Claiming Her Mates: Book One

by Dia Cole

“She’s mine!” Nathan’s roar was deafening. “I will eviscerate any male that touches her. Understand?”

  I pulled the phone away from my ringing ear. “Understood.”

  “Good,” grunted Nathan. “The storm is closing in and I won’t risk the drive up the mountain with Mira. Sunridge is here on our left. I’m pulling into the resort. Mira and I’ll stay here for the night. Expect us first thing in the morning.”

  “Yes, sir,” I replied before the line went dead.

  Mason and Liam paled in response to the replayed conversation.

  “Now do you understand?”

  Both men nodded, looking stricken.

  “Why do I get the feeling that you’re all having a conversation I can’t hear?” Havana asked from the bed.

  “Because we are,” I said quietly.

  I could hear her heartbeat speeding up. “You guys aren’t human, are you?”

  I let out a weary sigh. “No.”

  “Then what are you?” she asked in a breathless voice. “Vampires?”

  Liam let out a barking laugh.

  I shook my head. “I can assure you there is nothing supernatural about us. We’re man-made.”

  “Man-made,” Havana repeated, looking to Mason for answers. For some reason that bothered me. A lot.

  Mason gave her an agonized look and took a step toward her. “Havana—”

  “Mason, you need to leave,” I said interrupting him. I then looked over at Liam. “The same goes for you, brother. I don’t want to have to bury pieces of you tomorrow.”

  Mason stiffened. “Finding out you’re Lykos when you’ve been raised as a human can be traumatic. Let me talk to her—”

  “Leave now, Dr. Wheeler and Enforcer Murphy.” The steel in my voice left nothing up for debate.

  Both men headed straight for the door. “Goodbye, Havana,” they both said in unison before leaving. A minute later I heard the sound of their vehicles crunching through the snow.

  Havana stared at me with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in her gaze. “Are you going to tell me what you guys are?”

  “No. I’m going to show you,” I said, yanking Liam’s shirt off my head.

  Her gasp at my nakedness shouldn’t have affected me the way it did. My first mistake was in looking over at her and seeing her gaze focus on my swelling shaft. The second mistake was in taking a deep steadying breath through my nose. The scent of her pheromones hit me like a punch to the gut.

  I fisted my hands to keep from pouncing on her. I can’t touch her. I can’t touch her. I slammed my eyes shut trying to block out the vision of her sitting up on the bed, her gorgeous bare legs visible.

  She moaned as if she was picking up on my lust. “What’s happening to me? I’m not normally a nympho like this, but it’s like I can’t help myself. First it was Mason, then Liam, and now I want you.”

  Hearing that she desired me shook my resolve. She belongs to Nathan. Gritting my teeth, I slowly opened my eyes. “You’re about to go through your first transition.”

  Her dark brown eyes widened. “Transition into what?”

  “Into this.” I slid my eye patch down so the elastic settled around my neck and shed my human form in a snapping and popping of bones and joints. My eye radiated extreme pain as it fought to regenerate around the diamond in my eye socket, but I kept my muzzle lifted until the flesh and sinew grew around the stone, holding it in place.

  Havana let out a gasp as I rose as a wolf. “Oh my God.” She swayed on the bed and for a moment I thought she’d pass out.

  Quickly, I transformed back to human.

  “You’re werewolves,” she cried, scrambling toward the edge of the bed away from me.

  I held my hands out. “I’m not going to hurt you. And we prefer the term Lykos. Our species originated as part of a military genetic engineering project that began nearly a hundred years ago.”

  “The military created you?” Havana asked, some color returning to her face.

  I nodded. “Yes. They wanted stronger, faster, more resilient soldiers so they created animal hybrids.” Among other abominations. “Unfortunately, they couldn’t eliminate our most primal urges, which made us unsuitable in combat and the Lykos project was deemed a failure.” The urge to mate and serve our females had been both our damnation and our salvation. “Numerous members of our species managed to escape from the labs and establish factions all over this country. We’ve existed in secrecy ever since.”

  Havana blinked, taking this all better than I would’ve expected. “So, obviously you don’t need a full moon to transform.”

  “No. And silver doesn’t kill us although it inhibits our ability to change form,” I said, anticipating her next question. I waited for her to put the pieces together and ask where she fit into all this, but instead she turned her attention to my right eye.

