He left Lorcan’s mouth to kiss his jaw and neck, finding every sensitive nook where the touch of his lips made the mage shudder and moan.
“You’re beautiful, and mine.”
He pressed a long line of kisses across Lorcan’s collarbone. They were both hard, their cocks brushing against one another as their hips sought friction. Knox eased back before things went too far, tugging Lorcan upward until the mage was kneeling opposite him. He tangled his fingers in Lorcan’s hair and kissed him breathless, pulling back for enough air to whisper three words, his voice rough.
“I love you.”
The heat in Lorcan’s eyes only deepened at the words, the mage’s smile bright as the sun.
“I love you too. Now make me yours.”
Lorcan was ready—more than ready—to bond with Knox. It seemed like it had taken forever and a day to get there, but here they were. They knelt in front of each other, eye to eye, hands roaming each other’s skin. Lorcan couldn’t stop touching Knox. Hell, he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to claim Knox as much as the wolf wanted to claim him. But he’d been promised sex, and he’d been promised pleasure. Something to wipe out the feeble memory of Tyr’s teeth biting down.
Knox kissed him again, long and slow, his tongue teasing Lorcan’s lower lip. Lorcan parted his mouth, tasting the alpha, and moaned softly. This was a good start.
The alpha gently broke the kiss, peppering smaller kisses on every patch of skin he could reach as he eased Lorcan to his feet and turned him around. Lorcan let the alpha guide him forward, step by uncertain step, until they stood right in front of a tree. Not just any tree—the tree. The one he’d been kissed senseless against, both of them high on magic for the first time.
Knox went to his knees, his hands on Lorcan’s waist, his mouth pressing a kiss to the hollow of Lorcan’s back. Lorcan’s hands found the alpha’s, gripping them tightly as Knox’s mouth drifted lower, tongue swiping between his cheeks to tease at him. Lorcan moaned again, rocking into the sensation as the alpha’s tongue slowly worked him open. Knox’s hands left his waist to grip his ass, holding him open so that he could work his magic. It might not have been Lorcan’s brand of magic, but it was magic all the same. Just when it became too much, when his hips rocked with every touch, the alpha eased away, pressing one last kiss there.
Lorcan sank to his knees willingly, glancing over his shoulder at Knox. Moonlight played across the wolf’s skin, reflecting in his eyes. Knox looked handsome and otherworldly, and he had eyes only for Lorcan. His hands caressed Lorcan’s shoulders, trailing down his arms to grasp his wrists. He drew them away from Lorcan’s body, and Lorcan followed the movement, leaning forward until Knox had pushed his palms against the sturdy trunk of the tree.
“Something to hold onto,” the alpha rumbled, pressing his hands to the rough bark a second time before letting go.
Knox’s grip moved to his hips next, easing his thighs apart and spreading his legs. Lorcan gasped at the feeling of cool air against his skin as Knox nudged here and there, getting him into position. He knew the alpha was satisfied when fingers touched the nape of his neck, teasing a slow circle across the skin before drawing slowly downward. Two fingers trailed down Lorcan’s back, stroking his mage mark and along his spine, until they dipped between his cheeks and pressed inside. A wordless cry fell from his lips as Knox’s touch magnified every sensation. He pushed into it, seeking more, seeking—
“I need you, Knox.”
“Almost.”
“Please.” Another finger and his body sang, reaching new heights. If Knox didn’t hurry up…
There was a sudden nothingness, and he keened loudly. He’d been so close, and now—
Knox’s hands were on his hips again, a firm grip holding him still as the alpha pressed inside him. Inch by glorious inch, that aching space inside him was filled.
“Yes,” he murmured, pressing his hands to the tree, needing to be grounded.
Knox was always careful with him, but he knew that Lorcan didn’t always want slow and gentle.
“Please, Knox.”
He wiggled his hips in encouragement, and Knox managed a strangled laugh as he pulled out. Lorcan’s body tried to follow the movement, desperate for more. But all thoughts were driven from his head a second later when Knox thrust back into him. It was everything he needed—fast, hard, with barely a chance to catch his breath before the next thrust, and the next.
