by Kian Rhodes
Just goes to show, still waters really do run deep.
When I was back in the SUV that Whiner had delivered to me at the fire scene, I found myself at a crossroads. Literally. If I turned left, I’d be on the path to do as Ralph suggested – visit Colby and the kids out at Clint’s place. If I turned right, the path led to the empty bed in our empty house.
I turned left.
Long before I’d reached Coruscation territory, I saw the telltale signs of increased security as dark shapes moved through the trees at the edge of the road, keeping pace with me until they were relieved by the sentry assigned to the next leg of the road.
Once I’d turned off the highway onto the private drive leading to the werewolf village, the guards weren’t in wolf form and they no longer attempted to blend into the shadows. Instead, sentries in full werewolf shift lined the shoulders of the drive, standing no more than an arms width apart. Fangs glinted in the moonlight and their eyes glowed an ethereal yellow.
Intimidating was an understatement.
Even though I was sure I’d already been identified – after all, they were allowing me to continue - I slowed the SUV and lowered both of the front windows, allowing the breeze to carry my scent to them.
It was still early, by shifter standards, when I pulled into the main parking lot at the packhouse in the center of the village, but, other than even more members of Clint’s guard, there wasn’t a soul in sight. Evidence, I realized, of just how seriously the werewolf Alpha was taking the threat to his Omega.
And to mine.
Not that Colby knew that that was the reason I’d sent him away with the others.
I snorted as I imagined how that conversation would have gone. If there was one thing I knew about my mate, it was that ice would form in Hell before he hid from a threat.
Stepping out of the SUV, I left the bag with the gun in it and locked the door before stepping away from the car, arms out, and waiting for the Betas closing in around me to finish their inspection. I briefly wondered where Clint was. With Colt on the road, I’d assumed he’d be supervising the security forces, but I hadn’t seen him anywhere.
“Okay, Alpha,” a younger member of the guard named Rolf said firmly. “You’re cleared.”
“Thanks. Any idea where Colby is?”
The female werewolf next to Rolf nodded her head to the packhouse. “Clint ordered a full lockdown. The kids, the elderly, and the Omegas are all inside.”
Oh, hell. Colby was going to be pissed.
“Thanks.” I took the wooden steps two at a time and rapped on the heavy wooden door.
When the door opened and I found myself face to fangs with a snarling werewolf, my question was answered. Of course, the Alpha had been inside, the last layer of protection if a threat made its way through his security forces.
“Hey,” I greeted, a weight lifting off my shoulders at the familiarity of the situation. “Mind if I join you?”
Clint stepped back, allowing me to enter before closing and relocking the door behind me. “You have news?”
I snickered and he raised one wild, overgrown eyebrow.
“Sorry, after all this time, it’s still weird to hear your normal voice come out of the beast’s body.” I laughed when he rolled his yellow, bloodshot eyes. “Anyway, I do have updates, but, sadly, nothing actually helpful. You mind if I steal a few minutes with Colby and the kids before I fill you in?”
The horror on Clint’s misshapen face would have been funny if I didn’t immediately know something was wrong. “The kids are playing in the other room, Rafael,” Clint said quietly. “But Colby isn’t here.”
“He’s not?” I repeated weakly, swallowing against the fear rising in my throat.
“No.” Clint glanced over his shoulder to where Trevor was reading a storybook to the smaller children, my daughter’s wolf form curled up against his pregnant tummy. “Let’s take this outside.”
I followed Clint out to the front porch and staggered when he struck me sharply between the shoulder blades.
“Dammit, Rafe, breathe!”
I sucked in a deep breath, then another as I fought to hold back the rising panic.
“That’s better.” Clint glanced around, raising his hand to signal a were in the distance who headed for us at a trot. “Where’s Stahl?”
I shook my head, unable to make my brain focus.
“Dammit, Rafe, we don’t have time for this.” The massive werewolf grabbed me by the shoulders and shook. “Snap out of it.”
