A Ravenous Pack: Wolf's Hunger 5 Books

by A. K. Michaels

  Maisy dropped to her knees before him, reaching to grab one of his massive hands in both of hers. “Then there’s only one thing you can do.”

  Zohar saw tears twinkling in her eyes and wondered why, but more importantly, he needed to know what she meant. “And what’s that?”

  “You need to let me in,” she whispered, dropping her head to place a soft kiss on the back of his hand. “I can help you. That’s why she’s sent you to me.”

  His internal battle carried on, his guts twisting, blood pumping, as Maisy gazed up at him. Zohar couldn’t allow himself to believe that she was his. It was beyond belief that something so fragile and beautiful was for him. No. It couldn’t be true. His jaw clenched as he ground out, “I’m not convinced. I need time to think.”

  Maisy rocked back on her heels, eyes widened for a moment before she rose, glaring at him. “Fine! Run away and think.”

  Zohar shot to his feet, backing toward the door quickly. Maisy snorted at his actions. “Is the mighty Enforcer scared of me? Oh, and by the way, whenever I say fine—just so you know, that is never good, because things are most definitely not fine. But you obviously need someone to knock some sense into that skull of yours and trust me, Zohar, if you don’t come find me later . . . that someone might just be me.”

  He watched in amazement as Maisy stomped away, disappearing through a door which she slammed so hard it shook in its hinges. Damn. She had some balls talking to him like that. Nobody spoke to him in that manner, most everyone was too scared of him to dare to speak to him in such a way. Well, not if they didn’t want him to retaliate with his trademark fury.

  Zohar shook his head, amazed at her outburst before he left, her words tumbling around in his brain faster and faster until his head ached. His feet stepping one in front of the other with no heed to where they took him . . . until Danko’s voice halted him as if he’d been drenched with a bucket of icy water.

  “For fuck’s sake, Zohar, what the hell are you doing out here? You should be with Maisy and you damn well know it. Your head is thicker than that damn ancient oak tree over there.”

  Zohar glared at his friend, as he snarled, “What is it about my head that has people commenting on it this morning?”

  Danko stopped in front of him, sneering. “I assume by ‘people’ that Maisy said something similar? Hmm, sounds to me like she’s smart and not afraid of you. Now that, my thick-headed friend, should tell you more than anything I can say. Don’t you think?”

  Zohar pushed away Danko’s finger that was prodding his chest. “Perhaps, or maybe there’s something wrong with her. The way she just spoke to me makes me wonder if she has a death-wish.”

  Laughter bubbled out of Danko’s mouth, his hands on his hips as he bent over. The sight growing Zohar’s already foul mood exponentially. “Shut it, Danko. It’s not that funny.”

  “Yeah, yeah it is. Little Maisy telling the mighty Zohar off, hell, that sure is funny.”

  Zohar side-stepped around his Second in Command, growling, “We have work to do. Did you find anything of interest at the warehouse?”

  Danko caught up, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Sure did. Old Jermaine had his safe back in that locked room and I managed to open it. I didn’t even get to use any explosives. It was an old model that I had open in no time at all. It’s full of cash, and I mean full. There’s enough to get the Pack back on its feet with a ton left over. There’s also stacks of supplies, food, clothing and everything in between. Jacinthe is already organizing handing out basics to the Pack and after that we’ll redo the stock-take, but what do you want to do about the cash? I don’t feel comfortable with that lying around.”

  Zohar had to agree. “It will be too much of a temptation for Jermaine, either he’ll come for it or try and hire some rogues to get it for him. It’s best we sort that first and get the word out that there’s no cash here. We need to find out if there are any Pack bank accounts, if not then we get a couple opened as soon as possible.”

  “I can do that,” Danko replied quickly. “I can use the Council’s network if there aren’t any, but there must be at least one. A Pack this old can’t be without some basic banking facilities. Gwenola should be able to help me and . . .”

  Danko stopped talking, frowning as Zohar prodded. “What?”

  “If Gwenola’s right and that cash came from, well, not exactly legal means, then the bank might not be willing to accept it.”

