Hunter (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 10)

by Kym Grosso

  “I want your agreement that you’ll stay with me for a while. Whether that’s here or wherever we find the wolves who did this. You can come with me when I track them down and we’ll go get whatever you need in New Orleans and Guatemala along the way. But I want your agreement on this.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “I’m an Alpha. I can force you to stay here. I don’t want to have to do that because I know you’ve been traumatized already but I can’t…I won’t let you run off on your own, knowing full well they could try to put you back in Hell. Now, I know you’re thinking to yourself that I’m not your Alpha, that you’re not in a pack and can do whatever you want. While I’d generally agree and have no say, I simply cannot let you go off alone. You…” belong to me, “are my responsibility.”

  “You’re not my guardian angel.”

  “Make no mistake, I’m no angel, period. It’s not in my repertoire.”

  “Why do you want to do this? Is this an Alpha thing?”

  “Yeah, it’s an Alpha thing, but if I’m being straight with you, this is a friend thing. This is about someone who cares about you. Someone who knows there’s something different about you but who doesn’t care what your secret is. Someone you can trust to have your back.”

  “It’s not like I don’t want someone to help me.” Willa’s face softened. “I just…what just happened. There will be others. They will do anything to put me back in Hell.”

  “Let em’ try. I’ll be waiting. But in the meantime, I’ll be there for you, and when you’re ready,” because she is going to tell me sooner or later, “you’ll tell me your secrets. Stay.”

  Hunter studied her as she took several seconds, mulling over his offer.

  “I’ll stay for a little bit, but I can’t stay here long. I know I said I needed to go to New Orleans, but I’ve thought about it. I should go back to Guatemala first. There something I’ve got to take care of.”

  “All right. Then I’m goin’ with. Whatever you’ve got yourself into is far too dangerous. If these rogues are using demon magick, they are going to be able to track you wherever you go.”

  Hunter noted the mystery swirling in her dark brown eyes, as she drifted deep into thought. He’d stepped into danger more times than he could count. It was precisely how he’d landed his ass in Hell the first time, but he’d be damned if he allowed Willa to go it alone. She’d learn in time that pack was more than family. It was home.

  “I’ve been many things in this lifetime. A daughter. A sister.” Willa exhaled slowly, her soft gaze drifting to Hunter.

  In the moment of silence, the Alpha noted the sadness in her voice, and reached for her hand.

  “A musician. An artist. A dancer. A doctor…ultimately a scientist.” Willa gave a thoughtful smile. “We wonder why we are here. Immortal. Blessed. Some say cursed to live forever. There are days when I truly wonder what the meaning of this life is.”

  Hunter’s eyes painted over her lithe body as he contemplated the question that plagued so many immortals. It was both simple and complicated. “Depends what you seek. I’m committed to this pack, to leading for as long as the Goddess sees fit. While we live forever, I do not believe we are infallible. The vampires tonight are proof of that. Tell me, Willa. What do you seek?”

  “I’d never been happier than as a doctor. I used my skills to care for the humans as best I could. But like we talked about, they are so fragile. When I lived in Brazil, I spent time searching the Amazon for medicinal plants, but in Guatemala, I discovered something special. You see, the rainforest is ripe with undiscovered species of plants, animals, bugs. And so…”

  “What did you find?”

  “A plant. It showed potential on its own. Specimen Alyamya, it’s just a name I gave it. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that it had the capability to quickly heal skin, generating new cells on cuts and scrapes. But it wasn’t like your average antibiotic cream. Within hours, a minor injury would heal.”

  “Like magick?” Hunter raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “I just thought if it could heal skin that quickly…” She sighed.

  “You asked for demon help?” he asked.

  “No way,” she protested, her voice raised at the prospect. “But I did alter it. I used my blood.” Willa cringed, guilt settling in her gut. “Look, I know I shouldn’t have done it.”

  “Wolf blood doesn’t heal humans,” Hunter challenged. “Vampire blood can for minor things, but you know they’d never allow that shit to go viral.”

  “I know. It’s my blood…I don’t want to get into it right now.” It’s different. “The bottom line is that it worked a little too well. It’s not like I showed or even told anyone. No one but my friend, Janet. I only told her about the plant. She worked at the University in New Orleans.”