Calling on my inner strength, I forced myself to think. “Stahl’s up in Cordova with the boys. I need my cell.” I scrambled for the bag I’d left in the SUV and punched the autodial for Colby. The call went straight to voicemail. The look on Clint’s face assured me he’d heard the recording pick up as I began typing out a text. “I’ll notify Kade.”
Clint nodded. “My trackers are all at your disposal,” he offered, casting a pointed glance at the werewolf he’d signaled.
“I’ll round them up,” the man said, waiting for Clint’s nod before his disjointed body made short work of the trail until he disappeared into the darkness.
“Now,” Clint said, clapping my shoulder with one hairy hand, careful not to dig his claws into the flesh. “When was Colby supposed to get here?”
“Almost thirty-six hours ago,” I muttered. “As soon as we lost track of Casen and Ralph, I decided it was too dangerous for him to be involved.”
Clint’s eyes widened. “Ralph is missing?”
“What? No,” I corrected. “I mean, he was, but they’re fine, now.” My jaw began to ache from the effort of holding my inner wolf back. “But,” I shuddered at the thought I was about to verbalize, “that update I told you I had? There are six people with ties to the case that have been found dead in the past day. All after Colby was supposed to come here.”
Clint shook his head. “You’re not thinking straight, man. Colby is not a murderer.”
“What? No!” I denied hotly. “That wasn’t what I meant! What if..” I couldn’t even make myself finish, but Clint got the gist.
“He’s fine,” Clint said firmly. “That Omega is one of the smartest, toughest men I know. Wherever he is, he’s fine.”
“Fuck, Clint,” I sighed, swiping my phone screen when it lit up with an incoming text. “I hope you’re right.”
The door behind us creaked open and Trevor peeked out, his forehead etched with concern. “What’s wrong?”
Clint sighed. “I didn’t want to disturb you, hon.”
Trevor just raised a brow.
“It’s Colby,” I blurted out. “He’s supposed to be here.”
Trevor threw me a confused look. “He didn’t say anything to me.”
“I know. I kind of sprang it on him last minute,” I admitted. “I, ah, found a file on him during the auction house recon and, well, I really wanted him somewhere safe during this mess, so I sent him out here about thirty-six hours ago.” I groaned. “He was pretty mad at me and now I don’t know where he is.”
“I see.” Trevor walked a few steps away and closed his eyes, his face tipped up into the sky. After a couple of minutes, he walked back, his bottom lip caught in his teeth. “Something’s not right,” Trevor said softly. “I can sense him, but that’s all. I can’t contact him or locate him on the astral plane.”
“My pack link isn’t working, either,” I told him. “And his phone is going straight to voicemail.”
Trevor turned to his husband and Clint reached for him, pulling him as close as Trevor’s pregnant belly would allow. “It’s okay, Trev,” he murmured into the Omega’s chestnut hair. “Colby’s tough and I’m sending our best trackers to help.”
Trevor nodded silently, trying to keep a stiff upper lip, but there wasn’t any hiding the tears building in his eyes as he turned back to me, echoing my own words back at me, reminding me of when Colby had run from the hospital after Leia’s birth, yet another time I’d let my Omega down.
“Brin
g him home safe, Rafe.”
What could I say to that?
“I will, Trev,” I promised. “No matter what it takes.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Casen
When Ralph abruptly dismissed Rafael and scooped me up in his arms, I gasped out loud. I knew Ralph heard me, because his breath was hot against my cheek when he chuckled. When he carried me through the house, I assumed we were doing as he told Rafael and going back to bed, although, I admit to having my doubts that he really wanted more sleep. So, I was surprised when he carried me into the large bathroom and reached out to twist on the shower taps with one hand, supporting me with the other.
“You’re showering?” I questioned.
Ralph laughed. “We’re showering,” he corrected, letting my body slide against his as he lowered me to the floor. “Unless you want privacy?”
“Nope, I’m good,” I assured him, promptly shucking out of the t-shirt I’d slid on when I smelled coffee and reaching for the low-hanging waistband of Ralph’s sweatpants. I caught myself at the last second and stopped, my fingers barely resting on his hips as I glanced up through my lashes. “Um, is this okay?”
