he barely stopped the sneer. This time, however, his wolf didn’t give his agreement.
“Room service is here.” He stalked out before doing something stupid like kissing his own wife.
αβ
Dyana gazed around, the beauty, majesty, all of it called to her in ways she didn’t understand. Following Casimir’s directions, she pulled up to a large two story and parked.
She exited her car after he did. Dyana watched him surreptitiously from behind her shades. He loved it here, that was easy to see. She also noticed how serious he was now.
Not like he’d been a barrel of laughs before.
The front door slammed and she watched a young one of about three come running toward him. Casimir didn’t hesitate, just swept him up and tossed him in the air a few times as childish laughter filled the air.
Anchoring the child to his hip, Casimir gave her a look she took to mean
follow
. She did, moving slowly. She swore there were people—ones she couldn’t see—watching her.
An older gentleman stepped out, his blue gaze running over both of them.
“Paps,” Casimir said. “Meet Dyana Vance.”
“Been a while, child.” The man waved her closer. His black hair had silver in it but she would bet he was still formidable. “Why are you no longer a Hunt?”
Odd question.
“Never have been. Name’s always been Vance.”
His sharp gaze narrowed. “Your grandparents—”
“Paps. It’s been a long drive.”
“Actually,” Dyana jumped in. “I’d just assume sign whatever it is and get on my way.”
“Go inside, Bryan.” Casimir said. The boy scampered off. “You will stay at least for the night.”
“No thanks. I’ll get a hotel in town if I must, but I was under the impression I was needed here for a signature. That indicates the papers are here and ready.” She despised being lied to.
“In such a rush to get to Ranger?” His question vibrated with danger.
“Not sure what business it is of yours, hoss. You want a divorce to marry someone else. And no offense, but since you’ve come into my life it’s gone to hell. My house was blown up and I lost my two best friends. Not to mention I was subjected to two others breaking into a motel room with what I can only assume was something nefarious. So the faster I’m away from you, the better.”
His eyes flashed and his jaw clenched. “Inside.” Tension vibrated that single world.
She bristled and held her positon. He tipped his head toward her and arched a brow.
Damn, he’s hot.
She couldn’t explain this increased attraction to him.
“Dyana.”
Lord help her, she felt that one in her clit. “I don’t take orders from anyone. You need to issue them, do so to your pack. Not me.”
He gripped her arm and pushed her forward. She wasn’t strong enough to stop him. He knew it. She knew it.
“Why do you feel the need to challenge me?” he hissed in her ear.
She held her tongue. A woman stepped into view who stared down her nose at Dyana.
“Marla.” Casimir’s voice gave her slight pause.
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Good to have my grandson home again. Jetje has been by often. She misses you.”
Must be the wife-to-be
. Dyana ignored her dislike of that nugget of knowledge.
“We were eating out back.” Paps held out his hand to her and Dyana took it, watching him cautiously. “The papers will be here in a week.”
A week? She gazed over her shoulder at Casimir, he met her gaze unflinchingly.
This is bullshit. I’m giving him a piece of my mind later.
Paps patted her arm and guided her out…into chaos. One which fell silent when they stepped out. Over twelve children who’d been playing froze. Close to three dozen adults walked around conversing who also stopped and watched her. A mix of people. All races, both genders.
She felt set up. Dyana was no stranger to being in front of large crowds and she tapped that for fortitude. Some looks were suspicious, very few welcoming, and many hostile.
Casimir stepped up beside her then walked down to his pack. A tall woman with jet black hair and a streak of white on the left side broke from the ground and approached him. And she couldn’t ignore her killer body, Dyana sighed as she realized this was the future wife.
Dyana refused to get emotional over a virtual stranger. Husband or no, he remained a stranger. Eventually, he walked out of view with another male.
“Dyana Vance?”
A young woman stood at her side. Blonde hair a gleam in the sun. Her large blue eyes wide with awe.
Releasing Paps, she smiled. “That’s me. And who are you?”
“I’m Rainie. I never knew my alpha’s mate was Dyana Vance.”
What little conversation which had resumed fell silent again. Rainie’s face turned bright red.
“She’s not his mate, you fool!”
“Sorry, Jetje,” Rainie blurted.
Dyana glanced up to see that tall woman approaching swiftly. The smack was out of nowhere and happened before she could register what was coming. Fury swarmed Dyana as Rainie’s slender body trembled.
Narrowing her gaze, Dyana inserted herself between the two females.
“Out of my way, human.”
She didn’t move. “Is it common in this pack to hit kids?”
Cold green eyes landed on her. “Our pack rules are none of your business. Get out of my way.”
“No.”
“I can kill you.”
Deep within her something stirred and she wanted to snap her teeth. “You can try. Shouldn’t get mad at her, though, for she speaks the truth.”
