Isaiah's Haven

by N. J. Walters

  Isaiah’s shaft locked inside her and she knew it would be a while before he would be able to pull away from her. It was done. He was her mate. His bonding scent would be on her now. She sniffed, smelling the slightly musky, woodsy scent. Isaiah.

  Slumping forward, she let her face fall into her pillow. Her back end was held up by Isaiah. Eventually, he collapsed, his body half on, half off hers, his cock still buried deep within her.

  Exhaustion pulled at her. She shivered, the sweat from her body beginning to cool. Isaiah reached out one long arm and managed to snag one end of the comforter, tugging it over them.

  She must have dozed for a moment or two, but woke as Isaiah withdrew from her. She bit her bottom lip to keep from protesting. He threw his thick, muscled arm around her waist and pulled her into the curve of his large body. “Sleep,” he whispered.

  Content in a way she’d never felt in her life, she did.

  Isaiah lay awake watching Meredith sleep. She was on her back and he was propped up on one arm beside her. She was so beautiful. Her long, black hair flowed over the light green sheets. Her skin was soft and pale, except where it had been rubbed red by the stubble of his beard. It would fade in a matter of an hour or so due to the fast healing that was part of her werewolf heritage. Still, he’d have to watch that in the future. For now, it represented another way he’d marked her as his.

  Meredith was much more than just a stunning woman. She was smart and strong and stubborn. The fact that she’d kept her small pack safe all these years was a testament to her ability to adapt and to strategize.

  Now she was his. And he was hers.

  For the first time in years, maybe even in his life, he felt as though he belonged.

  She’d given him that.

  Meredith shifted slightly in her sleep, her lips parting on a sigh. His body tensed, his cock swelling. The claiming should have drained him, but he was more than ready to take her again. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.

  Thankfully, he had about four hundred years to sate himself.

  He smiled as she snuggled her butt against his erection, seeking him out even in sleep. The only thing keeping him from waking her to make love again was the fact that she was exhausted. Her health and well-being came ahead of everything, even his wants.

  He could wait now that he’d claimed her.

  Isaiah closed his eyes and breathed deep. The scent of sex permeated the room. The mixture of her sweetness was now tinged with his more earthy scents. The two had become one.

  He opened his eyes to find her staring up at him. Her gaze softened and her lips parted on a smile. “Hey.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, a slow, leisurely caress that went on for long minutes. He traced his tongue over her bottom lip, then the top, before sliding in to reclaim his territory.

  They were both breathless when he pulled back.

  Her eyes were sultry and inviting. “Now that’s a morning greeting I could get used to.”

  “Get used to it,” he told her. He wasn’t going anywhere.

  He hated to do anything to ruin the closeness of the moment, but there were things they needed to discuss. “We need to talk.”

  She frowned and dragged the comforter closer to her chin. “Okay.”

  Isaiah swore and sat up, leaning against the headboard. He reached out and dragged Meredith into his arms, needing to feel her skin against his.

  She gave a slight squeak of surprise before settling in his arms. “What is it?” She paused and her voice became small. “Regrets?”

  Shock filled him. “Hell, no.” He shook her slightly as he stared down at her. “You’re everything to me. Everything. My heart and soul. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  She nodded. “Okay.” She moved her hands over his chest, soothing him. “What is it then?”

  “Thanks to Damek, you should be safe from the hunters and rogue werewolves. Should being the operative word. Do you want to stay here?”

  “Do you think it’s safe?”

  It warmed his heart that she wanted his opinion before making a decision. She’d been alpha of this pack for years and now she had to share that position with him. In time, he knew the members would look to him first and her second. It was simply the way of things. She knew it too, but still she’d accepted him.

  “I think there’s a risk. But there’s a risk anywhere today. Hunters are everywhere, especially with technology to help link them. The only good thing is those bastards are not very trusting, not even with each other. We’ll have to keep a watch for a while to make certain that Damek’s plan worked. Hopefully the purist group and the bounty hunters are too busy fighting one another to be a problem for us.”

  “I want to stay. Chicago is home. Haven is home.”

  “You know you can’t stay here forever,” he added gently. They’d already been here over a decade. People would soon start to wonder, to ask questions about why none of them seemed to age.

  She nodded, her cheek brushing against his shoulder. “I know. People will start talking. Asking why we don’t seem to change. I figure we have another five to ten years before that time comes.”

  “I want to take you to meet my family.” He ran his fingers up and down her arm from shoulder to wrist, loving how soft it felt.

  She tensed and then relaxed. “I think I’d like that.” She glanced up at him, her expression tense. “Your alpha will welcome my children? All of them?”

  Isaiah grinned and nodded. “Oh, yeah. Considering his daughter is a half-breed and she’s married to my brother.” At her incredulous look, he continued. “Alexandra Riley, now Striker, is married to Joshua. Her father, James LeVeau Riley is the alpha of the Wolf Creek Pack. Not everyone will welcome you with open arms, but most will. And those who won’t will keep their mouths shut or face the wrath of the alpha and the Striker family.”