Ralph cocked his head. “Undressing me?”
I nodded, my face coloring slightly when Ralph laughed.
“Yes, beautiful,” he said softly, brushing my bangs out of my eyes with his fingertips. “You can do anything you want with me.”
“Okay,” I sighed, gliding my palms down his sides and flattening them the slide under the elastic.
Ralph stayed still but his body was relaxed as I palmed his firm ass cheeks. “Fuck. That is one seriously hot ass.”
“You think?” There was a slight growl in his murmur, making me think that maybe his control was slipping a bit, so I took full advantage, shucking his sweats down to his ankles and confirming that he was swinging free when his hard cock slapped his abs. “Mmm. Commando.”
Ralph laughed. “I didn’t really expect to be caught in just these,” he admitted. “Rafe caught me by surprise.”
“So, you don’t usually free ball?” I teased him, ghosting my fingers over the tip of his swollen head.
Ralph laughed again. “Absolutely not.”
I gave a theatrical sigh. “That’s a shame.”
“Is it?” Ralph’s cock jumped and he shifted, shamelessly rubbing his erection against my hand. His brown eyes sparkled as he caught mine and held them. “Then maybe I should reconsider.”
My silly heart skipped a beat at the thought that the handsome Alpha would consider changing his dressing habits just for me. Obviously, I was well past the age where I would believe it, but it was sweet of him to pretend I was more than, well, a whore.
“You definitely should,” I played along, wrapping my fingers along his thick length. “This monster should never be locked up.” I squeezed lightly and Ralph’s moan echoed clear to my balls.
“Shower,” Ralph insisted, reaching past me to check the water temperature. “Or we’re going to miss our chance to get clean before I get you dirty again.”
Oh, now that sounded promising!
“Yes, Alpha,” I agreed, hiding my smile when his dick jumped again. I obeyed quickly, stepping under the spray of hot water.
Ralph crowded in behind me, his erection pressing into the crease of my ass as the thick hair on his chest rubbed roughly against my back. It was perfect.
I rocked my hips back the tiniest bit, hoping Ralph would take the hint and slide into me. Granted, we didn’t have a condom, but I didn’t have the feeling that he was a player and he’d already swallowed my load, so, why not?
Instead of the intrusion I craved, his soapy hands reached around me and began to slide up and down my chest, scrubbing off the traces of evidence that remained from when Ralph had cleaned me up with the towel. His hands roamed lower, teasing my eager dick with long, squeezing strokes that made me whimper and moan.
“You okay?” Ralph murmured in my ear after I choked on a gasp. “Do you want me to stop?”
Even as he offered to quit, one long finger slid into my crease alongside his meat, pretending to clean me as it tickled my entrance with his calloused finger pad.
“Fuck, no,” I groaned, throwing my head back and connecting with his shoulder with a thud. “Please, don’t stop!”
“If you’re sure,” Ralph teased me, his sharp teeth toying with the sensitive skin on my neck. “You seem tense.”
Without warning, I was spun around and Ralph gently brought my hands up to rest against the cool tile on the wall.
“Keep these here,” he ordered, the touch of command in his voice making me shiver as I answered.
“Yes, Alpha.”
He wedged one hairy knee between my thighs, spreading my legs. Then, his large, work-rough hands were stroking their way down my back, digging into tight muscles and rubbing until the knots began to dissipate.
As his fingers dug into my back, his hips rocked against me, dragging his length against my willing hole over and over, his balls gently knocking into my own with each pass. It was more of the same delicious torture he’d delivered in the bedroom.
I whined and opened my eyes when he stilled his hips. My head was still resting on his shoulder, so I had a perfect view of his stubbly, chiseled jaw just before his full red lips came down on mine in a kiss that married affection and arousal perfectly.
I watched as his eyes closed, his lips retreating only to return again and again as he peppered kisses on my face. When he returned to my lips, I was ready and opened immediately, inviting his tongue in to play with mine.