  “Wolf?”

  “No. She’s human. I met her at a conference. We attended a stem cell seminar together. I think something happened to her. She wasn’t responding before I was kidnapped. Since I’ve been out of Hell, I haven’t tried to contact her. It doesn’t really matter because she didn’t have the formula I used.”

  “You think she has something to do with the wolves attacking you?”

  “I don’t really know. I don’t think so. But I do know that someone found out.”

  “Is it possible she told a pharmaceutical company? There could be big money in it. You know they’re dippin’ their fingers into the Hell fountain. Look at the kind of shit they do to the humans. Some of it’s not so great. Many humans die because they can’t even afford half the shit they sell.”

  “I don’t know. When I talked to Janet, she wasn’t all that impressed with what I told her. You know how scientists are. If you haven’t studied it, proven it, it doesn’t even exist. She didn’t have any samples.”

  “Who else knows about this plant?” Hunter asked.

  “Only one person from the village knew about the serum. Yoselin, my nurse. But there’s no way she’d tell anyone. My memory is fuzzy, but she died that night. Before they shoved me into the portal, she came running out of the house. Screaming that others had been killed. When she went to help me, they ripped her throat out.”

  “You sure she’s the only person who knew?”

  “I had no choice. I couldn’t let her die.”

  “Who?”

  “Fatima. She’s only five years old. Just the cutest little girl you’ve ever seen. She’d been out playing and fell onto a machete that’d been accidentally left in a field. The wound to her leg was severe. With the amount of blood loss…”

  “You used the plant on her?”

  “Yes,” she admitted. Her voice wavered as she continued. “But not just the plant extract. It wouldn’t have been enough to save her. I knew it wouldn’t be. You have to understand. She would have died.”

  “What did you do?” Unlike vampires, wolves didn’t possess the ability to save humans. Although she’d denied asking demons for favors, he suspected she’d engaged in some sort of dark magick.

  “I’d experimented.” Willa bit her lip and rolled to her side, still holding Hunter’s hand. “My blood.”

  “Your blood? You’re not a vampire.”

  “No. But I’m not like other wolves. I told you. My blood is special.”

  “Willa. Wolves don’t heal humans. Sometimes we can help heal other wolves, but never humans.” Tainted. Viktor’s comments echoed in his mind, but he refused to believe she was demon.

  Willa moved to sit up but didn’t release her hand. His arousal heightened as she placed her palm to his chest, gently guiding him onto his back. Hunter made no move to cover his nude body as she knelt next to him.

  “Well, this has taken a turn for the better.” Hunter flashed her a sexy smile. “But wolves still don’t heal humans.”

  “My blood is special.”

  “You are special,” Hunter told her. He couldn’t deny the attraction to the creature he’d saved from Hell. His wolf urged him to take her, but he slammed
down the instinct, focusing on her full lips as she spoke.

  “I’m wolf. But my blood…it’s different. You can feel me.”

  “Yes, I…” The Alpha’s words silenced as her fingers trailed down his chest toward his abdomen. His skin tingled in their wake.

  “What you are feeling is my blood. My power.” Her lips curled upward. “It’s magick in my blood. You can feel it. See it.”

  Hunter glanced down to his abdomen, astonished to see a trail of light along his skin. “What are you doing?”

  “These are the secrets I share with you tonight, Alpha.”

  Willa dragged the pad of her thumb over his hip. Blood rushed to his cock as her fingers teased lower down his abdomen.

  “Who are you?” he asked, not really caring at the moment where she came from or the fact his skin was glowing.

  “I do have a secret I will tell you.” Willa leaned toward him, a whisper on her lips. “I…I…I want you.”

  Hunter’s pulse raced as she drew closer, the heat of her body emanating onto his. The beast paced, his prey within reach. Willa’s fingertips brushed the edge of his cock, and he lost control.

  A moan escaped her lips as Hunter flipped her onto her back. Although logic told him to stop, to press her for the truth, he gave into his craving. His lips crushed upon her mouth, his tongue dancing with hers. She tasted like honey and fire, her mouth desperately seeking his.

  Willa moaned into his kiss, and he lifted his gaze to meet hers, murmuring into her lips. “Sweetheart, I’ve gotta have you. Please tell me you want this.”