  Zohar shrugged. “That’s not a problem, just pay it into one of the Council’s accounts and then have it transferred to the Pack’s. Once you’ve determined if the Pack has an account first, if not, get the Council to set one up and transfer the funds after they’ve done it. No bank will refuse money being deposited into one of the Council’s accounts.”

  Danko thumped Zohar’s shoulder. “That’s why you’re in charge and not me. I wouldn’t have thought of that. Instead I would be sitting on the cash worrying about how to get rid of it.”

  Zohar’s mind wandered as Maisy’s luscious scent flew toward him, however, it was tinged with another aroma . . . one he was well acquainted with: anger.

  She flounced passed, refusing to look in his direction, Danko looking between them before he shouted. “Hey, Maisy, you all right?”

  Maisy’s response was to throw a filthy look over her shoulder as she sped toward the forest.

  “Damn,” Danko said, shaking his head. “You’ve upset her. I’ll take care of business, Zohar. You need to go and try and talk to her some more.”

  Zohar’s beast whined pitifully in his head as he stared as Maisy stomped away. “I’m not sure it’ll help.”

  “Try,” Danko pressed. “Or are you scared? Is that it? You’re scared to admit how you feel, aren’t you?”

  Snarling, he turned back to scowl. “I’ve never been scared of anything in my life.”

  “But you are now,” Danko replied firmly. “You are one stubborn ass.”

  Throwing up his arms Zohar spat out, “Fine! I’ll go find her and talk to her. Maybe then you’ll get off my fucking back.”

  He didn’t wait for Danko to say another word, turning on his heel and striding after Maisy. His beast finally quieting in his head at his decision.

  He followed her scent, it was easy to do, it was ingrained inside him and he was certain he’d be able to track her down no matter where she was running to. If she thought she could hide from him then she was sorely mistaken. Didn’t she know who he was? What he was capable of?

  His feet sped up, breaking into a jog he carried on her trail, grasping sight of her as he left the cabins of the camp behind as she walked into the forest. He could still feel her annoyance as she flounced away from him.

  A smile tugged at his lips as he wondered how someone so small could possibly move so swiftly. His long legs quickening to catch up to her. Maisy’s scent wafting toward him, changing to an earthy musk which aroused both man and beast and then he caught sight of her as she finished transforming. Her golden hued Wolf shaking itself from head to tail before taking off in a dead run to disappear between the trees. He’d never seen such a glorious sight, the sun glinting off her golden fur causing his breath to catch in his throat and his heart to stutter in his chest.

  The sight of her beast running away from him sent ripples careening through him as the thrill of a hunt stampeded through his blood. His hands tearing at his clothes as he ran forward, he barely paused long enough to kick off his boots in order to remove his jeans. At the earliest opportunity, he forced his change, mid-stride morphing from man to Wolf, two legs to four, his paws hitting the ground with such force that his claws threw up great clods of earth as he took off after Maisy’s beautiful beast.

  His Wolf let out a howl, the sound ripping through the forest, as he tore after Maisy.

  Rushing through the forest Zohar felt exhilarated as he zipped between trees, darted around bushes, and pursued the golden Wolf.

  She knew he was on her tail, soft yips filling the air as she caree
red swiftly ahead. Maisy’s knowledge of the landscape aiding her in the chase but Zohar’s speed keeping him from losing sight of her beast as she hightailed it away from him.

  For the first time in a very long time he realized he was “hunting” just for the sheer fun of it. Not chasing down a renegade, or an escaped prisoner, and when he caught his prey, this time, he would not be doling out justice or ripping another Wolf apart. That thought settled inside him and suddenly, like some sort of an epiphany, his soul soared high as he howled with glee.

  It had been so damn long since he’d heard that sound that it startled him. The noise alien to his ears and his eyes had darted around looking for another beast before he’d realized it had been his own Wolf that the sound had elicited from.

  The momentary lapse gave Maisy the opportunity to disappear from his line of sight but her scent was like a beacon to his sensitive nose. He could taste her excitement on his tongue as he tracked her through the unknown landscape, searing every tree, bush, and root in his path in his memory. Soon he’d know this forest as well as she did and she’d no longer have an advantage when they played these games.

