Woven Fates

by Brandy L Rivers

  She caught his chin, forcing his gaze to hers. “Please, no more waiting.” Wrapping her hand around his hard dick, she stroked as she watched him.

  His hand glided down her body, cupping her aching sex. “You want me, you wait for me to make sure you’re ready.” He rubbed her bundle of nerves and her eyes slid shut. “Oh, that’s good.”

  Mark licked her nipple, sucking it into his hot mouth. One finger slid into her, sending tingles all the way through her body.

  “Please, Mark. Need you.”

  One more finger slipped into her, then his tongue flicked over her clit as he pumped faster. Pleasure reverberated, building, until that was all she knew. He lapped at her, making a pleased sound as she gripped his hair, wanting the sensation to continue.

  * * * *

  Mark knew Gina was his mate. She made a good point about this being her choice. He just hoped like hell Clint didn’t kill him when he found out they were mated before ever entering Edenton.

  He took one last taste of her sweet nectar and moved up her body. Her eyes were glazed over, the most gorgeous smile on her lips.

  No more waiting, he placed his crown at her entrance and slid in. Her walls squeezed tight and he knew this was it. “Mark,” she whispered.

  He found her end and dropped his lips to hers. She was his, there was no denying the truth.

  Gina delved her fingers into his hair as her body moved beneath him, urging him faster. The sounds she made proved she wanted him, and he gave up on holding back.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted.

  He rose up on his knees, pushing her legs back as he pushed harder and faster, watching her breasts move with each thrust. Nothing would ever be the same.

  The air shimmered, the wind sang. She reached for his thighs, her short nails sinking into his skin. He needed more contact and picked her up as he leaned back on his heels, guiding her over his cock.

  Her mouth collided with his and his long dormant magic sparked to life. She moved of her own accord, rolling her hips in a way that made him see stars. She was so damned good at that.

  “Gina, baby, you close?”

  She sucked under his ear, rocking faster. “There.” Her walls rippled, gripping tighter as she dripped down his shaft and balls. He could do nothing but follow as his beast flowed through him without shifting. Her wolf was right under the surface, rubbing against his.

  The bond snapped into place, and Gina clung to him, her breathing and heartbeat synced with his.

  Her emotion was love, pure, simple, and complete. His was the same. He knew that was how mating worked, but he wasn’t expecting it to be this strong so fast. Love wasn’t in his cards until they made eye contact.

  She looked into his eyes, her lips curved into a smile. “Mine.”

  “Mine,” he echoed and kissed her again. “I just hope everyone accepts it.”

  “They will. I promise.”

  * * * *

  Mark drove up to his home and couldn’t help smiling. “I suppose you don’t need the bedroom I prepared for you.”

  “I’m staying in your bed, Mark.” Her eyes shone with light. “And he’s going to be happy for us.”

  He looked up to find Clint leaning against the porch rail, his face a blank mask. Mark’s heart dropped. Didn’t stop him from going around to open Gina’s door.

  Clint visibly relaxed. “Good to see you two together.”

  Gina grinned. “Told you, Mark.”

  Mark shook his head as he helped her down. A blush crept up his face. Clint would notice, of course.

  “Sorry,” Clint offered. “I only wanted to make sure you both made it safely home. And I feel better knowing the bond is there, especially with her here.”

  “You aren’t worried I hurt her?”

  He laughed softly. “I saw how hard you fell when you saw her. I knew you would never harm Gina. Relax, Mark. I can just imagine you were trying to be the saint and wait. I’m glad you didn’t. Now, I need to go home. Emily is on her way.”

  “Tell her hi for me,” Gina said.

  Clint walked down the steps and touched her shoulder. “You sound more like I remember now.”

  “Because Mark makes me happy. And back then you did. But we grew up, and we need different things.” She hugged Clint. “None of it was your fault. You know that, right?”

  “I’m getting there. Seeing you now doesn’t make me want to hide in a corner anymore.”

  She smiled and touched his cheek. “I’m glad you’re happy, Clint. You found your mate, and I found mine.”

  Clint grinned. “We did, didn’t we?”

  She nodded.

  “Thanks for coming by.” Mark lifted a hand.

  “Later.” Clint turned, walking backward to wave.

  Letting out a breath, Mark opened the door and let her in. “Want a tour?”

  She whizzed inside. “I want to explore.”

  And he’d follow, content to watch as she took in her new home.

  Chapter 1

  Present time…

  Something called to Gina. She woke from her slumber with a start.

  Mark pulled her closer, murmuring something in his sleep. She let her eyes slip shut as his easy breathing lulled her toward sleep.

  Then she heard a gentle voice in her head. Find me, Gina. You know my voice.

  Pieces of her early childhood flashed in her mind. That voice was there, comforting her through the worst night she could remember.

  She’d been two or three, in a crib. Her father screamed and cried out in pain. Gina had opened her mouth to cry out and a voice sang a lullaby to her. One she didn’t understand. But that smooth, gentle voice took away the fear.

  Then something entered her room. Someone in a dark cloak, singing a song of darkness. Something sharp pressed against her skin and a drop of blood welled up.