  “Why do you have a jewel in your eye socket?”

  With a start I realized I hadn’t put my eye patch back in place. I grabbed it from around my neck and quickly hid the yellow diamond from view. “I wear it as punishment.” Bitterness crept into my tone. “When taking our wolf form we can regenerate from most injuries, but Tas—the person who punished me doesn’t want me regenerating my eye.”

  Havana made a sound of sympathy. “That must be painful. Why don’t you take it out?”

  “I can’t.” Tasha made sure of that with a heavy dose of compulsion. She intended the stone to be a lifelong reminder never to be blinded by loyalty to anyone other than her. Needing to change the topic, I gave Havana a penetrating look, “You’re Lykos too.”

  Her mouth fell open, and then she laughed. “Me? A werewolf?” She shook her head. “No way.”

  “How old are you?”

  She blinked, clearly not expecting that question. “Twenty-two.”

  I nodded. “A late bloomer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We normally go through our first transition between eighteen and twenty-one. Females are later than males.”

  She rubbed her arms as if she was cold. “The first transition—that’s the first time a person transforms into a wolf.”

  “Yes, and for females, it’s the first time they go into heat.”

  “Heat?”

  “Yes, during which time they are filled with the insatiable urge to mate.”

  A blush spread across her cheeks. “And that’s what you think is going on with me?”

  I nodded. “Nathan confirmed you’re a latent when I spoke with him earlier today.”

  She blanched. “Nathan? He’s a Lykos too?”

  “Yes. He’s an Alpha male, which means he’s dominant over the rest of us.” But he’s still under Tasha’s rule.

  “And he knew I was a werewolf?”

  The rising tension in her voice made me soften my tone. “He knew you had Lykos blood. He said it was one of the reasons he hired you as his daughter’s nanny.”

  “Motherfucker.” Her eyes flashed with anger. She jumped off the bed and the comforter fell to the floor. “When I see that bastard again I’m going to kick him in the balls. I can’t believe he would keep this from me along with all the other crap he put me through.” She stalked over and glared up at me. “And you—you’ve been an ass to me since the moment we met. What did I ever do to you?”

  Struck dumb by the proximity of her delectable curves, I tried to take a deep steadying breath. Fuck. I’d forgotten to breathe through my mouth. The scent of her filled my senses, making my shaft jump at attention. “You haven’t done anything, princess. Liam and Mason aren’t the only ones losing their minds over you. I'm pissed because I can never have you.”

  She glanced down at my erection and froze. The air between us crackled with electric tension. A change seemed to come over her like a switch was hit. Her face flushed, her eyes lightened with desire, and she licked her lips. “You want me.”

  There was no point in denying it so I stood there like a fool.

  “Well you’re in luck because I w
ant you too,” she purred. “I don’t care if it's some kind of werewolf heat, all I know is that if I don’t get you inside me in the next five minutes, I might combust.”

  “I can’t,” I groaned.

  “Why not?” she asked cupping her breasts and offering them to me. “Don’t you like what you see?”

  I groaned at the gorgeous sight of her stiffening peaks. “Fuck, yes. But Nathan forbade any of us from touching you. He’ll kill us if we do.”

  A naughty smile crept across her lips. “What if I touch you instead?” She reached out and caressed my shaft with her uninjured hand.

  Yesss. The feel of her soft skin against mine made my eyes roll back in my head. No. “I can’t. I won’t,” I repeated, but my traitorous body refused to move away from her touch. My instincts cried out to submit to this, to her.

  She slid her hand back and forth in a practiced motion that had me clenching my jaw so tight my molars ached.

  Feels so good. With a ragged gasp, I rocked against her palm. It’s been so long since a female chose me. Savage need ripped through me along with the urge to pick her up, throw her on the bed, and bury myself balls deep inside her. Can’t. Nathan.

  Before my control frayed further, I pulled away, tore open the door, and ran like a coward into the storm.

  14

  Havana

  Stunned by Gabriel’s sudden departure, I followed him out the open door. Ignoring the freezing air on my bare skin, I called after him, “Gabr—” I choked at the sight of him morphing from man to wolf. Oh, God.

  The brown wolf dashed away from the cabin as if the fires of hell were licking at his paws.

