Authors: Aliyah Burke
Sweet hell, she almost came again from that passion drenched statement.
“You’re wrong. In fact, leave me alone until you have the papers.”
Dyana walked away. It was her fault, she was the one who took the leap to kiss him. Hands down this was one of the hardest things she had to do given the way her body clamored for more.
At least I know that it’s not an act how the man kisses.
“Where are the papers, Paps?” Casimir paced back and forth in his grandparents’ large kitchen. His wolf was alert and pissed for leaving Dyana.
Christ, he could still feel her curves pressed against hm. Her breast tight to his chest. How firm her legs held him as he pressed her against the wall of his cabin. The sweet, earthy, all too intoxicating scent of her arousal.
His fangs slid free and he struggled to retract them. The pack,
his
pack, filled the air with their music. Not even that magic could wrest his attention from the need running over him.
“So there was a mix-up. What’s the harm in having your wife around?”
“We don’t do mix-ups.”
“She doesn’t belong,” his grandmother snarled. “She should leave.”
Casimir whirled on her, a dangerous rumble ripping free of him. “
She
is your alpha. I meant what I said out there earlier. You go after her and I view it as an attack on me. If you issue that challenge remember I only fight to the death.”
She blanched and backed away. He accepted it wasn’t easy for her. She’d expected to remain in power much longer. Alone with his grandfather, he resumed pacing. The old man had willingly stepped down.
“Why?”
“Huh?” the crazy old man asked.
“Why demand she come here knowing the papers were somewhere else?”
His blue eyes sparkled. “Consider it necessary.”
“Necessary for what? I went, I found her to divorce her, not bring her in to play my alpha for a week.”
Paps stirred his coffee. “She’s not playing anything. She is the Alpha bitch. If you are looking to divorce her perhaps you should stop smelling like her.”
“Forget it.” He stomped to the door needing to run. “I want them here ASAP.”
Paps merely waved him on, completely unperturbed by his anger. Given how the old man had been Alpha before he shouldn’t be surprised, but it never failed to throw him.
Outside he shed his human form and took in the night from his wolf’s perspective. Everything was magnified. Sounds. Scents. His ears pivoted at the first howl. Trotting to the trees, he allowed them to swallow him up before he tipped his head back and howled.
His pack answered him. From all corners of his territory. Not just pack but wild wolves as well. He stretched out and began to run. Kraven’s tan wolf joined him and together they increased their speed, bounding over fallen logs as if they weren’t even there. More joined and soon fifteen of his pack ran along the river snaking its way through his territory.
A wolf ran beside him and he snarled when the familiar markings of Jetje’s sable tried to nip his neck. A move she’d done plenty of times in the past but today he wanted no part of it. She fell back but ran ahead of some others. After all, she was also a lieutenant of the pack.
They split off in their own directions after a while and he found himself approaching the cabin Dyana had been placed in. His wolf urged him inside to reawaken the passionate woman who hid behind a shell of uncaring attitude. The one who worked his last nerve with how she called him ‘hoss.’ The one who was weakened by injury.
The one who made him nearly come in his pants with that kiss. The one who’d made him lose control in a way Jetje couldn’t come close to. Hell, one kiss and he was ready to mark her.
He paused by the tree line and stared. The living room light was on but he couldn’t see her. Sense her? Sure. But no visual reparation for his craving.
Casimir walked away and shifted as he stepped up on his porch. The cabin was a good distance away but he could see it with his eyesight. The lone light snuffed out and he rested his hands on the railing of his porch. Was she in bed? Was she naked? Were her fingers plunging between those powerful thighs, becoming coated in her cream?
A sharp crack snapped his wanderings and he swore. “I just splintered my damn railing.”
He entered his house, slamming the door behind him and striding to his bedroom. After he showered he pulled on a pair of sweats and headed to get some food. As he heated a large plate of food he realized she’d only had a salad.
If she were here I could make sure she ate.
He was at the front door ready to head down there when Kraven stepped to the door and knocked.
Yanking open the door, he faced his second in command. “What, Kraven?”
“We need to discuss your protection,” he said, pushing into the house.