  Meredith’s eyes twinkled with laughter. “I guess that’s a definite yes then. I’d love to meet your family.”

  “Maybe you might even think about building a home on pack land. Something we can get away to every now and again. The kids can use it too.”

  Meredith stared up at Isaiah, hearing the hope in his voice. He was giving up so much for her. She wanted to meet him halfway. “If things work out okay with your alpha and the pack, we could think about building a vacation home there.”

  “What about your former pack?” he questioned.

  She took a deep breath and laid everything out for him. They were mated now. There could be no secrets between them. “You know about my marriage.” He nodded and she continued, letting out the entire story of how her alpha had wanted to force another mating on her and how she’d taken her children and run, picking up more children along the way. “They are an extreme pack who won’t accept half-breeds. They’d accept Benjamin and Michael easily, but they’ll kill me for taking them and running, and the others simply for not being pure werewolves.”

  “Over my dead body,” he growled. “No one touches my family and lives.”

  She shivered over the certainty in his voice and knew that he would protect them with everything that he was. “If they find us here we’ll have to run.”

  He nodded. “If they find us, we’ll seek refuge with the Wolf Creek Pack. They won’t risk all-out war.” He shrugged. “And if they do, they’ll regret it.”

  Meredith was beginning to understand the enormity of what Isaiah offered her and her small pack. He came with some powerful allies, including that very scary vampire.

  “Don’t worry about Damek. He a mean, tough bastard, but he’s got a code of honor. Not one that I’ve ever figured out, but it’s there. And he considers us, not exactly friends, but certainly not enemies.”

  It took her a second to realize that Isaiah had tapped into her thoughts, using the unique communication that existed between mated pairs. It had been so long since she’d experienced it, she’d forgotten how intimate it could be.

  She’d built walls between her and her first
husband. Ones he hadn’t even known existed. But she didn’t want to do that between her and Isaiah.

  I love you.

  His arms tightened around her.

  I love you too.

  Isaiah lowered her to the bed and rolled until he covered her. His erection pressed against her stomach.

  “Again?” She rubbed her hands over his wide chest, teasing his flat nipples with her fingers.

  “Again,” he growled, burying his face in the curve of her shoulder and biting down gently. Her core clenched and her breasts swelled. She wanted him. Now.

  He nuzzled and licked away the slight sting as he worked his way to her ear, his voice a hot whisper that left her breathless. “Again and again and again.”

  Epilogue

  Life had been a whirlwind of activity the past ten days. The damage to the club had been repaired and they’d done some needed renovations to the place as well since they were closed anyway.

  Isaiah had integrated himself easily into the pack, taking control without ruffling too much fur. Both her sons looked to him for direction. It had taken the other four a little longer to trust him fully. But he was endlessly patient with all of them.

  Now they were in North Carolina at Wolf Creek and she was about to meet his alpha and his family. Her children stood behind them and she could sense their tension. They’d never been around so many pureblooded werewolves before. At least not ones who didn’t want to kill them.

  The compound was situated in the midst of a dense forest, accessible only by truck, and that’s only if you knew where you were going. The road was well hidden for the protection of the pack. A large wooden fence surrounded the small cluster of homes. With the rough mountain terrain behind them, they were well fortified.

  Isaiah had told her that most of the pack was spread out over their land. Many were artisans and craftspeople. Others grew organic produce, selling it to local restaurants. They lived simply, keeping a low profile and protecting the pack from the outside world.

  A shiver went down her spine and she glanced over her shoulder, not only to check on the rest of her pack, but to make certain the gates to the compound were still wide open in case they needed to make a run for it. Not that she expected to have to, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

  “Everything will be fine.”

  She realized she’d almost come to a complete stop. Meredith peered up at Isaiah and smiled. “I trust you.”

  A look of pure male satisfaction crossed his face and he turned to watch a tall man exit the largest home. This must be the alpha, James Riley. He was a few inches shorter than Isaiah but that in no way diminished the aura of pure power rolling off him in waves. His hair was brown, but was silvering at the sides. It was a sign of his maturity. His golden-brown eyes were piercing as he studied all of them.

  Meredith straightened, throwing her shoulders back and meeting his gaze. Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do, but it was what she had to do. He was an alpha, but so was she. His pack was larger than hers, but that didn’t mean the responsibilities weren’t the same.

  James sauntered down the steps and walked toward them, his gait measured and steady. She sensed other wolves around them, but knew none of them would acknowledge them until the alpha did.

  Several large males hovered off to the side. Waiting. Watching.

  The tension grew as James stopped about five feet in front of them. “Welcome home, Isaiah.”

  Isaiah nodded, acknowledging the greeting. “I bring greetings from the Haven pack out of Chicago.”

  Meredith jerked slightly, but kept her composure. She’d never given her pack a formal name. Really hadn’t considered it. But it sounded right. And it gave them more status.

  Isaiah’s arm came around her as he pulled her close to his side. “This is my mate, Meredith Striker.”

  She could feel heat creeping up her cheeks. In spite of the fact that she’d willingly mated with Isaiah, it was still weird getting used to being called Striker instead of Cross. She could have kept her own name, but knew that her taking Isaiah’s name meant so much to him. In spite of his stalwart outward appearance, he had insecurities just as she did.

