by Sydney Addae
“Silas? Can you contact Hawke, please? I’m really worried. I don’t think there’s as much time as you think.”
It was the pleading quality in her voice that snapped him from the sensual fog filling his brain and stiffening his cock. She smelled delicious and he needed a taste, just a lick. A quickie, his beast agreed.
“Silas? What’s wrong? You look... Silas.” Jasmine slapped him across the face. The sting made little impact against the rising heat of his need.
“Mine,” he growled and reached for her.
She waved her hand.
Frowning he stared but couldn’t touch her. “Mine.”
“Yes, I’m yours Silas. Always and forever but you need to check yourself.” She slammed an arctic breeze into their link. He shivered from the cold and stepped back. The impact had the same effect as a freezing shower. The haze of lust immediately disappeared as he stared down at her.
“Jasmine? What?” He looked at himself and then at her. “What did you do?”
“You weren’t yourself, Silas. I was talking to you and you ignored me.”
“I want to sheath myself inside you, I made that clear before we ate.”
“I know but you didn’t see the look on your face just now, it was off. You were off and not listening. Trust me, after all these years I know the difference. Whatever’s happening to the BlackWolf Clan may be affecting you. Contact Hawke, have him track down Amynta and get some answers, Silas. I don’t ever want you to look at me like that again, as if what I wanted or said didn’t matter.”
He jerked back and frowned. “You’ve always mattered to me.”
“I know, that’s why I was so freaked out.” She rubbed her arms. “Get some answers and fix this, Silas.” She turned and entered the bathroom.
Stung by what she said, he sat heavily in the armless chair next to the door. Had he missed something? Was it possible he was infected? As the Goddess’ Alpha he assumed he received a pass. Arrogant.
“Hawke?”
“Sir?”
“Have you spoken to Amynta?”
“Yes. She is looking for a journal she kept during that time because it has the name of Nikolas’ mage and a few things about the woman’s life. Grandfather was right, there was a ritual. Nikolas was afraid for his pups and wanted to insure their longevity. There was a major problem with another Mage or Alpha in a different Clan who disliked Nikolas intensely. Amynta believes he’s the one who had Nikolas killed.”
“Mages? Rituals? BlackWolf Clans? What do those three things have to do with our beasts’ behaviors today?” Silas asked, aggravated by his loss of control.
“Has something happened, Sir?” Hawke asked a few moments later.
“Yes, I’m not going into it. What I want is answers. I want to know what to expect and how to correct any problems. I do not want to lose any Pack over this, not a one,” he said in a hard tone.
“Understood, Sir.”
“Call her. Don’t wait for her to contact you, this is an emergency. Jasmine doesn’t think we have as much time as I’d hoped.” He wasn’t sure why he added that last bit but he wouldn’t retract it.
“Reaching out to her now,” Hawke said.
Jasmine walked out the bathroom in her bra and panties. Blood rushed south and he became instantly hard as she sat on the side of the bed, took a comb and ran it through her hair. He wondered if she would braid it or leave it loose. He enjoyed both. Watching her comb and brush her hair eased his beast.
“The Mage’s name was Bazla. She died the month before Alpha Nikolas and had tutored him in several things. Some Amynta won’t share. The ritual happened near where the Fekete Farkas Pack are now located. She wasn’t there, but she was aware it was happening and why. Nikolas had bad dreams, nightmares of his Pack mysteriously disappearing. He became obsessed, almost crazed with the need to protect what he considered his birthright. Bazla and Konstantin agreed to help secure his line and legacy with the ritual. Amynta also said random full-bloods were tortured or destroyed during this time if Nikolas thought they were enemies out to tarnish or destroy his heritage. ”
“Alright, so we know the ritual happened. Do we know why it’s unraveling, if that’s what’s happening,” Silas asked.
“Not yet, however, I think there’s a trigger or a test we failed or something along that line for this to be happening now.”
