by Knight, Gwen
Her heart panged as she thought about her mate.
I’m coming for you, War.
15
Throughout his life, War had experienced his fair share of pain. The pain of the first shift, the pain of his first breakup, the pain of his first fistfight, and now, he could add the pain of being stabbed in the back with a silver blade. Still, none of that compared to the pain of losing Emma.
Even now, half-conscious, War could hear her screams echoing in his head, hear her crying out his name as Taylor and his men dragged her away. He’d wanted nothing more than to crawl to her. Instead, four of his wolves had pinned him down while a fifth ripped the blade out of his back. Still, that agony barely compared to losing his mate. Emma was his life—she was all that mattered. He would do anything for her, even if that meant storming Taylor’s fort while half-dead.
His pack had apparently disagreed.
Somehow, they’d managed to drag his wounded ass back to the homestead. Every time he tried to move, his pack practically sat on him. Under Snow’s orders, he wasn’t to leave the homestead until he was fully healed.
Screw that.
Who knew what Taylor and his men were doing to Emma. In their eyes, she was a traitor, a crime often accompanied with a death sentence.
Emma wasn’t dead. He had to believe that. Because losing Emma would destroy him. And deep down, he believed she was alive. She had to be. He wouldn’t accept anything less.
Deciding it was time to act, War lifted his head and studied the room. At least a dozen wolves surrounded him. And he could hear the rest patrolling the homestead. The pack was on high alert, it seemed. Snow believed they needed to be ready for another ambush. Taylor had injured their alpha and thereby weakened the pack. If ever there was a time to attack, it was now. Deep down, it bothered War that his pack felt so threatened, but he couldn’t focus on anything other than Emma. And until she returned to him, safe and sound, she was all that mattered.
War rose to his feet and tested his balance. His back ached, but thankfully, standing on four legs mitigated a little of the pain. By some miracle, he was healing. But whether he’d be fully healed in time to save Emma, he couldn’t say.
Every last pair of eyes turned toward him. War retaliated with a hard stare. It didn’t take long for his wolves to bow their heads. Injured or not, he was their alpha, and they knew it.
“Let me through,” War said, his lip curling up to emphasize his point.
Slowly, his pack rose to their feet, but rather than move out of his way, they parted like the Red Sea and formed a path for Snow. Head held high, Snow marched forward, his gaze locked with War’s.
“Don’t do this,” Snow cautioned.
“Move.”
“Alpha—”
“I said, move!” War’s chest rumbled with a deep growl. He may be injured, but that hardly gave Snow permission to manhandle him or take control of his pack. They would respect him, or they would die. No one would keep him from Emma.
Sensing his alpha’s rage, Snow steeled himself. “Don’t make me fight you.”
“Don’t make me kill you,” War snapped. “Stand aside like a good little pup, and there won’t be any need for violence.”
“You’re injured, alpha.”
War’s jaw clenched, his fangs biting into his bottom lip. If it came down to a fight, he’d win. Everyone in the pack knew that. War had been the alpha for ten years for a reason. Ruthless and vicious, he always won his fights. And if they needed a reminder of that, he was more than happy to provide one.
“War,” Snow said, his stance relaxing. “We need you right now. We need you healthy and whole and strong. Emma needs you alive.”
War’s rage carried him another foot forward. Every muscle in his body coiled, prepared to strike at a moment’s notice. He’d made Snow his second years ago, and in all that time, they’d never butted heads like this. Until now.
“Move,” War reiterated, his claws scoring the wooden floor.
It was almost imperceptible, but War caught the slight flash of fear in Snow’s eyes. He knew better than any of the fate that awaited him if he continued to push his luck.
“War—”
At the sound of his first name, War lunged forward, his teeth snapping the air near Snow’s face. The entire pack leaped back, their alarmed cries ringing through his head. Snow hadn’t budged an inch, and for a moment, War wondered if this would really come down to a fight.
So be it.
But before War could attack a second time, a strange expression crossed Snow’s face. One more surprised than fearful. Eyes wide, War’s second turned away from him, his nose lifted in the air. Evidently, he’d picked up a scent.