  His paws faltered . . . realization dawning so hard and fast his heart stopped beating for long moments, his breath stuck in his throat until finally his beast spoke through their link. “Yes, she is ours.”

  Zohar couldn’t believe how damn stupid he’d been and he sure as hell didn’t know how this was going to play out, but for now, all he knew was he had to reach Maisy . . . his mate.

  Shit, he couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of the feelings coursing through him as he was forced to accept that fact, knowing it was his beast that had made it happen, his Wolf’s paws speeding up with urgency surging inside him as he flew toward the golden Wolf and his future.

  He let out a small yip, one that was new to him, one of welcome and speaking to her beast like he’d never before communicated with another Wolf. Her answering call was immediate, his claws digging into the earth to gain purchase and change direction, veering toward the sound with a renewed vigor.

  Maisy no longer ran from him, he sensed her waiting ahead. Zohar shot around a large oak with an agility that defied his size, skidding to a halt when he caught sight of her. She stood facing him, her head cocked to the side as if she were unsure what to expect.

  No wonder. He’d been an ass. That was something he planned on rectifying, although he wasn’t sure how, not exactly, he’d spent far too many years as an Enforcer with no time for wooing a woman. Any sexual encounters had been swift, rough, and never repeated with the same woman.

  He was flying blind but he damn sure would learn fast.

  Zohar lowered his massive head, slowly approaching Maisy’s beast, circling her to sniff every last inch. His Wolf finally licking her muzzle and whining. Her green eyes bored into his before she mirrored his movements, stalking around his Wolf and taking in his scent before stopping in front of him, her tongue snaking out to lightly caress his snout.

  Damn. That felt so fucking good.

  Zohar forced himself to change, knowing he had to talk to the woman he’d brushed off earlier and praying she’d listen. Standing naked before her beast, and not just physically, but emotionally too, Zohar inhaled deeply, dropping one of his massive hands to run his fingers through her thick fur.

  “I apologize for earlier, Maisy,” he started then stopped, the words not coming easily. Her Wolf nudged him, urging him on. Zohar dropped to his knees, locking eyes with her beast. “In case you hadn’t figured it out . . . I don’t trust easily.”

  Maisy’s Wolf huffed, a low rumble in her chest sounding as if she were saying “No shit,” and causing him to shrug. “Yes, I know, I was an ass and I’ve not dealt with any of this well. I guess I didn’t believe I deserved you, shit, I still don’t, but I also can’t deny what’s happening between us either. It took being in my Wolf form to realize the truth, one that it has been trying to tell me and which I’ve been ignoring. I hope you can forgive me, for I truly am sorry for upsetting you.”

  Zohar stopped, unable to carry on because he simply did not have the words. He wasn’t equipped for this type of situation. Put a rogue in front of him and he’d deal with it, no problem. Add in an evil Alpha or two, yeah, he could handle that in the blink of an eye. But hand him a soulmate on a platter and his throat closed, his lungs forgot how to draw in air, and his heart felt as if it were being ripped out of his chest.

  Damn. How did men deal with this crap?

  His eyes closed, head dropping forward, as the magnitude of his failure swept over him. He’d be lucky if Maisy ever talked to him again far less allowed him to touch her and that’s exactly what he craved. His hands on her soft skin, running down her back to cup her ass to pull her against him. Shit, he couldn’t get that sight out of his mind but it was a mere dream . . . she’d never allow it . . . not after the way he’d acted.

  He’d lost his one, his only, chance at happiness and it was his own damn fault.

  He was lost in a haze of misery, imagining how it would feel if she returned his touch. Her soft fingers caressing his skin . . . wait . . . his eyes flew open to find Maisy kneeling before him, one hand tentatively on his broad chest.

  “You’re not exactly one for romantic speeches. Are you? I’m not certain whether to slap your face or kiss you right now.”

  Zohar reached up, covering her tiny hand with his. “I deserve the first but would prefer the latter.”