“I spoke to Razor earlier, he’s not doing well. He’s asked to be caged,” Silas said. Razor had reached out to him during their meal which was the underlying reason for Jasmine’s panic. She listened to Razor’s bizarre conversation about rainbow colors eating giraffes and wasps. Silas had sent Hank and Jarcee to Razor’s home to escort him to the tunnels to be placed in confinement. He hoped Razor didn’t tear the place apart or hurt anyone.
After speaking with Razor, Jasmine insisted he contact Storm. Upon learning Razor would be placed in solitary, Storm offered to go and help watch over him. Silas had hesitated until Storm made it clear Renee grounded him in a way he couldn’t explain, and he had been able to remain in control. But he wasn’t sure anyone could contain Razor if he chose to leave. Silas agreed to allow Storm to go below to the cages and spend time with his cousin.
“I see,” Hawke said slowly. “Do we need Thomas and the others to hold him?” It was strange that Thomas and other Chimera could match and at times win against Storm and Razor in fights during training.
“Not yet. Storm is watching him.”
Hawke didn’t say anything.
“We need to focus on finding answers. Put on that brilliant cap of yours and observe what’s happening to Razor’s beast. Find a link or trigger or pattern. There’s something we’re missing.”
“Yes, Sir,” Hawke said.
Silas broke the link, leaned back against the chair, and stared at the ceiling.
“He’s working hard to get answers,” Jasmine said as she sat on his lap.
“You heard him?” Silas wrapped his arm loosely around her waist.
She nodded and placed kisses on his neck.
He relaxed beneath her tender touch. Slowly he moved one hand up her back, the other across her chest, squeezing and kneading her breasts as he pulled her down for another sweet kiss. With an expert move, he unsnapped her bra. Freed, her breast spilled into his palm. Lips pressed to the back of her neck, deliberately he kissed a slow trail along her shoulders paying close attention to the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder.
She closed her eyes and allowed him to explore her body with his hands and mouth. One hand lay on her hip. The tips of his fingers traced the outline of her panties while he tugged on her nipple.
“Mmm,” she moaned and opened her legs wider, an invitation to explore he wouldn’t ignore. His fingers slid beneath her panties into her slippery, tight, warmth. She was drenched and gasped at his entry. He hooked his fingers and exited slowly, enjoying the feel of her flexing walls. Toying with her pubic hair, he applied pressure just above the opening teasing her swollen clitoris.
She groaned and twitched against him.
Erect and hard, yet restricted, he closed heavy eyelids to ease the temporary frustration of his cock straining against his jeans. She slid her hand beneath his shirt and pulled it over his head. His hot skin was pressed to hers.
“You’re so wet and tight.” He traced her ear with the tip of his tongue and grasped it gently between his teeth.
“Silas,” she moaned deep in her throat.
The need in her voice shook him. He picked her up, turned her so that she faced him and kissed her hard and deep. He pushed her against his erection and gyrated. Their hips matched perfectly as his cock rubbed along her still-clothed sex.
Jasmine stopped, pushed against his chest, looked down, unzipped his pants and freed him. His dick sprang forward ready to be sheathed in her heat.
Without saying a word, she moved her panties aside, lined them up, and slowly sat down until she was fully seated.
He shuddered under her body fro
m head to foot.
She kissed his nipple. Her tongue flicked the tight peaks. She grazed the nubs with the edges of her teeth.
He groaned in unrelenting bliss. The sweet scent of her arousal washed over him ratcheting his insistent desire.
Instead of moving immediately they stared at each other, her fingers touched his face lightly as she explored him, a small smile on her lips.
His gaze roamed over her as she watched him back.
"You are so sexy and smart and strong, I’m really blessed you’re mine," she said with just the right amount of passion and honesty that her words struck a bullseye in his heart.
Unwilling to say anything that might break the sweetness of the moment, he pulled her close, kissed her chin, cheeks and then took her mouth. This wonderful woman never ceased to amaze and surprise him with the unexpected. She claimed he was her heart, but he knew the truth, she was his. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the kiss as he moved slowly inside of her, making slow, sweet love.
