A Night Claimed

by Domina Alexandra

  “You should have told me. Period. It’s my life. My decision.”

  “Rikki.” A man stepped through the sliding door.

  I peeked over Rikki’s shoulder to see who was interrupting our conversation. I huffed. We weren’t finished.

  “Give us a moment!” I screeched.

  Last I checked, no one sounded like they were dying. I was more than annoyed.

  The man arched both brows, as if it was me who was being rude. Rikki pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “Mika, could you give us one more minute? Please?”

  He smiled and nodded.

  Alone once more, I spoke again before Rikki had the chance, “I think I have justifiable reason to interrupt whatever that was out there. You knew I wouldn’t approve, and you decided to—”

  “Bonnie,” Rikki snapped. “I am trying to protect your stubborn ass. I warned you that you would not like some of my decisions. As Alpha, I have been trying to make the best choice for the pack as a whole, not just for you. You are not my only priority.”

  Her words hurt, but I was still riding the bull of my rage. “I never asked you to make me your priority. I don’t want it! I don’t need you!”

  “Bonnie, you are taking my words out—”

  “I think I heard you very clearly. You still lied to me and kept me in the dark. I won’t apologize for being angry. And I won’t apologize for saying, fuck you!”

  I left her there staring after me.

  I paced outside the main house and when I saw a car pull up, I decided to go for a run. I let my body guide me in my escape. Running was never a task. It was a way for me to meditate and find some measure of peace. A way to sort through my feelings by simply thinking of nothing but the air and movement of my body.

  After 30 minutes of running without pause, I relished in my body’s strength. I was not tired at all. I had a lot of anger simmering inside me and it was fueling my muscles. I wanted to keep running until I crumbled to my knees. I realized how far I’d run only as I slowed my pace.

  Rikki owned a large amount of land. I rolled my eyes. How the hell was I going to get through this? I was stuck here. Pretending I could make it alone was unrealistic and dangerous. Freedom seemed like a fake word now. I didn’t want to make myself feel better by turning Rikki into the villain. She was right. I was hard to deal with and I had been acting entitled.

  Under the shade of the canopy, my existence rested solely in my sensations – the crisp air on my skin, the smell of wet moss on tree bark, the slow, steady sound of my breathing. It was perfect. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to keep running until I forgot everything that troubled me. Until I forgot Bonnie entirely.

  For this time, I was free.

  I discovered a grove with a small stream cutting through it. I stopped to catch my breath and to splash some water on my face. A sound disturbed my eardrums. Instinctively, I believed it was a threat. The hair on my body stood on end. My gut twisted up like a pretzel.

  I swung my body around in the direction of the sound.

  Snap.

  Rustle.

  I exhaled sharply. My wolf canines sliced through my gums. The shift was coming. The wolf in me wanted control. I knew it would keep us alive. I decided to let go.

  I was fumbling with my clothes when I was suddenly shoved forward against a tree. Leaves were shaken free of their limbs. Two massive wolves were in front of me when I turned around. My eyes darted from side to side, taking stock of my surroundings. Stream, earth, trees. My options were limited. The larger of the two wolves shifted, and the human that emerged from the wolf was the man from my party. The one who claimed he had saved me.

  “Don’t be afraid. We are not here to harm you.”

  His companion remained in wolf form.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  It was hard to avoid looking at his nakedness. He was supremely masculine. His earthy scent lingered heavily in the air.

  He smiled. “Only you, my little Omega.”

  How the hell does he know about me?

  I shook feverishly as he approached me. His fingers stroked my shoulder, and then seized a lock of my hair.

  He sniffed my skin and then whispered, “You will be fun to have with my rogues. I will take care of that bitch’s pack, one by one, until you are with me. You belong to me, and I always get what I want.”

  He took a step back and snapped his finger. The other wolf disappeared into the darkness. He smiled at me once more, and then was gone too.

  I blinked rapidly in disbelief. I turned and Rikki was beside me.

  “Were you harmed?” she asked.

