A Ravenous Pack: Wolf's Hunger 5 Books

by A. K. Michaels

  If it weren’t for the recent rogue attack, Kade would’ve stayed locked away for longer. However, he had duties to attend to so he reluctantly knew he’d have to cut their bonding period short. He did take time to go and get something special done, sneaking away while Kirsty napped.

  When he returned, she was awake. “Where were you?”

  “I had something I had to do.”

  “Pack business?” she asked.

  “No,” he replied, slipping off his shirt. “This.”

  Kirsty’s eyes widened as she took in his brand-new tattoo. A wolf paw with a double infinity symbol in the middle, two K’s in the center, right over his heart.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, her eyes raising to his.

  “Every night when I undress and every morning when you wake and see this, I want you to know how much I love you. Every single day, every hour of that day, every minute, Princess. Infinity times two, and even that doesn’t cover how much I feel for you. Doesn’t even come close.”

  “Kade—” her eyes sparkled with tears, her voice hitching. “I . . .”

  She stopped, her hand flying to her mouth, her lips trembling. He dashed to her side, kissing her breathless as he, once again, showed her the depths of his love. Those precious hours had been the last of their time apart from the Pack.

  He sighed, not wanting to rejoin the real world but knowing they must. It was his duty, their duty as Alphas. “So, Princess, are you ready to get to work? By my side as Alpha?”

  Kirsty looked fearful for a brief moment before she straightened her shoulders. “Not quite where I thought my life was headed, but I’m always up for a challenge. And I’ve got to say, with you beside me, I think I can take on the whole damn world, Kade MacKenzie. Let’s do this.”

  He took her hand and led her out to introduce her to the Pack as his mate and start their new life. One he knew he was blessed to have.

  Looking up briefly, he thought, Thank you, Goddess, I owe you.

  Kirsty wandered along the banks of the loch, sighing with happiness as she watched Leia frolic with the small Wolf.

  Young Jimmy had his first transformation just last month, and now he took every opportunity to play with her Shepherd in his beast form. They had a special bond, one that was glorious to see. The love between them brought tears to Kirsty’s eyes.

  She swiped them away quickly. Damn, her hormones were all over the place, causing her to cry at the least wee thing. The sun shone brightly down onto the calm water and she wondered if she should dip her feet in to cool them down. It sounded a good idea but the rocks surrounded the banks looked slippery and she wasn’t sure she should take the risk.

  Not without Kade there to help her.

  Sneaking a glance over her shoulder she saw at least two more Wolves following behind. Guards. Her mate wouldn’t allow her to go anywhere without him by her side, or his guards in his stead. Today she had guards. One was definitely Isla. Kirsty would know that sleek Wolf anywhere but she wasn’t certain who the other one was.

  She could always ask Isla to help her down to the water’s edge. Her feet were hot and swollen. The cold loch would be such a relief. Maybe later, after their picnic. “Jimmy, come on, we can set up here and have lunch.”

  Kirsty headed for the large smooth boulder where she could set out the tartan rug for her to sit on. In her condition, she could no longer drop down gracefully to the ground. Placing the wicker basket on the rock she rubbed her aching back that had grown more painful over the last few minutes.

  “Damn,” she moaned, leaning over to rest on the stone, a pain shooting through from her back and piercing her belly.

  Jimmy was at her side in moments, back in human form. He’d grown this past year, his long legs now bringing his head to her shoulder. “Miss Kirsty, what’s wrong? Are ye all right?”

  Kirsty blew out a long breath, the pain not relenting. Instead it grew in intensity, her heart thudding wildly in her chest as she gasped, “No, no, no. Not now. He’ll bloody kill me.”

  “What? Who’ll kill ye? Tell me and I’ll rip their throat out!”

  Jimmy spun all around looking for the threat, baring his teeth, his face fiercely protective as Leia pranced around, whining.

  “Kade.” She groaned again as another pain sliced through her mid-section. “He told me not to go out today.”

  “Oh,” Jimmy said, eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”

  “Get Isla—” Kirsty leaned fully onto the large boulder, biting her lip to stop from crying out.

