by A. D. Ryan
“You mean, use that level-headed rationality you were just praising me for a moment ago.”
Marcus winked and shot me a finger-gun salute. “Exactly. What do you say?”
I took a deep breath and contemplated the offer and his compromise for a minute. Being Alpha was a huge responsibility, and I honestly wasn’t sure I would be ready for it, let alone any good at it. I worried that my inexperience might cost each and every one of them their lives.
On the flip side, I was only aware of what I was seeing as the new wolf in the Pack, and I couldn’t say no without knowing everything the position entailed.
Realizing this, I thrust my hand toward Marcus. “You’ve got a deal.” He eyed me curiously, probably wondering which part of the deal, so I elaborated. “I’m not saying yes, but I am agreeing to learning more about it in hopes of reaching my decision soon.”
Marcus took my hand in his, gripping it firmly and shaking it. “You won’t regret this decision. You’ll see.”
Unfortunately, being faced with the proposition only served to insert the most horrible images into my brain. All of them led to me rising through the ranks after the death of Marcus, and I couldn’t shake them no matter how hard I tried.
Chapter17 | frolic
I walked up the stairs in a bit of a daze, playing and replaying my conversation with Marcus in my head, trying to make sense of it all. Having only just joined the Pack, I couldn’t wrap my head around his proposition. It just didn’t make sense.
“Brooke?” Nick’s voice broke through my concentration, forcing my gaze to him. He was just coming out of the washroom with a towel draped around his waist, hair wet and water dripping down his body. “You okay?”
Smiling, I let my eyes linger on one droplet as it rolled over the contours of his torso before reaching the white towel and disappearing. “I, uh…” Marcus’s request repeated again, and I had to shake it off to answer Nick. “I don’t know, actually.”
Looking concerned, Nick approached me. “What happened? What did he say?”
“He…” I tipped my head, looking up into Nick’s eyes as he hovered over me. “He told me he wants me to take over as Alpha if something happens to him.” A shiver ran down my spine at the idea of anything happening. “But that’s ridiculous, right? Nothing’s going to happen. He’ll be fine. Not to mention, I’m obviously not the most rational decision.”
Nick’s eyebrows lifted, his lips curling slightly. I recognized pride in his expression. “Aren’t you?”
“No!” I cried, completely flustered. “I don’t know the first thing about leading a pack. I’ve only been a wolf for a few months, for crying out loud!”
Nick’s massive hands came to rest on my shoulders, his gaze holding mine. “Breathe.” I did as he asked and followed him as he led us to the end of the bed and sat us down. “I’ve told you this before, so Marcus naming you his successor shouldn’t come as a surprise.”
“But it should, Nick. I’m barely ready to play whatever role I hold now…let alone take over and lead you all.”
Nick encased my shaking hands in his. “Think about it—about everything I’ve told you and what I’m certain Marcus told you. You are…valuable, Brooke. Your background and talent, your compassion and rationality…they’re all extremely valuable assets to look for in an Alpha.”
“It just seems a little premature.”
“It’s a failsafe,” Nick assured me. “If he doesn’t name the one to take his place, there could be a power struggle within the Pack. Or worse, an outsider could try and usurp one of us if we’re not confident in our role.”
The idea of someone else coming in—someone like Karl—terrified me.
Picking up on this, Nick winked. “I said try. Anyone who even attempted wouldn’t survive, let alone succeed.”
I acknowledged Nick’s effort to validate what Marcus had told me regarding why I made the most sense, but it still didn’t make sense to me. It was an overwhelming idea, and it only served to make me even more uneasy.
“Look…” Nick’s voice was gentle and soothing. “You’re wound up. When’s the last time you shifted?”
I had to think back. It was definitely in the compound, but had it been days? A week? I couldn’t be sure, but Nick bringing it up excited the wolf. I craved the feeling of the wind moving through my coat as I ran in the fresh air.
“Let me grab some pants and a shirt and we’ll head out. You need to release a little tension. It’s probably safest for us to run during the day until we’ve dealt with the coven.”
Just the idea of letting the wolf out relaxed me enough that I felt like I could breathe again. Based on how strong I felt now, I was confident the silver had finally run its course, and I could only hope I would finally be able to shift in order to relax.
Nick emerged from our closet in jeans and a sweater, taking me by the hand and leading me from our room. We were just heading downstairs when Cordelia passed us, smiling from ear to ear when she saw us.
“Hi, Brooke!” she greeted enthusiastically. “Where are you guys headed?”
As much as I liked her, I got the sense she wanted to hang out, and I was really hoping for some time alone with Nick, running through the forest. I felt guilty for it, knowing that she’d bonded with me during our time together.
“Uh, out for a run, actually,” I answered, unable to lie to her when she looked up at me with her big hazel eyes.
Her face fell a little, but I noticed she tried to hide it. “That sounds nice.”