  I shook my head.

  She heaved a sigh of relief. “I could sense something was wrong.”

  “Rikki.” The stranger’s voice was husky, but there was something melodious about it. It was the man whom she’d called Mika earlier. “May I speak to her?”

  Rikki considered me thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded. She walked a few feet away, trying to give us some privacy.

  He approached me cautiously. I’m sure he perceived my apprehension. “I am Mika. Family.”

  I finally caught my breath. “Bonnie. But I’m sure you know that.”

  “I do.”

  He was a dark-skinned man with light brown eyes. There wasn’t a hair on his head, but his appearance didn’t suffer for it. A pair of sunglasses hung from the neck of his shirt.

  His scent was similar to Rikki’s, but something was different.

  He was human.

  He grinned at my recognition. “You should use your nose more often.”

  “You are not a werewolf,” I confirmed.

  “Hell no. But Rikki is my mother.”

  What?

  “My brother was a werewolf and a member of the pack before Rikki became Alpha. My parents were killed in a car crash when I was a baby. My brother adopted me. When I was nearly four, my brother was challenged for his rank and was attacked by three members in his pack. It bothered some of the white members to have a black man rank higher than them. He was killed in that attack. Rikki knew of my existence and came for me. She’s raised me ever since.”

  Once again, I was speechless. Mind blank.

  Rikki was a mom.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “His name is Cain.”

  It wasn’t a lot to go on, but at least Rikki was able to discover the name of the man who approached me in the forest. The man who claimed to have saved me. The ghost of his presence refused to depart. His body, his scent, the sound of his voice. He was rooted in every corner of my body. Soil and roots. Moon and tides.

  If Rikki detected my inner turmoil, she didn’t give any indication. Her mind and her hands were focused on their task – making the perfect sandwich. She slathered a healthy helping of honey mustard on a slice of bread and then set about piling it high with deli meats, assorted cheeses, and small pieces of avocado. Once the masterpiece was finished, Rikki slid the plate in my direction and smiled. I took it gratefully.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you had a kid?” I wiggled the sandwich in her face in a chastising manner after I had taken a bite.

  A smile threatened to manifest in the corners of her mouth. “Eat first. Then, you can come to my shed and we can talk.”

  Rosemary came into the kitchen just as Rikki was exiting. She noticed my sandwich and her eyes widened with desire. She pointed to it and pouted. I chuckled and offered her a bite. Normally, I wasn’t a fan of sharing my meals, but I wanted to do whatever I could to integrate into the pack as painlessly as possible.

  She closed her eyes and sighed with satisfaction as she shoved a large bite into her mouth.

  “You make a choice yet?” Rosemary asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

  My mouth was still full, so the only response I could offer was a confused expression.

  “Whether or not to be mated to Rikki?”

  Ugh, this again. “No. I’m still trying to figure things out.”

 
“Like what?” she questioned. “I know I’m prying.”

  I mumbled under my breath.

  “I only want what’s best for the both of you. Your indecisiveness is making the pack squirm.”

  “My indecisiveness?” I said, a little louder than I intended. A few people turned their heads toward us, suddenly interested in our conversation.

  Rosemary lowered her voice, which even I knew was a wasted effort around a bunch of werewolves. “I know you have a lot to deal with right now. Really. I get it. But you also have to try to grasp things from the perspective of the pack. Werewolves are almost always mated fairly quickly. We like our laws and our lines clearly defined, so we will all be on edge until you make a decision.”

  “I can’t argue with you. We are both right, and we are both wrong.” I put the sandwich back on its plate. “I’m tired. You can finish my sandwich.”

  I thought about going for another run, or just heading to Rikki’s shed, but ultimately, I found myself in my room. I was determined to be alone. The soft cotton of the bedclothes welcomed me, and I curled up in them happily. I shut my eyes in an attempt to shut out thoughts of Rikki. The pack. The rogue. It was useless.

  I thought of Rikki.

  The pack.

  The rogue.