  He waited, once again his breath caught in his throat, as she quirked an eyebrow. Fighting to keep his eyes on hers but he couldn’t stop himself from glancing down to take in the beauty of her body. Her perky breasts with taut nipples that he wanted to take into his mouth and lavish with his tongue . . . and that’s when she slapped him.

  “Hey,” she snapped. “Eyes up here, big guy.”

  “Sorry,” he replied sheepishly. “I couldn’t resist. You’re so fucking beautiful and I can’t believe you’re mine . . . you are mine . . . aren’t you?”

  Zohar didn’t recognize his voice, doubt and fear seeping through in every damn syllable. Fuck. She’d brought him to his knees. Literally. And that wasn’t something he’d thought anyone could do, far less this tiny creature before him.

  Maisy tilted her head, those impossibly deep pools of green gazing up at him in wonder. “I am.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth he moved with supernatural speed, grasping her to him, his mouth lowering to cover hers in a searing kiss full of longing and desire. Her gasp of surprise quickly turning to a gentle moan when he dropped their bodies to the forest floor, as his hands started their journey of discovery.

  His need to learn every inch of her skin running rampant through him. When she quivered as his thumb brushed across her nipple, his cock hardened to thick steel between them. Her hips bucking toward him when she felt his desire for her. His fingers trailing lower until he landed on her mound, probing gently between her thighs to find her moist already, and waiting for him.

  Zohar’s desire rose to levels he’d never believed possible, every cell in his body afire with longing for the woman in his arms. Her tongue tangling with his as they explored each other’s mouths, soft moans getting lost as he swallowed them down hungrily. With each second they kissed, their connection to each other deepened, searing inside him and convincing him beyond any doubt that she was his. Her hands ran across his shoulders, one tangling in his hair, forcefully. She was stronger than she looked.

  Maisy hooked one of her legs over his hip, which resulted in his cock sliding between her soft thighs. Zohar’s own groan sounding loud in his ears as the tip nudged against the entrance to her wet, warm, sheath. All he had to do was thrust his hips and his long, hard length would . . . no!

  Zohar tugged his head back, gasping. “Maisy, no, we can’t do this here. I should take you home and do this, shit, I don’t know . . . properly?”

  Maisy smirked, licking her lips. “Properly? What do you mean? You don’t know how t
o do it? Or the fact we’re in the forest, naked, turned on, and ready to mate.”

  “Of course I know what to do,” Zohar retorted. “But, hell, you’re tiny and, well . . .”

  Maisy’s hand reached between them, her hand grasping hold of his throbbing desire. “And you’re definitely not . . . tiny that is.”

  “Exactly.” Zohar gasped as she started to work her hand up and down along him. “Damn, stop that or I won’t be able to talk.”

  “That’s the point.” Maisy jerked his hair roughly. “I don’t want to talk. I want you to make me yours, Zohar.”

  “We need to go slow.” Zohar fought for self-control.

  “Why?” Maisy bit his bottom lip, drawing blood. “I don’t want slow. I’ve never felt like this before but I feel wild, and it’s spine-tingling good. Take me, Zohar, please.”

  Zohar could resist their mating call no longer, rolling over to cage her with his body, taking his weight on his thick strong arms. “You’re mine, Maisy, all mine, and you always will be. Anyone even looks at you the wrong way, I’ll rip their head off. I promise I’ll protect you, little one, always.”

  Maisy giggled, her hand shooting to cover her mouth when he scowled down at her. “Sorry, that wasn’t quite what I was expecting to hear, but it fits you perfectly, my fierce Zohar. I’m yours and I’ll always be yours, and just so you know, if you so much as look at another She-Wolf, I’ll rip your balls off.”

  Zohar’s head fell back, laughter erupting from him before Maisy reached up, pulling his mouth down to hers. “Remember, I’m yours, Zohar. Always.”

  Maisy opened her thighs, allowing him access to her greatest gift, which he took with utmost care. The difference in their sizes at the forefront of his mind as his cock breached her warmth, drawing him inside with her eyes wide and her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “I’ll stop if it’s too painful, Ангел.”

  She shook her head, urging him on. “Don’t you dare stop. The pain is . . . exquisite. I can’t—”