“About what?” Venom dripped from her words.
Ignoring those watching the altercation, Dyana sneered at the woman. “Her alpha. But you can call him my husband. Because, bitch”—she stepped closer to her—“until I sign those papers, he’s
mine.
And by that, it means I’m your alpha. So back the fuck off.”
Her hands went to fists. “Accidents happen around here.”
“I ‘spect they do.” She ran her gaze over the future Mrs. Lars. “What color is your wolf? I hope nothing pale or washed out like you. Mind you, I’m curious because I always wanted a wolf pelt.”
Jetje hissed.
“One last thing. Don’t
ever
hit a child in my presence again.” She turned her back, very deliberately, on the woman and lifted the girl’s face. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I follow you.” Her words were quiet and subdued.
Dyana understood. Her fingertips burned, as did her jaw. She knew an attack was imminent.
“Jetje!”
Casimir’s commanding voice cracked whip like through the air. Dyana ignored him. She wanted no part of their relationship issues. She moved Rainie to the side.
“You do?” she asked the girl, giving the little one her total attention.
“Yes. You’re amazing. I have my own bow.” A brilliant grin. “Would you like to see it?”
“I absolutely would.”
Three others came up, one an adult. Rainie’s mother if looks told the story.
Casimir had a difficult time controlling himself. He strode up to Jetje, eyes wolf, and got in her face.
“You dare threaten her?”
Jetje averted her gaze, well aware showing dominance would get her punished. “She’s nothing and she challenged
me
.”
His wolf cried for retaliation. Casimir didn’t understand why his wolf demanded blood.
“She is under
my
protection”—he lifted his head and gazed around—“and under the protection of this pack. My pack. So states the conditions set by Paps twenty-five years ago. Threaten her and I view it as one against me.” No one moved. He glared back at Jetje. “Are. We. Clear?”
“Yes, Alpha.” She ducked her head and backed away, shoving another in doing so.
His wolf gnashed his teeth and tore at his insides with his claws. Casimir ignored the disapproving glare from his grandmother and returned his attention to Dyana.
She stood off to the side with some of his pack. Rainie, her mother Bethany, and two other youngsters, Inno and her twin brother Tray. Dyana signed pieces of paper for all of them.
The cubs stared up at him with a bit of fear in their expression that faded. Bethany barely met his gaze. She was a true beta.
He stared at Rainie who couldn’t take her eyes off the signature she held.
“Why so excited, Rainie?”
Her grin, wide and pure, made his heart melt a bit. “She’s famous. And she’s my alpha.”
Yes,
his wolf howled.
Mine!
Famous? Who is she? And why was my wolf claiming her?
He lifted his head and saw Paps watching him. “Let me introduce you around.”
Dyana didn’t respond and he saw her talking to Inno, giving the typically shy girl her complete attention. Even when her phone rang she didn’t ignore the child.
“Thank you,” Bethany said, herding the children away.
“Come.”
“No.”
He faced her. “Do not challenge me, wife.”
“I have been here”—she glanced at her watch—“ten minutes and I find out I have to wait a week for the papers, and your bitch smacks a kid then threatens me.” She poked a finger in his chest. “You don’t want me as your wife. I don’t want you as my husband. You said the papers were here, now I have to wait? This is fucking bullshit, hoss.”
He backed her inside his grandparents’ house into a wall as the door slammed shut behind them. She continued to hold his gaze, unafraid for he scented no fear about her. Arousal? A completely different story.
“Do not ever challenge me.”
“You’re even more delusional than I first thought if you think I’m going to blindly follow your orders.”
He just reacted, a purely animalistic one. A reaction used on his pack, when she attempted to bypass him. It wasn’t to be cruel or mean, it was instinct to get her to submit. He was the Alpha.
Casimir clamped his hand around the nape of her neck, a warning snarl pouring from his lips. “Don’t you walk away—”
She whirled, smacking at his hand. “That shit may work with your
bitch
, but not me. Now take your fucking hand off me.”
They were close. Noses nearly touching and Casimir froze. This wasn’t him. She was human, not Pack, even if they were currently married.
“Don’t challenge me.” His words were nearly ineligible.
“This goes both ways, hoss. I’m not your servant.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t touch me.”
He could have let go. He
should
have let go. He didn’t. Casimir kissed her. Drew her to him so their chests touched and her breasts pressed into him.
She tasted like the freshest, juiciest watermelon in creation. It rolled over his taste buds and imbued into his soul. His hair stood on his arms and electricity shot through him. Lust followed hot on its heels.
He thrust his tongue past her teeth, need riding him harder than it ever had before. His wolf encouraged him along. Then,
then
she responded. Slight at first, her moan slid up from her throat and into him. His cock went rock hard.