  Jimmy ran away, yelling loudly. “Help! Isla! We need you, quick, come quick!”

  Moments later, Isla stood naked next to Kirsty, her hand on her shoulder. “Alpha, can I help you?”

  “Get Kade, and Fiona. I need them both here. Now, Isla.”

  “What? No, I need to get you back to camp.”

  “I can’t,” Kirsty ground out. “I can’t, Isla. Don’t touch me, don’t try and move me. Just go and get Kade and Fiona. Now!”

  “Fuck!” Isla cursed loudly. “He’ll skin me alive for this.”

  “You and me both.” Kirsty moaned again as Isla transformed before her and sped off.

  “What can I do?” Jimmy asked quietly.

  “There’s some napkins in the basket.” She had to stop as another pain hit, when it passed she nodded to the loch. “Can you soak them and hold them to the back of my neck?”

  Jimmy didn’t say a word, calmly doing as she asked with speed only a Shifter child could do. When he placed the first cold cloth on her neck, she thanked him.

  “Thank you, Jimmy.”

  “I won’t leave ye, Miss Kirsty. I’ll stay right here and look after ye.”

  “I know you will, Jimmy.” Kirsty grabbed one of the napkins, shoving it between her teeth and biting down as a far more powerful pain stabbed her insides. She felt as if someone were ripping her apart and she prayed that Kade would get here soon.

  She needed him. Now.

  “Kade, come to me, baby. I need you.” She said the words aloud but also used their burgeoning mating link. It was there, just growing slower than normal due to her being human, but she’d try anything at this point. She needed her man and she needed him right now.

  She felt a spark in her head, a tingling sensation a second before she heard him. “Princess? What’s wrong? Where are you?”

  “Kade! Thank goodness. I’m at the loch. I need you, now.”

  “I’m on my way but tell me what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Do I need guards? Are you in danger?”

  “No guards, just Fiona, but I sent Isla. Please, I can’t concentrate on talking right now, darling. Just get here.”

  “Do you mean?”

  “Yes.”

  “Holy hell! I won’t be long. Ten minutes, Princess. Ten minutes. Hold on.”

  “I’ll try, but Kade, my water’s just broke. Hurry.”

  Jimmy jumped back as the liquid gushed between her legs. His voice pitching high as he yelped. “Uh oh, I know what that means. Ye need someone else here, Miss. I canny do it. I mean, I just canny. Yer the Alpha, it wouldnae be right me helping you wae that.”

  “Kade’s on his way and Isla will be here soon with Fiona. It’s okay, Jimmy, you won’t need to do anything.”

  “Whew!” Jimmy whistled out. “When the Alpha gets here I’ll take Leia home and let the Pack know what’s going on.”

  “Thank you.” Kirsty was going to say more. Tell the lad how much she appreciated his help and a ton of other stuff, but right then a pain so intense overtook her that all she could do was throw her head back and scream.

  Sweat dripped down her back, down her face and chest and damn it, she needed to rid herself of her panties. They were drenched and uncomfortable but she couldn’t do that with Jimmy standing there. Tears pricked her eyes as her entire being was taken over by pain again, one contraction morphing into the next. Surely this was supposed to take longer?

  Hours. Not this short. Damn, if Kade and Fiona didn’t get here so
on she’d be delivering her own damn baby and she had no idea how to do that.

  Her tears spilled free, running down her cheeks to mix with the sweat pouring from her body. Her legs shook with the strain of holding her up, her arms shaking as she held herself against the large boulder. What a sight she must be.

  A small hand landed on the base of her back, rubbing in small circles. “It’ll be okay, Miss.”

  Jimmy’s worried voice did little to allay her fears. The thought of giving birth without Kade tore at her heart, almost shattering it into tiny pieces. Her breaths coming in short gasps as she fought against the pain that seemed intent on tearing her apart.

  “Hey, Princess.” Kade’s warm voice at her ear was her undoing, her sobs breaking free in loud cries.