CHAPTER TEN
SILAS MET ANGUS ON the porch around four that morning. Rested and feeling much better now that there was peace between him and his mate, he shared the information he had received from Hawke and Amynta.
Angus informed him Shyla had reached out to her mother regarding any specific information on the BlackWolf Clan. Her mother confirmed Shyla’s earlier comments that there was nothing that they were aware of and to search deeper they would need the Goddess’ permission.
Silas had sent a message to the Goddess asking for a meeting and waited for a response.
They arrived on the shore and walked several feet into the water before casting their lines.
“Ulric contacted me a few hours ago,” Angus said. “He’s being challenged and wanted to know if I had anything to do with it.” He snorted. “If I was going to challenge him I would’ve done it when there were more people in the Pack.”
“Who challenged him?” Silas asked.
“Don’t know, he didn’t say. Just that he’s been challenged and will fight anyone who thinks they can take the Pack from him.”
Silas didn’t say anything immediately. “Is the challenge a product of what’s going on in the Clan?”
Angus looked at him in surprise.
“The timing’s suspicious. How long has Ulric been an ineffective Alpha? Decades, right?”
Angus nodded.
“So why is he being challenged now? Why the aggression now?” Silas thought over all the complaints and comments. “Razor’s personality goes the full spectrum, could be because of his close connection to Grandfather, but almost everyone else complained of something aggressive happening. Even my dreams... some were aggressive.” He didn’t mention his earlier behavior toward Jasmine, that was personal.
“Same here. Shyla says I’ve been more aggressive than usual. Good thing she likes it or we’d have problems. I never tied it to what was happening to the Clan.” Angus shook his head. “That sucks. I don’t like being out of control like that, especially when I don’t know I’m out of control.”
Silas agreed as he gave the matter more thought. “Grandfather’s origins? How closely related is he to Nikolas?”
“His sire was Nikolas’ pup from his first litter.”
“Similar to the relationship with Razor and Storm?” Silas asked surprised. He hadn’t known of that similarity.
“Yes. Grandfather lost his sire early, some sort of hunting accident, I don’t recall the particulars. Nikolas was Alpha at the time and took Grandfather as his pup. That’s why a lot of people think Grandfather was sired by Nikolas.”
“Understandable. Why is he here? I mean, why doesn’t Nikolas’ ghost or whatever Grandfather is, visit us? I never understood that,” Silas said reeling in a large Tuna.
“Me neither. Maybe it’s all a part of the ritual or something like that.”
Silas removed the fish and placed him in the bucket before returning to stand near Angus. So far he had caught more fish than his brother, not that he kept score or anything.
“Also, why was Grandfather chosen to start half-breeding? At that time, there were a lot of BlackWolf Packs,” Silas said as he cast his line.
“Not really, we were dying off, not just our Clan but full-bloods in general weren’t thriving. The Liege didn’t help with their experiments and enslaving our people, but as the world modernized, industrialized, we lost forests, the ability to hunt for large game, our way of life became harder to maintain. I don’t know the worldwide numbers back then, but they were low. The possibility of extinction was a reality. Remember, Grandfather was the BlackWolf Clan Alpha at the time and served the Goddess well. They made the decision to create half-breeds together. He couldn’t have changed his body or the bodies of the women he impregnated without the Goddess’ assistance,” Angus said.
Silas glanced at Angus’ line as he pulled in a large fish and scooped two more out of the water with his net.
“Maybe that’s the answer to the first question and the reason Grandfather walks among us when the need arises, and others don’t,” Silas said moving slightly further out, searching the waters to scoop the fish. Seeing several large ones, using his net he caught three more, bringing him slightly ahead of Angus.
“What’s the answer?” Angus asked.
“The Goddess’ did something to Grandfather which allows him to come to help us the way he does,” Silas said. He was done catching fish. Knowing he had to clean those few he caught kept him from re-casting his line.
“I’m sure that’s part of it, although it might have something to do with Grandfather’s sire. I read somewhere that he was a kind-hearted person who went out of his way to help Pack. His death was mourned for a long time. The Goddess takes note when that happens and may have rewarded Grandfather for the works of his father.” Angus shrugged. “Just a thought.”