War lifted his head and drew in a deep breath. The second he caught a whiff, relief eased the weight on War’s chest. His heart gave a hard knock against his chest a second before a familiar tingle spread across his body.
Emma.
She was here.
War gave in to the shift and barely acknowledged any pain as his body reshaped itself. The second he rose on two legs, he crossed the room in three powerful strides. Emma had barely burst into the room, cheeks bright from exertion, when he scooped her up into his arms and held her close.
“War!” she gasped, her arms looping around him.
He sank into the embrace, all the while thanking every star in the sky for her safe return.
Emma choked on a sob and tucked her head against his shoulder, her body trembling with relief. “I thought I lost you.”
His eyes fluttered shut as he drew in her scent. “I thought the same.”
Emma’s arms tightened around his neck, and her tears dampened his shoulder. But he didn’t care. She was in his arms, exactly where she belonged.
Gasping, she wrenched back from War and cupped his face, her palms soft against his stubble. “Taylor stabbed you!”
War chuckled. “I’m aware.”
“But you’re fine?”
“I am now,” he assured her before brushing a gentle kiss against her brow.
With a sharp squeal, she slung her arms around his neck once more. “I kept thinking the worst. I didn’t know if you were dead or not, and I—I just…”
“Shh.” War cupped the back of her head and reveled in her embrace. For the first time in hours, his wolf was content. Her presence had finally soothed the beast.
“Um, Emma?” a strange voice warbled.
War instantly went on the defense. So caught up in Emma, he hadn’t noticed the second female in the room. With a threatening growl, he shoved Emma behind him and faced this unknown threat with his fangs bared.
“Calm down, wolf boy,” she muttered, lifting a hand in front of her eyes. “And maybe put on some clothes?”
War didn’t give a flying fuck about his nudity. There was an unknown threat standing in the middle of his homestead, one who smelled far too much like Taylor’s men for his liking. Everything about her screamed that she’d come from the fort. Unacceptable.
“Calm down,” Emma murmured. “War, meet Luna. Luna, this is War.”
Luna. He knew that name. Emma had spoken of her before. He cocked his head and studied the woman before him. So, this was the one who’d helped Emma leave the fort in the first place. The woman Emma had grown close to after the curse.
“Luna helped me escape again. Taylor…” His mate shuddered and her hand trembled against his back. “Taylor insisted I give him your location. I refused, but he wasn’t willing to take no for an answer. Thankfully, Luna slipped in and got me out.”
“Did he hurt you?” War demanded in a voice far too deep to be called human.
“No, thankfully. Not yet.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. Not yet meant the man had been planning something. And that didn’t sit well with War. Next time he and Taylor crossed paths, the man certainly wouldn’t walk away.
“Luna risked everything to save me,” Emma continued. “Her mother is still at the fort. She’s sick, a
nd we have to get her out before Taylor punishes her on our behalf.”
“Okay, not to interrupt or anything,” Luna said. “But can the two of you please put some clothes on? Not that I don’t mind the view or anything, but it’s sort of difficult to converse when y’all’s dangly bits are hanging out.”
War blinked at the woman. Just what was she going on about? He was the only one naked…
He turned, surprise rendering him mute.
Luna was right. He wasn’t the only nude one in the room. There amidst his pack stood another, as naked as the day he was born.
Snow stared at his hands, stunned into silence.
“Holy cow!” Emma gasped. “Luna! You found your mate!”
“My what now?”
Snow lifted his head, his ice-blue eyes so familiar. His hair was longer now, the tips brushing his neck, but for all intents and purposes, he was still Snow. He met War’s gaze, wide and unblinking.
“I can’t believe it,” he muttered in a rough voice. “I…can’t…what just happened…?”
“It’s all right.” War remembered well how jarring it was. After a year of being trapped in a wolf’s body, it took a while to adjust.
Snow stepped forward, his gait somewhat awkward. “I’m human.”
“You’re human.”