His orgasm built quickly, each push of the alpha’s cock building that pressure inside him.
“Knox,” he warned, afraid he was too close.
“I’ve got you.” Knox’s arms snaked around his upper body, pulling him upright as he continued his punishing pace of thrusts. One arm stayed wrapped around Lorcan’s chest while the other gripped his hair, tugging his head forward and leaving his neck exposed.
Lorcan’s hands reached blindly for the alpha, gripping hold of any patch of skin he could find to anchor himself to. Knox’s hips kept up their rhythmic movements, the angle deeper now, pulling soft cries from Lorcan as the pressure grew and grew.
Knox’s breath was warm against his neck, his lips soft as they settled on his skin. Lorcan shuddered in anticipation as, with one last thrust, all that pressure released. Teeth bit down, a sharp burst of pleasure that overtook all else. The sensation grew into a ball of heated ecstasy that crashed like a slow wave across his body. He came hard, feeling every sensation as Knox came inside him, the alpha’s mouth locked onto his neck. The wave of pleasure grew stronger, blotting out the sky above and the moss below, leaving nothing but the two of them locked in an eternal embrace. He felt himself fall, safe in the knowledge that Knox would always catch him.
Knox was a warm pressure against his back when he blinked his eyes open a while later. Pleasant fatigue covered his body, and there was the slightest of aches in his neck.
“Huh. That was pretty good.”
He felt the rumble of laughter from Knox’s chest before he heard it. The alpha rolled him onto his back and lay on top of him, kissing him senseless.
“You’re mine now,” the wolf teased breathlessly, his nose nudging at the edge of the bite mark. “And everyone will know it.”
Lorcan smiled shyly up at him, pleased at the idea of the world knowing who he belonged to. Hiding a grin, he pressed a kiss to the alpha’s neck, sucking hard on the skin before biting down, sure to leave a mark. Knox groaned deeply, one hand coming up to cup his cheek as Lorcan let the alpha go.
“Now they’ll know you’re mine, too.”
Knox just laughed again, tugging him into his arms once more.
31
Knox was pulled from sleep with the sudden certainty that something was wrong. There was a cub near the boundary. He rolled out of bed, shifting as he did, and took off running. His awareness was crystal clear. It was Lennon, and he was in the southeast, near the old oak tree that had been struck by lightning.
He called to Lorcan and his betas as he ran, drawing them to him. Because Lennon might have been within the boundary, but there was something else outside it—something shrouded in shadow. He heard answering calls from his mage and his betas but knew they’d need backup. He howled loudly, alerting the rest of the pack. Declan’s hunters were out beyond the borders—they needed them home.
The oak tree came into view, but he couldn’t see Lennon. He was certain the cub hadn’t crossed the boundary yet, unless he’d missed it in all the chaos. No, wait. There.
He spotted the small cub about to cross and raced toward him, barking sharply. Lennon didn’t react to his call, but Knox was faster than the cub. He blocked Lennon’s path, herding the cub back toward the pack. Lennon barely seemed to see him, still trying to get to the boundary. Knox kept pushing him backwards, being more and more forceful, but there was something unseeing in the cub’s eyes. Some kind of magic at work.
Lennon started to struggle harder, so Knox did the only thing he could—he pinned him to the forest floor. His hackles were raised, awar
e that whoever or whatever was outside the boundary was still trying to draw Lennon out. Would the magic work on him if it worked on Lennon? He kept a tight hold on the squirming cub and turned his attention outward.
The person outside stood in darkness. Not a natural shade, either. The moon was out, bathing the forest in light, but the stranger was untouched by it.
Knox bared his teeth and growled in warning. He felt something—dark, cold fingers touching the edge of his mind. Unmistakably magic, but not a flavor he recognized. He pushed back, but that cold grip tightened, like ice around his brain. Fear took hold. Knox couldn’t fight magic with magic. But whatever was out there had a body. And bodies could bleed. He desperately wanted to go for the intruder, drive him off. But as Lennon fought harder against him, he knew he couldn’t. If he freed the cub, they might lose him.