When I finally broke the kiss in a desperate bid for air, I sighed.
“Fuck me already, Alpha,” I begged, bucking my ass back against his erection. “Please!”
Ralph’s arms tightened around me and one hand slipped down to wrap around my dick. I was about to complain – after all, I wasn’t willing to settle for a hand job when that beautiful tube steak was within my reach – but when two fingers rubbed their way past the pucker at my entrance and began to stroke my prostate in firm circles, I completely forgot what I was so indignant about.
Within minutes he had me cursing his slow, methodical touch and begging to cum. When I finally sprayed my load all over the wall and floor, I felt Ralph’s hot release coat my back and drip down my ass cheeks as he rested his cheek on my shoulder.
“Not as tense now,” he said with a laugh as he pressed another kiss to my lips and reached for the body wash. “Now, let’s see what we can do about getting clean.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ralph
Things went a little farther in the shower than I had intended. By a bit. Or maybe a mile. And the truth was that I wasn’t even a little sorry.
When I’d first manhandled Cass into the bathroom, I’d only planned on cleaning us both up so we could head into town for some food, but, as soon as his soft hands settled on my hips and he asked so sweetly to undress me, my dick completely forgot that my stomach wanted food and I got hard so fast that I swear I was lightheaded for a second.
Then, my one-track mind completely switched tracks when he began begging me to take him and it never even occurred to me to deny him. But then, when I started to prep him, his pleas and moans derailed my mind completely and all I could do was more of the same, anything to keep those erotic sounds coming.
It wasn’t until the feel of his thick release dripping between my fingers made me shoot my own all over his back and butt that I remembered we’d both wanted more. And I still wasn’t sorry.
There was just something about Cass that drew me in like no one I’d ever known, I mused to myself as I flipped off the water and reached for a dry towel.
Cass swayed a little and I caught him, pulling him against my chest. “You okay?”
“Mmhmm,” he sighed agreeably, his eyes still closed. “Really, really okay.”
“Good,” I ran the fluffy towel down his chest, chasing stray water droplets with my tongue until I
was satisfied Cass was dry. Wrapping the towel around his lean body, I scooped him up and carried him back to the bedroom.
“You like carrying me?” Cass asked, his head resting on my shoulder.
I thought about that for a second. Despite having been mated for several years before the loss of my husband, I was pretty sure I’d never done it for anyone else, but, still, for some reason, it just felt right with Cass. I shrugged. “I guess I do,” I admitted, licking an imaginary water drop from his neck. “Does it bother you?”
“Uh-uh,” Cass disagreed, snuggling a little closer to me. “Makes me feel protected.”
“Good,” I muttered, ignoring the odd sense of satisfaction that lit up in my chest at his words. “Then I won’t ever put you down.”
Cass laughed, because, of course, I had to be joking. Except the beast lurking inside me wasn’t so sure that I was.
I laid my Omega on the bed, still wrapped up in his towel. “Let me find you some clothes and then we can go,” I told him.
He popped up, suddenly wide awake. “Go? Go where?”
“Food.” I found another pair of sweatpants from my younger days and a t-shirt that Cass wouldn’t swim in too badly and tossed them onto the bed beside him. A pair of socks followed. I hesitated for a minute and then added a pair of boxer briefs and tried not to laugh when Cass wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, sorry about those,” I told him. “As much as I’d rather find a pair of lace panties under those pants later, I’m afraid the only thing I have are briefs.”
“You would?” Cass sounded surprised. “Really? That wouldn’t bother you?”
I cocked my head. “What wouldn’t bother me? You in panties?” Cass nodded and it took all I had not to tackle him on the bed. There wasn’t anything I could do about my cock rising yet again, so I just nodded at it. “What do you think?”
Cass whistled under his breath. “I think you would have been scary virile when you were younger.”
That made me laugh and I crossed to the bed, leaning down to kiss him. “That’s all you, beauty. All I have to do is look at you and it comes to life. I can promise I’ve literally never been this randy in my life.” I snickered. “It’s a little inconvenient.”