  She nodded, grasping at his shoulders. As her lips brushed his, seeking his kiss, she tilted her hips upward, grazing her pelvis against his.

  “Let’s make some music,” she whispered, her sultry voice twisting through him.

  His mouth went to her neck and she arched her back as he peppered kisses down to her collarbone. Her fingers tunneled into his hair as he continued his journey, his lips trailing down her chest and sucking her nipple into his mouth.

  “Yes,” she cried, her hands full of his hair. She sighed as he released her breast, his lips trailing down her stomach to her pelvis.

  “Little wolf. Little wolf.” Hunter sucked a quiet breath as he gently pressed her knees open, exposing her glistening pussy. The Alpha thrummed his thumb through her wet folds and over her clitoris. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he blew gently across her slick heat. “I’m going to devour you.”

  “Alpha…” Her words disappeared as his tongue delved through her labia, teasing her sensitive nub.

  At the taste of her, his beast paced, warning him that this one was his. Feral, it sought its mate. Ignoring his wolf, he indulged, lapping at her clit. Devouring her as if he was a starved man, he teased his devilish tongue over her swollen bead, holding her hips firm as she began to tremble beneath him.

  His fingers traveled under her bottom and teased toward her core. She arched her back, moaning in delight, as he slid a thick digit deep inside her, continuing to flick over her clit.

  “Hunter…oh Goddess.” As he brought her toward her climax, her nails dug into his shoulders. “I’ve got to…please…”

  Her urgent cries for release stirred his beast. I know her. His cock hardened to concrete.

  Easing a second finger inside her, he curled the tips along her sensitive strip of nerves. Lapping at her clitoris, he plunged his fingers inside her tight core.

  “Now, please,” she urged, shaking as her orgasm tore through her.

  Her hands moved once again into his hair. The sweet sting on his scalp caused a sexy smile as he rose above her, in awe of her ethereal beauty. She wore a glow upon her skin, her hungry eyes drinking in the sight of him.

  “You…you’re…I…” she panted, unable to speak coherently.

  “I’ve got to be in you now,” he said, his voice low and sexy. Nothing could keep him from having her. This woman. This wolf. Something about her drove his savage instincts feral.

  “Yes…yes.” She nodded.

  As he drove his cock deep inside her pussy, Hunter heard the whisper on her lips. “Mine.”

  He went still, his body electrified with arousal. Like a teenager with uncontrollable urges, he fought the wave of climax. Mine. As in mine? She can’t be my mate. That isn’t what she said. His wolf roared in his mind. Fuck, no. Deal with this later. Oh shit. I am not coming. Don’t…no! He sucked a breath, forcing the suggestion to the back of his mind.

  “My Alpha,” she breathed, caressing his cheek. Her hips moved flush to his, her tight pussy accepting every hard inch of his shaft.

  Convinced she’d read his thoughts, his lips went to her neck, nipping and licking as he pumped in and out of her. He couldn’t face her in this moment, only lose himself within her arms. His wolf would betray his lust for her, its claim that she belonged solely to him, not just as pack but as mate.

  His mouth on her breast, he bit upon a taut tip, eliciting a gasp. She moaned as he released her nipple, begging him to increase his pace.

  “Harder…yes…please…faster.”

  The Alpha’s lips brushed between her supple breasts. “Ah sweetheart, your wish is my command.”

  Withdrawing his dick, he gave her a wicked smile as she moaned in protest. Hunter reached for her waist, flipped her onto her stomach, and positioned her bottom toward him.

  With one swift thrust, he slammed inside her. Willa cried in ecstasy as he filled her. She clutched at the covers, pressing her bottom toward him.

  “That’s. It. Ah…yeah. Fuck me…yes,” she cried.

  “You’ve got no idea what you’re doing to me.” He couldn’t possibly tell her what was happening. Hunter’s body tingled with magick, raw and feral energy twisting through him from the top of his head to his toes. This woman drove his beast wild, his humanity foreshadowed by the wolf.

  Her pussy spasmed around his cock as he thrust inside her, his fangs elongating as he fought the release. Fucking hell, he’d have her all day long and it would never be enough for him.