“Kraven,” he rumbled. “I’m not in the mood.”
“You never are but that’s why you have me. I’ve assigned Irina and Traver to your wife. I don’t want Jetje on you because I think she’ll be distracted. I’m on you as well as Jensen, Dylan, and Tora.”
He narrowed his eyes. Kraven shook his head.
“Don’t start, Alpha. I am dead serious about keeping you safe.”
For that reason alone, Casimir didn’t continue to argue. “Why Tora and not Jetje?”
“I told you. Jetje may be distracted and I’d never put her on your mate.”
“But you put Traver there.” His voice had gone wolf.
“I put him there because he’s mated and is steadfast in his devotion to you. He’ll keep her safe.”
Or die trying
were the unspoken words.
Casimir sat down in the living room, food before him, and ate. Kraven declined any but sat with him.
“Jetje will have to be spoken with.” Kraven hooked his ankles. “I know you want her as your mate, however, until that time arrives she needs to stop being so hard on everyone. She’s not Alpha yet.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’ll have a chat with her. How are talks going with Silva clan? It would do us good to have the leopards as allies.”
“Things are coming along. I’m optimistic. Let’s face it and call a spade a spade. Relations between us have been stressful. The misbehaving pups or Jetje’s attitude toward them haven’t made any of it go easier. Then there is your reputation and the fact that the leopards are just so damn secretive.”
“We need the alliance. I also want you to find a way to contact the Eagle clan. Humans know about us and for the most part there aren’t issues. But they are weak to us and that knowledge can create fear. We may need the other shifters as our allies also.”
Kraven sat forward. “Eagle? How do you propose I do that? Hell, they may not even exist anymore.”
He swallowed. “They exist. My mate is friends with one.”
His black brow rose with a quirk of his lips. Casimir scowled. “Mate now? I see she’s moved up.” Kraven held out his hands. “I’ll ask her. See if she will give me some help.”
“I’ll ask,” he growled.
“No offense, man, but she doesn’t seem to like you in the slightest. Perhaps I can get somewhere.”
He trusted Kraven more than anyone in the world. The man was resolute, yet even so he didn’t want him around his wife. It rankled him to the point near anger to think she may like Kraven better.
“Leave her alone.”
Kraven didn’t push it and their talk turned to the cubs and how they were coming along. When Kraven headed to his home, Casimir shifted and headed out to patrol his land. He missed the fertile soil beneath his paws. As he neared one border he slowed as a familiar scent penetrated his nostrils the smell around him—and his wife—since he arrived in Georgia. The one which lingered after the bombings.
His ears flattened back as he kicked into protective mode. Fully alert he tracked the scent to a small clearing where it disappeared.
He retraced his steps twice more only to end up with the same result.
How the hell did he vanish?
More importantly who was this person and what were they doing here?
The sun had risen and he’d summoned some of his lieutenants to the first place he’d scented it. They were all dressed in a variety of attire but all were extremely capable.
“This scent. Do any of you recognize it?”
Everyone aside from Tora replied in the negative. She didn’t comment, just crouched to the heels of her black boots, touched the ground, then sniffed her fingers.
“It holds a masking agent. I have smelled him around town before.” She rose with her soft spoken statement. “I will find him.”
Tora was one of his best. She epitomized silent and deadly. He shared a glance with Kraven then focused back on her. She hadn’t moved, waiting for him.
“By your leave, Alpha.”
“Go.” The order fell. She pivoted. “Tora,” he said moments before she vanished from sight. “I want him alive.”
She was gone, the slight head incline nigh invisible but he knew she would follow his orders.
“Dismissed.” The others but Kraven and Jetje left.
He held up his hand to Kraven and went to her. “What?”
“Can you come for breakfast?” Her voice pitched low.
“No. I am still bound to Dyana.” She scowled and he arched a brow. “Show respect for her.”
Jetje splayed a hand over his chest. “I miss you is all.” She leaned closer, nails digging in. “The way you fuck me with your thick cock. Your tongue in my pussy. The way you pull my hair as you fuck my ass.” She licked her lips. “Tell me you don’t miss it as well.”