Silas put away his gear, sat on the beach, and pulled out the first fish to clean. “It would explain why She chose him. Definitely, something to think about.”
“Why’re you interested in him? His history and everything? You think it has something to do with what’s going on?” Angus caught several more fish and placed them in his bucket. He watched Silas work on the fish a few moments before sitting a few feet away.
“Yes, it’s all involved. Look at the connections,” Silas said. “What of Nikolas’ other pups? Why weren’t any of them chosen by the Goddess to save wolves? And this, I’ve wondered about it since you mentioned it years ago. What happened to the other BlackWolf Clans? Those who were not related to Nikolas. Did someone kill them? Was their destruction known in advance and the reason for Nikolas binding with Konstantin?”
Angus stared at him a few moments, shook his head and took a deep breath. “Wow, you throw a mean punch. Those are good questions. I don’t have any answers. Honestly, I don’t know the names of Nikolas’ pups, even though there were quite a bit, over 10 but less than 20. Like Grandfather, Nikolas had no problem spreading his seed far and wide.”
Silas waved that last comment aside. “I don’t remember our history like you which is why I’m confused by the holes I see in the story. For instance, you thought the BlackWolf in your dreams was Nikolas at first, then you changed your mind because by the 1800s Nikolas was still living, right? So, who was the BlackWolf in your dreams? Not Grandfather, he walked among Pack.”
“I said the wolf in my dreams looked like Nikolas. Not that he was Nikolas but you’re right, I did see a wolf. Over the years there have been slight changes in the dream and the wolf. I don’t remember exactly when Grandfather started traipsing through my dreams, but I do recall there was a subtle difference.”
“Grandfather is the one who slid into David’s dreams, at least that’s what the old man said.” Silas paused as he stared at the dark water. “I don’t like riddles.”
Angus snorted and continued cleaning the fish.
“What happens if Ulric is challenged and loses? Or wins? Is the challenge to death? Now is no
t the time to lose more Clansmen.”
“Typically, it’s to the death but if you mention your suspicions to the group, we should be able to change it,” Angus said. “Much as I don’t like Ulric, I don’t want to see him terminated because of something he cannot control.”
“I think it’s important to get answers about the death of other BlackWolf Clans, the status of Nikolas litter-mates and pups and discover exactly what Alpha Nikolas bestowed on the Clan through that ritual. We saw what happened to Konstantin’s plan to aid full-bloods, it was corrupted by human greed. Thousands of wolves were slaughtered over centuries and experimented on to line the pockets of a few men who basked in the provisions of the agreement. What if Nikolas’ ritual is having twisted effects? Not that it’s the same thing as the Liege, that’s not what I mean.” He paused to pull his thoughts together. “The era Alpha Nikolas lived in was much different than the way we live now. What if the ritual was short-sighted in some way and didn’t provide for expansion or growth? Think about it. We left the land and our pups live in the States among humans. Some of the other Packs exist the same way. What if we aren’t supposed to?”
Angus stared at him for several moments. “You think the ritual tethered us to the land in some way?”
“Not really but it’s something to consider. There is only one Black Wolf line still standing. I’d hate to think Nikolas had anything to do with that so I won’t go there. However, something happened. We need to know because possibly it’s what’s happening to us now...” Silas met Angus gaze.
“Hadn’t thought along those lines. I remember there were always deaths like I said, we lost hunting grounds. Humans moved in, killed our prey, destroyed the forest... it never occurred to me that one line or group was being targeted,” Angus said.
“They may not have been,” Silas said. “However, the BlackWolf Clan didn’t start seriously losing Pack until the Liege crossed into our lands.”
“We lost Pack,” Angus said.
“Not to death. People left for other reasons and didn’t return, which may be another reason for whatever is happening.” He looked at Angus. “Is it possible for Grandfather to find Nikolas in his resting place so he could ask a few questions?”