  The song grew louder. Her magic was torn from her body, leaving her mortal.

  She blinked, trying to reach for the fading memory. What had she been? Did she know? Had they taken the magic as punishment?

  That doesn’t matter right now. Something is coming.

  Darkness entered her senses. Something close, but not too close.

  Keep him safe. Follow your senses.

  Fear danced along her mind. She slipped from Mark’s embrace and kissed his eyelids, wishing the magic that had once flowed through her veins was still there. Maybe she could do something to protect him without leaving his side.

  She pushed her fingers through the curls that reached her shoulders and pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top before sliding into a pair of shoes. Then she left, hoping to draw away the danger. Maybe she could lure it to Slater, a mage, maybe Fallon. Anyone who could do more than a pair of werewolves.

  Whatever danger she sensed wasn’t merely a beast. No, darkness oozed through the night, whispering to her, much like that night in her crib.

  She hurried through the quiet streets, trying to sense anyone awake who could do something. Something sharp slid into her throat, and darkness rolled in.

  The voice murmured. Trust that all will be well in the end.

  She didn’t have any idea what that meant.

  * * * *

  Mark bolted upright. Something was wrong. He reached for Gina, but she wasn’t there. “Gina?” He rubbed at his eyes.

  The bed was still warm from her body. Where the hell was she? She wasn’t in the bathroom. He closed his eyes and let his other senses reach for her.

  She wasn’t in the house.

  He yanked on clothes. He sensed her, moving away. Where the hell was she going? Sprinting, he moved through the night, tracking her movement.

  Then panic flared as everything went black.

  He came to a few seconds later on his hands and knees on the side of the street. She was moving away fast but unconscious. He bolted in her direction.

  Mark collided with someone and caught them before they lan
ded on the ground.

  Delilah. “You okay?”

  She growled, her eyes glowing golden like her wolf’s. “Vampires took Christian.” A snarl escaped. “And Tyrone.”

  “Tyrone?” Mark asked. He didn’t have a damned clue who that was, which meant he wasn’t a wolf.

  “Human.” That explained it all. She pulled at her hair. “He’s gone. Can’t feel him now. Fuck.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her apartment. “Calling Robert.”

  Mark shook his head. “Preston’s better. He might be able to track them.”

  Delilah glanced over her shoulder. “Robert will bring Preston.”

  Mark reached for his phone, but he’d left it back at the house. Besides, she was right. Robert and Preston always worked together.

  Delilah put the phone to her ear. “We have a problem. Christian’s gone. Bring Preston. We need to find them.” She paused for a moment. “Yeah, Mark’s here. Gina’s gone too. All I know is it has to do with vampires.”

  She put the phone down. “He’ll be here with Preston.”

  Mark sniffed, then closed his eyes and breathed in the scent.

  Two different vampires.

  No struggle. Not even fear. Just a deep sadness, but that wasn’t Christian’s scent.

  He turned to Delilah. “What the hell happened?”

  Her eyes flashed gold again. “My dumbass mate knew something and sent me away.”

  Mark caught her shoulders. “Relax. We’ll find them.” He had to find Gina. She’d been through hell and couldn’t remember it. He didn’t want her to go through hell now.

  “Should have protected her.” He backed up and dropped onto a chair. “Damn me to hell.”

  “What happened?” Delilah asked.

  He shook his head. “Woke up and she was gone.”

  Delilah pulled the coffee table over and sat down in front of him. She lifted his chin. “Where was she?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. Her trail disappeared about two blocks from here. Maybe she went on a walk. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Maybe she sensed something?” Delilah offered.

  Mark sat back and pushed his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know. She’s been through so much. I need to find her.”

  “We will,” Robert said.

  Normally he heard a pop when the mage translocated, but not that time. Granted he was distracted, trying to reach for his connection to Gina. He couldn’t feel a damned thing.

  “What’s going on?”

  “My guess?” Preston said. “The same vampires that have been taking Others from Seattle and the surrounding area took them.”

  “Why haven’t you stopped them?” Mark demanded.

  “We’re working on it,” Robert assured.

  “How big is this group?”

  Robert shook his head. “This is bigger than Yuri and Blood Bound. They’re older, better organized, and know how to hide. But we have someone working their way inside.”

  “Amelia?” Delilah shook her head and paced away. “She’s barely a vampire.”

  Mark bit his tongue. He’d seen Amelia sparring with Clint a while back, and she could take care of herself.

  “She’s smart, resourceful, and more powerful than anyone of us would have imagined,” Robert explained.

  “I hope you’re right. Now tell me what we are doing?” Delilah demanded.

  Preston touched her shoulder. “You need to relax for the moment. We have someone working their way inside the group. Until we know where everyone is, there is nothing you can do.”

  “I was afraid of that,” Delilah muttered.

  “There has to be something.” Mark turned to Robert. The one who has been in both Clint’s head and Gina’s. He knew more than any of them what she’d been through if he could piece any of it together.

  “Mark, I know you’re worried, but we’ll get her back. You need to relax. I don’t need feral wolves running around looking for their mates when we’re already doing everything we can to get everyone out safely.”