  He’s a fucking werewolf. They’re all werewolves. And I may be one too. With a cry, I stumbled back into the welcoming heat of the cabin and slammed the door. How can any of this be possible? My head swam with what I’d seen while my lower body still throbbed with desire.

  The burning hunger inside me wouldn’t let me focus on Gabriel’s earth-shattering revelations nor would it allow me to feel ashamed of the way I’d gone after the man…wolf…whatever he was. Another wave of heat flashed through me.

  Dazed, I stumbled to the bed on shaky legs and sat down on the mattress. The same mattress where I’d offered myself to both Liam and Mason. I inhaled deeply catching the masculine scent of the men.

  Visceral need pulsed through me. If Gabriel hadn’t shown up, Liam and Mason might’ve taken me in every way two lusty men could take a woman. One wicked fantasy after another flashed through my mind. Mason sliding into me from behind while I took Liam in my mouth. Both men entering me at the same time…

  With a moan, I fell back on the bed. The hot throb between my legs ached to the point of pain. Unable to stop myself, I stroked my damp flesh. My thighs shook as I imagined Mason flicking his tongue along my clit while Liam suckled my nipples.

  Oh, God. Heat built to an inferno inside me. My entire body shuddered, and I came with a scream. Stars burst behind my eyelids as I crested on the aftershocks of the orgasm. It took a full minute before I came to my senses again. Jesus. What’s going on with me? Gabriel said I was going through some kind of heat. Like a freaking dog, or more appropriately a wolf.

  I shook my head. Nope. That couldn’t be what was happening. There has to be some kind of rational explanation.

  A log in the woodstove made a cracking noise.

  Startled, I sat up so fast in the bed that my back spasmed. Ouch. I rubbed the base of my spine. It was definitely time for another pain pill. Now where did I put them? I glanced around the small room and frowned when I didn’t spot the bottle.

  Wait. What if the pills Mason gave me made me feel this way? I fisted the bed sheets. Ibuprofen my ass. He probably slipped me an aphrodisiac. That would explain why I’d been acting like a nympho. The drugs probably made me hallucinate too. All this business about werewolves wasn’t real. My desperate need to have sex wasn’t real either.

  Letting out a relieved breath, I walked over to where my dress lay crumpled near the recliner. Cursing Mason under my breath, I put on the back brace and the rest of my clothes. Then I glanced over at the crate Liam had brought in. The food might be drugged too.

  You’re losing it, Vana. I rubbed my arms. Okay, so it was unlikely that the men drugged the food. My stomach growled in agreement. With a sigh, I padded over to the crate of food and grabbed an unopened box of chocolate chip cookies. Normally, I counted carbs like a freak, but there was nothing normal about anything in my life right now.

  I carried my loot over to the recliner and stuffed my face until I couldn’t fit another bite into my mouth. Another loud pop came from inside the stove reminding me I had to add more wood. I opened the door to the stove and hefted in a log. As I threw it, a sliver of wood caught on my bandage and pulled part of the gauze into the stove.

  I screamed as the gauze caught on fire. Like a flash, I unwrapped my hand and threw the rest of the bandage into the stove. Crap. That was a close call. As I glanced down at my hand, my heart skipped a beat. Black veins trekked out like spiderwebs from the cut on my palm all the way to my wrist. My hand looked just like Dr. Sullivan’s chest. No. God, no. Stark terror whipped through me as I rushed over to the water cooler and washed my hands. The blackened area didn’t wash away. Somehow I’d gotten infected.

  My mind ever so helpfully played back the memory of my fight with Brody in the club alley. The drug dealer’s infected blood must’ve gotten into the cut on my hand.

  Horrified, I probed the flesh around the wound. It was completely numb to the touch. The dark veins will spread and I’ll die just like the professor. Then I’ll turn into a monster like Jess and her undead friends.

  No. I shook my head to dispel that awful thought. Maybe I’m just hallucinating this like the whole werewolf thing. I clenched my eyes shut and then slowly opened them. The veins were still there. My stomach rolled. I don’t think this is a hallucination. Oh, Jesus. What do I do?