  I still had no clue exactly what I wanted, or how I was going to deal with everything. Anxiety mixed with my stomach acid and soured. Nothing was going to be easy again. The same again. I wrapped my arms around a pillow and squeezed tightly. Tears swam down the length of my face.

  I cried and I was slipping – tumbling into sleep.

  I took a deep breath and invited it to claim me.

  It was night when I finally awoke. Groggily, I climbed to the edge of the bed and combed my fingers through my hair. I fumbled my way in the dark to the shower. I flicked the light switch in the bathroom and turned the shower on.

  In the few seconds it took for the water to heat, I thought about Rikki. I needed a strong woman. A woman who could handle my own strength. And my stubborn attitude. Rikki certainly was that woman. It was a simple and not so simple at the same time. I really had no idea how to navigate a new relationship in this world along with the uncertain, impending future with the rogue and his pack. Regardless of all of that, I wanted to see her. Touch her.

  I turned the shower off. I walked out of my room, down the stairs, out of the main house, and was soon facing the door of Rikki’s shed.

  I knocked.

  The door opened, and Rikki stood in the doorway. She smiled when she saw me waiting outside.

  “Come in.”

  She moved aside to let me through.

  *

  I yawned noisily as I stretched my limbs, the cool sheets drifting across my body as I moved. I opened my eyes and found Rikki asleep next to me. That’s right, I came here last night. My movement disturbed her, and she rolled over to face me drowsily.

  Rikki yawned demurely, covering her mouth with her wrist. “How do you feel? Did you sleep well?”

  I nodded, scooting closer to her. The honeysuckle scent of her skin invaded my nostrils. Rikki leaned forward and kissed me lightly, her lips barely brushing against mine. My desire for her overcame me, and I snaked my arm around her neck and pulled her lips against mine in a deep kiss. Not satisfied, Rikki slipped her tongue between my lips to explore my mouth. I moaned softly, my fingers grabbing clumps of sheets.

  I pulled away. My body was overheating. My wolf was awake. I was in need. There was an excessively loud pounding in my chest. I shuddered. My gums ached.

  “Take a breath,” Rikki whispered.

  She combed her fingers through my hair and that only served to fuel the changes I was experiencing. I couldn’t catch my breath.

  “I can’t think straight,” I panted.

  “Hey,” Rikki cooed. Her hand cupped my cheek. “Your wolf is ready to claim me. That is what you are experiencing. And that’s a beautiful thing. A mating bite is powerful.”

  I glanced at her thoughtfully, my arms still around her.

  “Do you want this?” She looked at me hopefully. “We can just lay here.”

  There were a lot of things I wanted. I wanted to forget the night I was attacked. Forget about the time I threw up on a teacher I had a crush on in high school after being dared to eat three dozen chicken nuggets and spin in a circle. Forget that I was being hunted by a rogue.

  Aside from all of that, I wanted to feel peace again. I hesitated, but I knew what I wanted. And it was Rikki.

  “Yes.”

  Rikki smiled and a surge of electrical energy raced through my nervous system. I sat up, tugging at my tank top until I was liberated of it. My breasts spilled free. I felt free.

  “Are you sure?”

  I claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss that was suffused with a hungry fire I was unable to contain. I shivered with pleasure as her fingers softly teased the flesh of my lower back.

  My lips charted a course down her neck. Rikki’s breath caught in her throat. I pressed my body against her, the wetness increasing between my thighs. When I nipped on the flesh just above her collarbone, Rikki moaned, and then quickly flipped me onto my back in one swift motion.

  My heart pounded eagerly.

  “I am going to take my time with you, Bonnie.” Her eyes were gold.

  Rikki’s lips closed around my nipple, sucking it attentively. My chest rose to meet her mouth, but I couldn’t move a great deal. Rikki had both my arms pinned over my head. I squirmed as she switched to my other breast. My nipples hardened and my breathing quickened. Fire ignited in my belly, trailing down to my clit.

  “Oh fuck!” I gasped.