  “I thought you wouldn’t make it!”

  “Nothing would keep me from this.” Kade’s strong arms held her, taking her weight and holding her firmly. “I’ve got you, baby. Now, do you want to stay on your feet or do you want to lie down? I don’t think we have time to get you home.”

  “Jimmy, you can go home now,” Kirsty managed to gasp out.

  “He’s already gone, love,” Kade whispered against her cheek.

  “Thank goodness.” She let out a tight laugh. “Get my underwear off, please. They are sodding wet and very uncomfortable.”

  “I could make a joke about that but I guess now’s not the time.” Kade chuckled, reaching under her dress to tug them down. “There you go. Back to my original question. What position do you want?”

  Kirsty had a brief reprieve from pain, and looking over her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow. “I could also make a joke about how that question got me into this in the first place.”

  “Indeed it did,” Kade replied softly, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

  “I think I’ll stay like this. If you can keep hold of me. My legs are weak and I can barely hold myself up but I’d much rather give this little bugger all the help I can.”

  “I’ll always be able to carry you, Princess. How far apart are the contractions?”

  “They seem to be running into one another, Kade. They’re not giving me much time between them and . . . oh shit. Kade, I need to push. Shit. Where’s Fiona. I can’t do this. I can’t.”

  “Yes, we can, baby. We’ll do this together.”

  Kirsty’s heart was fit to burst as panic took over. How could they do this? Out here in the wilds of Scotland with no help? No, no, no. She couldn’t.

  “Yes, Princess, we can,” Kade said again, more forcefully and she realized he’d been inside her head again.

  It wasn’t fair he had more access to her than she had to him.

  “I’m scared,” she finally admitted, both to her mate and to herself.

  “I will never let you do anything alone, Kirsty. I’m right here and I’ll always be right here. You mean everything to me, Princess. You know that. Come on, where’s that feisty girl that faced a pack of rogues with nothing but a damn shotgun?”

  Kirsty felt it then. His Alpha power wafting over her, settling deep inside her, taking part of her pain as his, and easing both her discomfort and her heart. “Thank you,” she said, laying her head back on his broad chest, turning her cheek toward where she knew his tattoo was.

  “You’re welcome, but I think we have our child to deliver.”

  “Yes, we do. I hope you’re ready, Kade MacKenzie.”

  “Always,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “Next time you need to, darling, push.”

  So that’s what she did. Kirsty knew he helped her. Using his Alpha power to free her from a large portion of the pain as she fought to bring their child into the world. She was grateful for that, damn, she’d be forever grateful for that. Who the hell wouldn’t?

  Kade changed his position so she leaned against his chest, his arms snaking around and between her legs. His fingers probing gently. “I can feel the head!”

  His voice excited as she drove down again, feeling the pressure give as their child’s head popped free. “I’ve got the head. Hold on a moment, sweetie. Aye, it’s ok, the cord’s not wrapped around the neck. Wait, wait.”

  Kirsty groaned. “I can’t. I’m not doing anything, it’s just coming.”

  With that their child slipped out and into Kade’s strong, waiting hands.

  “Holy hell! I’m a father!” Kade yelled, slowly lowering them both to the ground as they gazed down at their son.

  It was then that Fiona arrived with Isla and several other guards who stayed further back, giving them privacy.

  “Well, well, looks like you two managed on your own.” Fiona beamed at them, setting her large leather satchel down and dropping to her knees.

  “Fiona! Please check him over. Is he okay?” Kirsty begged.

  Kade held their son firmly, reluctant to release him. “He’s fine. He’s ours. How could he be anything other than perfect.”

  Fiona cut the cord, checking the baby over and swaddling him up in a soft blanket she pulled from her satchel before handing him to Isla to hold. “I just want to check Kirsty and then we need to get her home and cleaned up. She’ll need to rest but I’m sure she’ll be fine even though she’s had a rather exciting delivery.”

  “Is he all right?” Kirsty asked, staring at their son.