  “Safely?” Mark growled, stepping forward.

  Robert’s brow arched. “Yes, safely. There are many Others being held. We need to do what we can to get them all out. Don’t panic yet. There was no struggle here, and no struggle where Gina was taken.”

  “But shit went wrong for the vampires at Dane’s place where they took Dominique,” Preston added.

  “What do you mean?” Delilah asked.

  “She’s a leprechaun. You don’t piss them off without expecting some bad luck. They were bleeding when they left. Though she’s not much of a fighter.”

  Robert shook his head and sighed. “Why don’t you call Dane, and work with Slater, see if there is anything extra you can do,” Robert suggested.

  Delilah snarled. “You seriously aren’t going to let us in on this?”

  “Not right now. You have a right to be angry, to be scared, frustrated, whatever,” Robert stated. “However, until I have more information, there is nothing you can do.”

  “Right.” Delilah sank down beside Mark.

  “We’ll talk to you later,” Robert said and disappeared with Preston.

  Mark turned to Delilah. “Guess we call Slater and Dane.”

  “Don’t see another option.” Delilah flopped into a chair. “He better know what he’s doing,”

  “Christian?”

  She nodded, a tear sliding down her face. “He sent me away on purpose. Stupid bastard.”

  “You said that.”

  “Maybe that’s why Gina left. Maybe she knew something?”

  “I don’t have a clue what she knew,” Mark admitted.

  Chapter 2

  Dark thoughts drifted through Gina’s head, a deep voice that didn’t belong. She couldn’t understand a word but felt the menace. She opened her eyes and sat up, but the world spun.

  She leaned against something hard and unyielding. Felt like stone.

  There was little light and nothing in the empty room except a door. She could hear people nearby, but not with her. The truly scary part was not knowing what the hell was going on.

  Then she realized she felt completely alone for the first time since Mark made love to her, binding them together.

  He’s alive, the kind voice whispered. The one who told her it would be all right.

  “Where am I?” she whispered.

  Hidden.

  She closed her eyes. “Who are you?”

  A friend who will protect you. And more importantly, your mate. Something truly dark and evil is coming for him.

  “What is?”

  Relax, dear one. Trust me when I say I will give you the means to demolish his darkest threats.

  Gina didn’t know what that meant. She scooted up the wall and touched her neck where she’d felt the punctures. Two scabs.

  Vampire? Would explain how she wound up there, unaware. Maybe why she couldn’t sense Mark.

  Dark magic is blocking your connection to your mate. That will evaporate soon enough. You will be back in his arms before you know it.

  Tears filled her eyes. Would he understand her need to protect him?

  Don’t cry, dear one. I won’t leave your side.

  Who spoke to her? It wasn’t the dark voice she couldn’t understand. No, the woman offered nothing but love. And she didn’t know why.

  * * * *

  By noon, Mark was ready to tear his hair out. They all went to his house since he had the most room. The enforcers, Alpha, Delilah, and Dane. Plus one witch. Aliya, whose boyfriend had been taken the same night.

  His skin crawled like it usually did when he was around witches. He’d been one in his youth, but his wife had attempted to sacrifice his soul to a doppelganger.

  At least that’s what Tremaine had explained to him. He’d begged the mage to take him somewhere and help him get rid of his magic. Barely twenty at the time, he`d been married two year
s. That was fifty years ago, and he’d been so naïve and foolish.

  His wife had let something into their home to sap his energy, magic, and essence. The weaker he became, the more the other creature looked like him. A doppelganger, according to Tremaine.

  Only a few of his coven knew anything was wrong. And none of them were willing to contact the Silver Council or anyone else who could have helped. So he called the enforcers and was lucky enough to have Tremaine and his group assigned.

  Other than Tremaine, none of the mages recognized him when they moved into Edenton. Then again, by the time they had shown up, he’d lost most of his coloring, shrunk several inches, and was losing muscle mass. His hair had grown dull and colorless, his eyes fading to gray. The last day he answered to the name Anders played through his head.

  His wife, Kindra, walked toward him. She wore a cruel smile as she patted her rounded belly. Some part of him should have felt something more than disgust and pity for his first love, but she helped the creature take his place.

  As for the child growing in her womb, he couldn’t be certain he was his. Strange creatures were seen in the woods shortly before he learned of her pregnancy. The little people. Small in stature, gray hair, gray eyes, wrinkly skin. They looked like small ancient humans, but they smelled of death and decay.

  Only Mark recognized what was going on. The small gray creatures looked more like certain coven members each time they were spotted. He’d been targeted by one.

  And Kindra was helping the creature by drugging him into sleep so the creature could feed from him. He realized this one night after waking from a deep sleep, seeing the creature taking on his shape and face sitting on his torso, his hands over his face and heart, pulling energy from him.

  Some nights he would wake up to find the other man making love to Kindra. The next morning, she would tell him it was just a nightmare.

  Anders had stopped eating or drinking anything Kindra gave him, in an effort to stop the feasting.

  “Don’t you want me?” she asked as she closed the distance.

  Shaking his head, he backed away. “No. You’re helping it.”