“Surly you have duties to attend.” He walked away without a look back.
Kraven chuckled as he leaned against the tree. “She’s never going to forgive you for that.”
He shrugged.
“You don’t care, do you?”
“No. Why did no one else pick up on the masking agent?”
They began walking.
“No fucking clue. Tora’s always been hellacious with her nose.”
“I smelt it sparingly and if they put it on the explosives it explains why I didn’t catch it and was unable to save her friends.”
“This means you’re again a target.”
“I’m always one. Comes with the territory.”
“You’re spoiling for a fight.”
“I don’t like those too scared to face me. You want my pack, try to take it.” Kraven made a noncommittal grunt. Casimir arched a brow. “What?”
“Just seems you’re a bit more upset because Dyana was in danger.”
“She’s under my protection.”
“Right,” Kraven drawled. “She’s not worthy because she’s weak.” He melted from view into the surrounded trees.
“Exactly,” Casimir muttered sarcastically.
Then he strode off in the direction of that very woman.
αβ
Dyana sat on the rock overlooking the crevice which housed a racing stream. Other than in Ireland she’d never seen such incredible shades of green. The air was cool and, unlike Georgia, not humid. She rested her chin on her right knee.
“I miss y’all.”
Her heart still overflowed with pain. None of them had family aside from each other. Now she was alone. Tears fell and she just waited until there were no more left to fall.
“I don’t know who you are but you may as well show yourself.”
One moment nothing, then a large man was before her. Another she recognized from the short stint at the party. Tall, broad-shouldered with dark brown hair that sat close cropped to his head. His gray shirt hugged him tight as did his jeans. She found startling green eyes on him.
“I’m going to assume since I’m still breathing you’re not here to kill me.”
He moved closer, harsh features softening only slightly.
“I’m here to protect you. I’m Traver.”
“Why do I need protection? Thought he said I was safe.”
“We don’t control all of the wild animals.” He walked closer and crouched beside her, also overlooking the view. “How do you like it here?”
“You have beautiful land, that’s for sure.” She shifted on the rock, putting her leg down.
“Would you like to explore and see more?”
She sliced her gaze to him, finding a tattoo mark on his ring finger. He flexed that hand and smiled at her.
“Rings don’t shift so I have this tattoo for my wife and I. She has one like it. Many of us do this in lieu of actual rings.”
It made sense. She rose and flexed her left leg, trying to loosen it up. He didn’t push her, waited and allowed her to set the pace.
A desire to run poured through her and she sighed as she shook it off. Traver pointed out things while they continued on. Whatever her relationship with the man who oversaw all of this, she could definitely say he had a beautiful place.
Even so, Ranger’s warning moved through her mind. He’d killed his own brothers. Where were his parents? What happened to them?
And—truly—did she wish to know?
“What do you do?” he asked as they strolled along.
Dyana decided to like him.
At least it’s not that bitch he’s been fucking who’s supposed to watch my back.
“I’m a professional archer.”
He gazed at her, head cocked to the side. “And you travel to compete?”
“I do. All over.”
He grinned suddenly, morphing from serious to happy go lucky in a heartbeat. “I understand Rainie now and her enthusiasm. She has wanted to do that since she could comprehend what a bow was.”
“Good for her.”
“Does your limp make it harder?”
She halted one eyebrow jacking up high on her face. “Excuse me?”
He didn’t appear ashamed. “I’m wolf. We’re blunt. Does my question offend you?”
“Hell yes. One, my limp is none of your damn biz. And two, if it bothered me so much I wouldn’t do it in a professional capacity and make my living that way.” Her drawl thickened and she seriously reconsidered her decision to like him.
“I suppose it was rude.”
She snorted. “Ya think?”
“Well, I apologize.”
“Whatever. I have some things to do so I shall head back.”
He pointed to the left. “Go straight and you will be at your cabin in a very short time. I’ll follow at a distance.”
“Sure.” She headed off only to stop and turn back. “Thank you, for everything.”
Her leg wasn’t as sore as she’d expected it to be from the distance she’d covered. At the cabin door she paused before entering. Her skin burned and she felt flushed, horny.