  “He’s perfectly fine.” Fiona did what was required for Kirsty as Kade held her in his arms then pronounced her fit to return to camp, albeit in his arms.

  “Isla, stay close,” Kade ordered roughly as he carried Kirsty.

  “Aye.” Isla smiled down at the sleeping child.

  “No—” Kirsty shook her head, holding out her arms. “I need my son, please.”

  Isla seemed reluctant to hand over the child, patting his head gently before releasing him into his mother’s arms. Kirsty settled her head against Kade. “Now we can go home. I’m a wee bit tired and you know what? I hope Skye’s made scones ‘cause I could fair go some right now.”

  Are you ready for the dark and deadly enforcer?

  © 2017 by A K Michaels All Rights Reserved

  This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission by the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  For my own Alpha, Joseph.

  Zohar threw his phone down, watching it bounce on his bed and fall off the edge, not bothering to check if it was still in one piece as he cursed. “Fuck.”

  That’s what he hated about favors, they always got called in. It had been over five years since Shade Shawcross had helped him find a renegade Council Guard, and damn it, he’d thought the Alpha would not cash in on the aid he’d given. Zohar had lied easily to Shade, telling him he was on a mission instead of languishing in his cabin with his guts on fire.

  Blackness surrounded him as he fought to control the urge to tear outside and hunt. Again. He wasn’t stupid, he’d heard of the damn Hunger, but there was no way in hell that’s what was wrong with him. His soul weighed down with the dark deeds he’d carried out over the years for the Council. He knew better than to believe the Goddess would grant him a soulmate. Fuck, nobody in their right mind would come anywhere near him.

  Not with everything he’d done, things that made his skin crawl and kept him up at night. Yeah, the great Zohar couldn’t sleep because of nightmares. Bet that would raise a few eyebrows if it ever got out.

  The darkness he held inside him, closely guarded and locked up tight with the iron will he worked so fucking hard on. If not, he didn’t dare think of the consequences. Shit, he’d be on the receiving end of someone just like him if he ever lost control and that confrontation would not end well. Not at all.

  Zohar knew every Enforcer the Council had in their employ, and not one of them could take him down. Even if t
here were a group of them, he’d probably still be able to take them on and walk away. If he managed that, it would mean his comrades would be dead. Something that he couldn’t comprehend, far less envision living with.

  These past few days had been hell on earth. What with trying to hide what was going on with him, and still ensure the Council’s missions were covered, it hadn’t been easy. If it hadn’t been for his Second in Command, Danko, Zohar was certain his illness would’ve been uncovered.

  Zohar heard soft footfalls approaching his remote cabin, his ears pricking up, he rose and stalked through to meet his unwanted guest. Danko’s hand raised to knock when Zohar opened the door, grunting. “What?”

  Danko raised an eyebrow. “Don’t use that tone with me, my friend. Let me in. We need to talk.”

  If any other person spoke to him in such a manner Zohar would already have them by the throat, but Danko was the exception. They were friends, Zohar admitted that Danko was his only friend. The one person he could trust with his life . . . and his secrets.

  “Damn it, Danko, I’m not in the mood. I feel like shit.”

  Danko pushed passed, shrugging. “So what’s new? You’ve been feeling like this for days now and the old man is starting to ask questions. I’ve put him off by saying you’re gathering intel on a rogue, but he’s not stupid. He knows something isn’t right and he is going to catch on soon enough. So, are you going to listen to me so we can deal with this?”

  Zohar closed the door, noisily, before going to grab a beer from the fridge. “Here.” He tossed one to Danko then sat down at the table.

  His friend joining him but not drinking. “My friend, it pains me to see you like this. Why won’t you accept what is wrong?”

  Ignoring Danko, he drank his beer down, slamming the empty bottle on the table. “And when will you accept that there’s no way in hell that this is what you think? You know the things I’ve done. The atrocities I’ve had to commit for the Council, against our own species. The Goddess would never bless someone such as me with a soulmate. Never. I’ve got a dark soul, Danko. So fucking dark that it doesn’t deserve a mate, couldn’t deal with a mate.”