“I can speak.”
“You can speak,” War said, laughing.
Snow frowned. “I have a mate?”
“You most certainly have a mate.”
“Whoa. I’m not anyone’s mate,” Luna announced, her pulse ratcheting up a notch. “I should go. Emma, it was great rescuing you and all, but this…this is too much.”
“Luna, wait!” Emma laid a hand on her friend’s arm. “Just wait, okay? Don’t run off. Give him time to adjust.”
“Adjust to what?”
“Being human. It’s only possible because you’re here. If you leave, he’ll shift back into wolf form.”
Luna shook her head, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. “Emma, that doesn’t make any sense.”
“I know.” Her gentle chuckle eased through the room. “But it’s true. Stay. I promise I’ll explain everything.”
“You’d better,” her friend grumbled, crossing her toned arms over her chest. “This is lunacy.”
Emma’s chuckle grew into a laugh. “Your specialty, my friend. It’s why your mama named you Luna, after all.”
“Har, har.” Luna sighed, then plopped herself down in the nearest chair and tapped her foot.
Emma laid a hand on War’s arm. “Why don’t you and Snow find some clothes while I explain everything to Luna. We’ll stick close by so you guys don’t shift, but give us a little privacy while we talk, okay?”
War leaned in and kissed Emma. The feel of her lips against his invoked a rush of desire unlike anything he’d ever felt. Emma was home and with him. All he wanted was to finally claim her and make her his forever. They’d both waited so long—he refused to wait any longer.
Sensing where his thoughts had strayed, Emma grinned up at him and stole another kiss. “Soon, my love.”
“Damn right, soon. Have your little discussion, but afterward, you and I have an important ceremony to complete.”
“And a general to discuss,” she muttered.
War shook his head. “Let’s not think about him right now. Tonight is for us.”
Her smile brightened. “Agreed.”
War kissed the tip of her nose, then clapped Snow on the back and guided him toward the stairway. Regardless of all else, tonight would be the night he and Emma became true mates. No doubt about it. He refused to let anyone else stand in their way.
Even his newly-changed second.
* * *
Rather proud of himself, War crossed his arms over his chest and analyzed the bedroom. While Emma and Luna talked, he’d taken the time to prepare the room they’d soon call their own. He’d cleaned the floor of the scattered remains of ripped linen and clothing and used a few scraps to wipe down the furniture. Most of it was in decent shape. Whoever had lived here before them had emptied the drawers and abandoned the rest. A few nicks along the hardwood dresser, but otherwise, in working condition. Next, he’d flipped the mattress, draped it with what he hoped were clean sheets, then placed a couple lit candles around the room. While he wanted nothing more than to illuminate the space with hundreds of glowing candles, he had to consider their limited resources. The last thing he did was heat a pot of water over the camp stove they’d stolen from the fort and sterilized a few more scraps of linen.
If this was to be their permanent residence, there was more he planned to do to make this place their home. But for tonight, this would suffice. All that mattered was Emma and completing the mating ceremony. He’d been waiting for this moment for so long, he refused to wait any longer. It was time to claim one another, to show the world—and especially Zara—nothing would keep them apart. Zara might have cursed the world, but he refused to let her win. This was how he intended to prove that.
“War?” Emma’s voice came from the hallway.
He turned to gauge her reaction.
Emma’s eyes widened as she stepped into the room, her slender fingers rising to her mouth. “Oh. Wow. This place looks amazing.”
“Cleaning does that,” he said, winking. “Just imagine what we can turn this place into.”
She nodded, circling the room in open wonder.
“How’s Luna?”
“A bit stunned still, but I think she’ll stick around.”
Relief eased War’s shoulders. For Snow’s sake, he hoped she did. As humans, Luna and Emma didn’t quite understand how it felt to be parted from their mates. It was a punishment worse than death. Which was exactly why Zara had separated him and Emma. The witch was callous. Worse. She was downright evil. He only hoped that one day he had the chance to repay the favor.
“How’s Snow?” Emma murmured while stroking the dresser.