  Claim her, his wolf urged. And as he plunged inside her, coming hard, he leaned toward her shoulder. No. Stop. Do not fucking claim her, he told his beast, his teeth nearly grazing her skin. Turning his head quickly, he wrapped an arm around her chest and cupped her breast.

  As the waves of energy rolled through him, his release subsided. The sound of her panting softly underneath him, giving a gentle moan of satisfaction, seized his chest. What is happening? I found my mate in Hell? She can’t be my mate. Shit. I’m so fucked.

  Hunter slowly removed himself from her and adjusted onto his side. He reached a hand around her abdomen and drew her closer to him and pressed his lips to the top of her head. What am I going to do?

  “My Alpha,” she whispered, drifting off to sleep.

  And in that moment, he knew the exact answer to his own question. Mate.

  Chapter Six

  What did I just do? I want to keep him. But I can’t. Willa’s mind raced, her heart pounding. Making love to Hunter wasn’t the plan. She should have been far away from Jackson Hole by now. But the Alpha had a way of putting her at ease. He filled her with warmth, his wolf driving her wild.

  She’d rarely shifted in front of other wolves. But tonight, she’d deliberately revealed her beast to the Alpha. Immediately sensing his presence, she’d patiently waited. Demonstrating both her strength and her vulnerability, she allowed him onto the bed. When he’d shifted into his magnificent wolf, Willa thought her heart would burst. Lethal and loving, Hunter exemplified Alpha to the extreme. His power nearly matched hers, and her wolf told her he belonged to her.

  As his teeth brushed over her shoulder, every cell in her body had gone into alert. Mine. She’d said it and heard his voice. Torn between screaming at him to stop or urging him to do it, she’d lost herself in her climax, feeling only him, ignoring the call to mate.

  Alone for so many years, she’d thought it nearly impossible. The stories traced back to the genesis wolf p
ack. The Goddess generated the species, a small group of humans giving birth to first wolves. Their coveted blood was sought after a wolf was sold to Hell. The Goddess had ended the royal line with the Hellfire in which it was born. As a final member of the last royal generation, Willa would never mate or breed, living a life of solitude and service.

  Willa snuggled into Hunter’s embrace, reveling in the warmth of his body. She brought his fingertips to her lips and kissed them. Her wolf howled in celebration. For the first time in her life, she was no longer alone.

  The dominant Alpha had shown her trust, mastering her body. Making love to her in a way no man had ever done, Hunter had broken through her barrier. While she hadn’t divulged all her secrets, she’d softened and shared more than she’d thought possible.

  Willa shoved doubts and fears to the back of her mind. Tomorrow, she’d return to her senses, she’d go back to the jungle and destroy the formula. But for the next few hours, she’d steal time within Hunter’s arms. My Alpha.

  The warmth of the sun on her face woke her long before she heard the voices. Dreams of her Alpha chasing her through fresh fallen snow danced in her mind. Safe within her fantasy, Willa fought opening her eyes. Tightening the sheet into her fist, she curled it against her chest and rolled to her side. Her Alpha’s scent lingered on the fabric and she smiled.

  Shouting male voices jolted her from her dream, and she shot upward.

  Although tempted to leap from the bed, she stilled, listening intently. Her eyes drifted to the empty space next to her. Hunter had left her without saying a word. Doubt crept into her thoughts, her stomach tightening. Did he just want to fuck me? Did I imagine the call of my wolf for his? Shit.

  Reality set in and her lips drew into a tight line, her heart sinking. Why would an Alpha mate with a rogue? He said himself they were trouble. He had no reason to trust her.

  She was a liability to him and his pack. Once he found out about her lineage, he’d never want her.

  The shouting grew louder, and her heart caught in her chest. Oh Goddess. It can’t be him. While they hadn’t spoken in years, she’d never forget the sound of his voice. Irmão. What is he doing here? Panic raced through her veins as she sprang from the bed and reached for a robe that was draped over its frame. Willa stabbed her arms through the sleeves and quietly padded across the floor. She wrapped her fingers around the door’s brass handle, pushed it open, cringing as its hinges creaked loudly. As she stepped into the hallway, she heard a door slam, the voices becoming distant. With stealthy agility, she ran down the staircase.