He growled again, searching for the rest of his pack. Where the hell were they?
A hand shot out from beneath the shadow’s cloak, throwing forth a wave of energy that passed through the boundary and hit Knox like a hammer. He struggled against it, the magic like a storm wind, pushing him backwards. It crawled across his skin, dug in under his bones, and did something that he thought impossible—it forced a change on him. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his muscles and fought back, calling on his wolf. His wolf was always his stronger half, the easier transition. But it was a fight just to hold on. He began to lose his grip on his wolf, and on Lennon. The cub broke free of Knox, squirming out from under his warring body. He was seconds from danger, the boundary mere feet away. Knox was right there but locked in battle with himself. He couldn’t stop the cub, couldn’t save him. Just like Joel—
A burst of light soared overhead, exploding outward like a rising sun and covering them in the cloak of day. The cold tentacles of magic around Knox loosened their grip and retreated. His wolf took back control. At the very last second, he caught hold of Lennon, pulling him back from the boundary.
Athena and Josie raced into view. Knox rolled off Lennon and let the others take over.
Keep him within the pack. Sit on him if you have to.
Lorcan appeared by his side, his gaze directed outward. Knox did the same, ready to confront their attacker… but the shadow was gone.
Stay here, Lorcan. Keep your eyes open.
He crossed the boundary just as Declan and his hunters arrived. Together, they scoured every inch of the clearing, but there wasn’t so much as a single scent to track. Whatever had been out there had come and gone without a trace.
Declan took his hunters out to search farther, just in case, while Knox shifted and returned to Lorcan. Gage was there, checking Lennon over and talking to the others.
“What was it?”
“Something I’ve never seen before,” Knox told him. “I’ve never felt magic like it. He was inside my head, and he almost pushed my wolf back within me. I didn’t know anyone had the power to do that.”
Gage looked as disturbed as he felt.
“And Lennon?”
Knox tried to put what he’d seen into words.
“He was drawing Lennon out somehow. It was as if the cub was hypnotized. He kept trying to get to the boundary. Could… could this be what happened to Joel?”
It had never made sense to him that Joel had willingly left the pack that night. Neither had there been any proof that the boundary magic had failed enough to allow someone inside. But if the shadow man, whatever he was, had the power to call a wolf from the safety of the pack, then it could explain how and why they’d lost him.
“We may never know,” Gage said. “And we very nearly lost another wolf tonight.”
“But we didn’t,” Lorcan said suddenly. “Knox knew before Lennon even reached the boundary. He had enough time to stop him.”
“He’s right,” Knox agreed. “It was so different compared to last time. I knew who, where, when. We had the time we needed to save Lennon.”
“And we’ll work to make it better,” Lorcan added. “Now that we know something of what we’re up against, we can protect the pack from it.”
Gage acknowledged Lorcan’s reassurance with a nod. “Did you get any sense of what it was?”
The mage took a step closer to Knox, barely concealing a shudder.
“I’ve never encountered magic like it. It felt strange, wrong somehow. Like the air after a storm.”
“How’d you scare him off?” Knox wondered, relieved that the mage had been there when he was most needed.
“He hid in the shadows. I just brought some light to the situation.”
Knox threw an arm around him and tugged the mage into a hug.
“True fighting spirit.”
“No one attacks my pack or hurts my alpha and gets away with it.”
“No, indeed.” Gage’s somber tone dragged their attention from each other back to the matter at hand. “Knox, check the boundary. I want to make sure we’re not vulnerable elsewhere. Ronan is doing a headcount, and we have all the cubs secured in the pack house. They’ll stay there until we know it’s safe for them. We need some way to protect against this magic. I won’t have my wolves walking blindly out of the pack to their deaths.”
Knox nodded, straightening his shoulders and calling to his betas. There was work to do.
“I have some ideas already,” Lorcan assured Gage. “I don’t know if we can block magic we don’t recognize, but there are other things we could do.”
“When you’ve checked the boundary, come find me. We’ll meet with Orion and plan our next move.”