War followed her movements like a hunter tracking his prey. His wolf wanted nothing more than to pounce, but he restrained the beast. He wanted to do this right. Take his time. Enjoy her and the mating ritual. It was something a wolf hopefully only did once in his life. It needed to be perfect.
“A little shaky. It’s jarring, especially in our circumstances.”
Emma snuck a side glance at War. “What’s it like? Being a wolf and finding your mate?”
War grinned and sauntered toward her. With a contented sigh, he looped his arms around her waist and drew her into his chest, reveling in the feel of her tucked against him. “It’s like…you’re the reason I exist. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and when I’m with you, my heart beats a little bit faster and I ache to touch you. To be with you. You’re my sun, my moon, my stars.”
She gave a happy hum. “I feel the same way.” After a moment of blissful silence, she tipped her head back and gazed up at him. “Luna doesn’t feel that way.”
“She will. It doesn’t happen immediately for humans.”
“But it does for werewolves?”
War considered that question. The day he met Emma was permanently etched into his memory. “When we met, it felt like I’d been living in a fog. Then I saw you, and everything became so clear. I saw your beautiful face, and I knew. You were mine. Like how I am yours. Snow is likely trying to figure out how to get close to Luna without chasing her away. It’s a fine line to walk. She’ll feel a connection to him, a need to be close, but it takes a little time for humans to feel the strong connection we seem to feel instantly.”
“Is Snow a good man? I mean, I knew him before the curse. But I never really knew him, you know?”
“He’s one of the best. It’s why he’s my second. He’s loyal, trustworthy, and devoted. Don’t worry, love. He’ll treat Luna better than any man has ever treated her.”
A teasing smile curved Emma’s lips. “Well, that might be tough.”
“Why’s that?”
“Luna enjoys having fun. S
he’s had her fair share of men.”
War chuckled. “Then Snow had better be ready to rise to the challenge. Now then, isn’t there something else we should be doing? Something a bit more…wicked?”
A mischievous glint sparkled in Emma’s eyes. “I don’t know. Is there?”
With a playful growl, War swept Emma up into his arms and carried her to the bathroom where the pot of water awaited. Though Emma squealed, her playfulness soon changed tone when he slowly stripped her, then washed her from head to toe. The water had cooled since he’d boiled it, but that didn’t seem to bother her.
War took his time, relishing in her every curve. With a devilish grin, he leaned down and captured one of her pebbled nipples in his mouth, lapping up the water. A faint moan escaped her lips before her breath caught, and her fingers dug into his back. He couldn’t get enough of her. Her taste, her scent, her feel. If he spent the rest of his life loving her, it wouldn’t be enough.
Hands splayed around her hips, he knelt before her, his head still coming to her chest, and he licked his way south. Water rivulets ran down her skin, and he followed the trail, enjoying every inch of her flesh. Without warning, he gripped her hips and lifted, easing her legs over his shoulders. He stood and pressed her against the wall, grateful for the high ceiling, then buried his head between her legs. The instant his mouth closed over her clit, she cried out and fisted his hair.
He’d missed this so much. The sound of her cries. The feel of her thighs tightening around his neck. The feel of her body clenching as he slowly brought her to climax. War stroked her entrance with his tongue and reveled in her sweet taste. Her pussy clenched every time he delved deeper, and with a few well-timed strokes, she shattered around him, her body tensing as waves of pleasure coursed through her.
Emma moaned his name and lifted a hand above her head, pressing her palm against the wall. Usually, this was when he eased off and let her catch her breath, but this time he refused. He wanted to feel her come again, wanted to taste her excitement and pleasure. And it didn’t take long for a second orgasm to grip her. Her thighs trembled as she held on for dear life. Only when her pulse slowed did War ease her down the front of his body. He wanted nothing more than to sheath her over his cock and pound into her, but it wasn’t time yet. He needed to make this a night she remembered, needed to make her delirious with pleasure before giving her his mark. The bite would be painful, but if he timed it right, she wouldn’t feel a thing.