  My insides tied themselves into knots as I paced. According to Mason's estimate, I’d be dead within twenty-four hours. Unless… Unless the doctor had a cure or a way of treating the infection. Although my trust in him was shaken, he was my only chance at survival. I glanced at the door. I couldn’t wait around for him to make an appearance, assuming he even would. Mason said their place was just a few miles up the road. I’ll have to walk there.

  I slung on my boots and my jacket that Mason must've brought back inside, grabbed my duffel bag, and opened the door. A freezing gust of wind blew in a flurry of snow that covered the table and bench. Looks like that winter storm is here. Shit. I had no choice but to chance it. Shivering, I stepped outside.

  Snow was falling fast and hard. I blinked as a white flake stuck to the top of my eyelash. Despite the howling wind and the fact I was facing almost certain death, a childlike wonder hit me. Snow! I’d read about it and seen it in shows but it was nothing like actually experiencing it for the first time. Mom had never taken me anywhere outside of Saguaro Valley and in the six years since her death, I’d made no effort to travel or leave town.

  Regret clawed at me. I’d been so consumed with working and stocking away money for fear that I’d end up like my mother—spinning around a pole until she'd gotten too sick to dance.

  Standing there as death stalked closer with every heartbeat, I realized that I’d wasted so much of my life. In the end, money didn’t matter, but experiences and memories did. What precious memories did I have other than the handful of months I'd spent with Nathan, a man who'd never really loved me?

  I studied the cold quiet beauty of the surrounding forest. I’d been missing out on so much. If I survive this infection, I won’t let fear and heartbreak keep me from living my life to the fullest.

  Filled with resolve, I stumbled up the steep hill following the fading tire tracks. Although trudging through snow in stilettos would’ve been challenging in the best of conditions, trying to do it with a broken heel made it downright treacherous.

  Halfw
ay up, I slipped on a patch of ice and fell hard on the ground. Pain like nothing I’d ever experienced radiated through my lower back. Crying out, I tried to roll to my side. Agony pinned me to the icy road. I couldn’t move. Crap! “Help!” I screamed. “Mason! Liam! Gabriel!” I shouted their names until my voice went raw.

  “They’ll come along soon,” I told the leaden sky. The cold crept in along with increasing wind. Damn. This isn’t good. Teeth chattering, I tried to cover as much of my skin as I could with my thin coat. I dug through my bag with trembling hands and draped myself with my dance outfits and then finally even the bag itself.

  Snow fell harder, blanketing me in fine powder. “I don’t think I like you anymore,” I said to the white stuff. I blew on my fingers trying to shake the feeling they were being jabbed with needles.

  My nose and exposed legs burned. Shit. I’m freezing to death. With that realization, tears leaked from my eyes. This is so screwed up. I wasn’t religious, but it seemed ridiculous that the powers that be would get me out of so many dangerous situations in my short life only to have me end up as a frozen corpsicle on a mountain.

  It’s not fair. There were so many things I’d never gotten to do. I’d never been to the beach. Gone up in a hot air balloon. Had a child. And now I never would. A wave of grief washed over me. I’d also never get the chance to find out what Nathan wanted to tell me.

  Since I was dying and all, I grabbed my cell phone with my shaking fingers and pulled up the last photo I’d taken of him. Seeing his rugged face made me shiver harder. He wasn’t model gorgeous in the way Gabriel, Mason, and even Liam were. His rough-hewn features were too brutal to be called handsome, but there was a compelling intensity to him that made everyone turn and stare when he walked through the room. He was one of those rare forces of nature that had the ability to put everyone he met into orbit around him.

  I’d fallen under his spell from the moment he interviewed me for the nanny position. He was the whole package. Rich businessman. Doting single father. Sexy, intense, alpha male. Ha. Little did I know there was more to that. One look from him melted me into warm toffee, and I hadn’t been coy about my attraction to him. But no matter how seductive I’d been, he’d refused to touch me until that fateful day when Max called me on my night off and begged me to sub for some dancers with the canine flu. I’d changed into my sexy dominatrix outfit and stormed the stage only to find a pair of shocked golden eyes out in the audience. After staring at Nathan like a deer in the headlights, I did the only thing I could do. Never taking my gaze from his, I gave the most seductive, lust-inducing set of my life. And when it was over, Nathan followed me offstage. Then he pinned me to the wall and kissed me so passionately, I forgot to breathe.