  She held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Riley.”

  His hand engulfed hers as he shook it. “Please, call me James. Welcome to Wolf Creek.”

  Meredith turned to her pack. “I’d like to introduce you to my children.”

  They stepped forward as she called their names, inclining their heads slightly as James acknowledged them. She watched for any indication that he would treat Kevin, Teague, Neema or Hank differently from the rest of them, but he greeted them all the same.

  When the formal introduction was done, four males stepped from the shadows and a female stepped out from the open doorway of one of the smaller homes. She recognized the male who went to greet the female. It was Joshua, Isaiah’s brother. The woman must be his mate, Alexandra. She was a tall female with short, glossy brown hair and silvery gray eyes. Her lanky build and coloring was similar to her father.

  The other three men looked incredibly familiar. Isaiah was an older, more rugged version. These males had to be his brothers.

  They came toward them as a group, stopping just behind James. Alexandra broke rank and hurried toward her. “You must be Meredith. I’m so glad to meet you.” The younger woman opened her arms and hugged Meredith, taking her off-guard.

  She returned the hug, truly touched by the warm welcome.

  “Call me Alex. I know we’re going to be good friends. After all, we have a lot in common.” She glanced over her shoulder and grinned at her mate, who smiled indulgently at her.

  Alex continued to greet the rest of the pack, putting them at ease. Before long, Meredith found herself ensconced in a comfortable chair in a fairly large living room. Food and drink were abundant as the two families chatted and got to know one another.

  She could put names to all his brothers now. Micah was tall with medium brown hair and chocolate colored eyes. Levi looked exactly like him, except he was the somber one of the twins. Simon was the youngest of the Striker brothers. His hair was black and he was a serious soul. He was chatting with Hank and his voice had almost a musical quality about it.

  “How are you doing?” Isaiah perched on the arm of her chair and touched his hand to her head, smoothing down her hair. He hadn’t been more than five feet from her side since they arrived.

  “I’m good.”

  “Simon is bunking with the twins tonight and giving up his house for us. Michael and Benjamin are going to stay with them at Levi and Micah’s place, but I thought you’d feel more comfortable having the other four with us.”

  Isaiah was so thoughtful, always thinking about what she wanted or needed. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” His gaze heated and she felt a familiar warmth fill her. He only had to look at her and she wanted him. It had been that way from the beginning and she didn’t expect it to change any time soon, if ever.

  “In fact, I think you’re tired after the long drive.”

  “But we stopped at a motel last night and finished the drive this morning.” She knew what he wanted, but couldn’t resist teasing him.

  His eyes darkened and he slid his arm over her back. “I insist. As your mate it’s my job to look after your health.”

  She forced a fake yawn, hiding her smile behind her hand. “Well, I am a little tired. A nap might be just what I need.”

  Isaiah stood and held out his hand. “Meredith needs her rest,” he announced to the rest of the room. With that, he scooped her into his arms and strode from the place.

  Laughter followed them. Meredith couldn’t bring herself to care as he carried her out the door and across the compound to his brother’s home. He headed straight for the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.

  He dropped down on the bed with her in his arms and rolled until she was beneath him. Meredith hooked her arms around his neck and her legs around h
is waist. Batting her eyelashes, she played with the hair at his nape. “Suddenly I’m not so sleepy anymore.”

  Isaiah laughed and kissed her. Soon neither of them was laughing. The shadows lengthened in the room as the afternoon waned and they loved one another.

  Later that night, Isaiah stood at the edge of the woods. He’d already shifted into his wolf form. Now he was waiting for his pack to join him. One by one they appeared, also in their lupine forms. Michael and Ben. Teague and Neema. Kevin and Hank. Still, he waited for the one who mattered most.

  Meredith.

  She emerged from the darkness, a female wolf, her coat shiny and black. He waited as she padded to his side. Ready?

  Yes.

  He loved being able to communicate like this with her, loved the sensation of belonging with someone, to someone. He hadn’t realized how lonely he’d been until Meredith had come into his life.

  Tipping back his head, he howled long and loud, announcing the presence of his pack and promising swift retribution to any who might think to threaten them.

  An answering howl rose from the woods. He recognized his brother. Soon Joshua’s voice was joined by others until every Striker brother could be heard. He might have left the Wolf Creek pack, but the bond he shared with his family was unbreakable.

  They’d be returning to Chicago in two days. The club had already been closed for far too long. Not that money was an issue. As he’d told Meredith, he had more than enough in investments to keep them all. But he understood and respected the fact that they all wanted to earn their own way. Now that he was there, the others could choose different careers if they wanted, or they could remain at Haven. Either way was fine with him. They would always be a part of the pack.

  He nudged the sleek black wolf with his muzzle, whirled around and began to run fast and hard through the woods. She followed him and the rest of the pack joined in. He matched his stride to hers, while keeping an eye on the others.

  They ran freely, romping and playing like puppies and Isaiah loved every minute of it. He was proud of his pack and of his mate.