Gage headed back into the pack, while Knox organized his betas to pair up and guard sections of the boundary. He and Lorcan then started their by-now familiar walk.
“I don’t know how you fought it off,” Lorcan said suddenly, his voice quiet. “That power was like nothing I’ve ever felt. So strange, so… untamed.”
“I’d happily never feel it again,” Knox agreed. “It took every bit of strength I had to fight off a shift. But I’d rather it be me than you, or another cub.” He growled in frustration. “We should be able to protect our youngest and weakest.”
“You did, Knox. Lennon is safe.”
“By the skin of our teeth, Lorcan. Too close for comfort.”
“We can daisy-chain them.”
“What?”
“The cubs. It’s a thing druid families do to keep small children safe. A daisy chain.”
Knox raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t see how a necklace of flowers will keep anyone safe.”
“Think of it more like a boundary within a boundary. A line of plants that acts as an early warning system. The cubs are kept in the center of the pack normally anyway. Any cubs that stray beyond that line will be spotted before they get anywhere near the boundary. It only needs a light layer of magic, which the plants themselves can power because they’re always growing, drawing from the sun and the soil.”
Knox could picture it easily now that he’d heard Lorcan’s explanation. “A daisy chain, huh? I like it. Gage will definitely go for it. Though I think he’d prefer something that stopped anyone from getting magic through the boundary. I mean, that’s the point of it, isn’t it? That people and magic can’t breach it.”
Lorcan nodded, a look of guilt on his face. “I don’t know how to protect against this, Knox. The magic he threw at you seemed to pass through the boundary as if it wasn’t even there.”
Knox ran the memory through his mind, coming to a different conclusion.
“Maybe, but I think the boundary helped. Lennon didn’t cross straight over. Until he was right at the edge, he seemed reluctant. Maybe he was fighting it? That might explain why the bastard went for such a young cub instead of someone older. Since you’ve begun to reinforce the boundary, maybe he can’t wield his power against us as easily.”
Lorcan looked reassured by his words.
“Do you think so?”
“I do. You’ve done so much for this pack, Lorcan. Never think for a mome
nt that we don’t know that.”
“I know. It’s just, on nights like tonight, it’s easy to feel like it was all for nothing. We could have lost Lennon; we could have lost you. We—”
“But we didn’t. Lennon is safe, and I’m right here. Not going anywhere.”
“Me, neither.”
Lorcan’s fingers twisted around the belt loop of Knox’s jeans, holding on tight. They wouldn’t be parted. Now that they had each other, they had a hell of a lot to fight for.
32
They walked the entirety of the boundary, Lorcan keeping pace with Knox’s wolf. Every section of the barrier felt as it should, its magic harmonious. There was no sign of tampering, no evidence that anyone or anything had tried to take it down again.
It was almost midday by the time they made their way back to the center of the pack, both of them tired after the interruption of their night’s sleep. Gage and Orion listened to their report, and Lorcan’s ideas for keeping the cubs safe, then sent them off.
“We should check out the—” Knox started to say, yawning as he spoke.
Lorcan interrupted, keeping his tone firm. “We’re going back to bed.”
“We can’t. We need—”
“We need to sleep. Fighting off the intruder’s magic drained you, and I’m not much better. We’re no use to the pack exhausted. How will we protect them if he comes back?”
Lorcan knew the alpha would see sense, with a little prodding. Knox gave a reluctant nod and let Lorcan hustle him to the kitchen for some food, and then back to the hut to rest.
He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Lorcan was a little slower, pausing at the mirror to run fingers through his unruly hair. He almost didn’t recognize himself—he was no longer the meek druid who hid in the shadows, afraid of his destiny. He was a watcher’s mage who’d fought an enemy of the pack and sent them running. He knew they hadn’t won, not by a long shot, but he reflected with satisfaction on his part in the night’s events. He’d seen the intruder attacking his mate, seen one of the pack’s cubs at risk, and he’d fought. It was instinct more than experience—his family was more about flight than fight. But Knox had taught him about standing his ground, standing up for himself. About loyalty and putting his life on the line for pack. Because pack was family now. Pack was home.
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