  Rikki was a woman on a mission. Her masterful mouth blew warm air on my nipple and I moaned loudly.

  “I’m going to cum.” My eyes squeezed shut, my body seizing as I trembled continually. “Rikki, you are killing me.”

  “Now you can imagine how you’ve been making me feel,” Rikki replied.

  I groaned, my body highly sensitive to the feel of her canines against my skin. My clit pulsed intensely. She continued dragging her canines down my body. I was so engrossed in each movement of her mouth I hadn’t realized she removed my panties.

  She raised her head from my belly. “Do you want me?”

  I shuddered violently and nodded. I wanted her. Badly.

  Rikki’s tongue slithered deftly along the length of my thigh, working its way to my center. As her mouth found my core, my mind went blank from the magic of her tongue as she devoured me. Blindly, I reached with one hand for the headboard. The other entangled itself in her hair. She took her time letting the tip of her tongue flick upward against my pink flesh.

  “Oh, fuck.” I was panting wildly. “Rikki. God, your mouth.”

  Rikki groaned, and I screamed when her canines slid into the flesh of my inner thigh.

  *

  A few sensuous hours later, I lay in Rikki’s arms. I didn’t want to move. There was so much we still needed to learn about each other, but I knew then that we’d be able to get through anything together.

  Someone was at the door. I could smell Rosemary on the other side.

  “What is it?” Rikki asked aggravatedly.

  I twisted to the side, half-expecting Rosemary to simply walk in without invitation. Rikki dressed and walked outside to greet her. I wasn’t sure if it was okay to eavesdrop, so I tried not to listen.

  “Send her through,” I heard Rikki say, and then she reentered the shed and closed the door behind her.

  I looked to Rikki for information. If she decided not to tell me, I wouldn’t be bothered by that. I’d just go find out anyway.

  Rikki chewed on her bottom lip. “Your mother is here.”

  I leapt out of bed and dressed rapidly. I knew it was ridiculous, but I kept thinking that my mom would burst into the shed at any minute and catch Rikki and me together. I reminded myself that I was no longer a teenager and my mom knew that.

  “Are you scared?”


  I wasn’t sure if Rikki’s question was rhetorical.

  “That obvious, huh?” I pulled my jeans up to my waist. “There’s nothing to hide. She will be happy for us. She’s always telling me to put myself out there again. So…”

  “Don’t worry. I made a good impression the first time,” Rikki assured me, confident as always.

  I finished buttoning my shirt. “How did she know where to find me? I never told her where I was staying. Only that you live in Mill City.”

  “She probably came here and asked a local. This is a small town. I’m the only one named Rikki in Mill City who’s a woman and owns land.”

  That made sense. I wondered why she hadn’t called me instead.

  I slapped myself on the forehead. “Shit. I broke my phone, changed my number, and never gave her the new one.”

  “She’s not going to ground you.” Rikki laughed, her hand covering her mouth.

  “Try not to have the pack running around as wolves,” I quipped sarcastically.

  “We’ve allowed humans on our land before that didn’t know our secret.” She caught me staring at the floor. “Hey. It’s going to be okay. Your mom will support us.”

  I nodded vacantly. “Okay. You are right. I need to relax.”

  I smiled and leaned in to kiss Rikki softly on the lips.

  Rikki tilted her head to my side. “You are stuck with me. Don’t you forget that.”

  “How can I forget? My body is still recovering,” I whispered as we made our way to the main house.

  My mother’s eyes narrowed as she noticed my hands linked with Rikki’s but gave nothing else away. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She was processing now. She would make it known what she was thinking later.

  I walked up the steps of the porch and slipped from Rikki’s grasp to embrace my mom.

  “Momma.” I smiled. “I forgot to send you my new number. I’m so sorry.”

  “Stop worrying, Bonnie. It’s not like I can ground you. But you did worry me. You weren’t answering your phone. I was concerned.” She wagged her finger at me.

  “Yeah.” I scratched the side of my head. “I have kind of been distracted the last few days.”