Conflicted, I looked to Nick. I could tell he was hoping for a little alone time as well, but he nodded his consent. I turned back to Cordelia. “Would you like to join us?”
Excitement shone in her eyes, but was quickly extinguished as she looked between the two of us. “That’s okay. I still have troubles with my transformations. Maybe another time. But thank you for inviting me. That was really nice.”
“Sure,” I said, relieved that Nick and I would still be getting our alone time, and only experiencing mild guilt for feeling that way. “See you later.”
Nick and I continued down the stairs and headed outside. The wind was a little chilly, cutting through my sweater, but I pushed it aside, knowing we’d be shifting soon and the wind wouldn’t be of any consequence soon enough.
With my hand encased in his, Nick led me around the house, walking faster than usual, waves of excitement and anticipation rolling off him and affecting me in kind. He pulled me through the snow, past the tennis court, and toward the trees where we sought cover to change.
I was just pulling my shirt up over my head when Nick’s warm hands were on my waist, and the heat from his body wrapped itself around me. His hands slid down over my abdomen, his thumbs slipping behind the button of my jeans and releasing it.
“Nick,” I breathed as his hand disappeared behind the denim. “I thought we were going to run?”
He released a single chuckle, his breath fanning over my neck before he kissed it. “We will,” he murmured against my skin as he pressed the length of his body against me fully. “Can you feel it?”
I laughed, the sound carried away into the treetops. “It’s kind of hard to miss,” I said, my voice low and sultry as I dropped my head back against his chest and stared up at the blue sky. “It’s pressed pretty firmly against my ass at the moment.”
With a low growl that sent shockwaves straight through my body and ignited the embers of desire that had been slowly stoking since this morning, Nick whipped me around and pressed me against the thick trunk of the nearest oak tree. He gripped both of my wrists and raised my arms above my head, holding them in place with one massive hand.
“That’s not what I meant,” he told me, staring deep into my eyes. My wolf stirred when I glimpsed the amber color starting to overtake the rest of his irises. His free hand moved down my body, his gaze following, and he grabbed the swell of my ass, making me gasp when he pulled my hips toward him. “I meant can you feel how close the wolf is to th
e surface? I can sense her, and it gets me so worked up.”
Panting, I bit my lower lip, containing a whimper as his hand slipped back into my jeans, stroking languidly. “Yes,” I exhaled, though not entirely sure if it was in response to the way his hand played me like a finely tuned instrument or his question.
Both. It was definitely both.
“Everything is heightened right now, right?” I nodded in time with his fingers moving back and forth. “Your primal urges are taking over, but what do you do?” My eyes snapped to his when he removed his hand from between my legs and amusement touched his mouth. “Take me right here and now, or shift?”
Both options were appealing given the sexual tension and the anticipation to run that flowed wildly through my veins, but I figured he expected an answer.
With an explosion of lust, I pulled my hands free from his grip and pulled his face to mine, kissing him hard and deep and swallowing his groan of approval. We worked fervently to disrobe, our lust enveloping us completely until we succumbed to it.
I put everything I had into the kiss, acting like it was the last time—and after everything that had happened, we couldn’t really be sure. I worked my hands into the waist of his pants, skating my palms over the muscles of his abdomen and down his hips as I slid the denim down his legs. His heated flesh quivered beneath my touch, and I reveled in the low growl that erupted from him when my fingers brushed his arousal.
As our passion ignited, our lips fused hotter, the kiss growing more urgent, I threw my whole weight against him. He staggered, momentarily knocked off balance, and his arm looped around my waist as he pushed me back against the tree and continued to peel my clothes from my body.
Once all of our clothes were scattered on the forest floor, Nick picked me up and pressed my bare back against the rough tree trunk. I wrapped my legs around his hips, digging my heels into his muscular ass and urging him forward.
Moaning in unison, Nick pushed into me, his lips finding mine again, this time kissing me softly as he slowed his movement between my legs.
“Oh, Nick,” I panted against his lips.
The sensations that rocked through my body were unprecedented to anything I’d ever felt before. Perhaps it was because the wolf was so close to the surface after being forced into submission for so long, or maybe it was something else entirely.
His fingertips curled into the flesh of my ass, the pinching sensation amplifying my pleasure that much more as the pins and needles shot through my body, and he thrust a little harder. My words brought his wild side even closer to the surface as the haze of lust continued to descend on us, pushing the both of us closer and closer toward our climaxes.
Heat rolled off Nick’s skin, the fever of his wolf growing stronger with every thrust, and my own temperature started to climb. The rough tree trunk dug into my back, scratching and cutting, but instead of finding it uncomfortable, I was surprised it only added to the experience.
Dropping his face to my shoulder, Nick repeated my name over and over again. His hips pumped unevenly but with more purpose than before, and soon the both of us stumbled over the precipice of desire, our cries echoing through the bare branches above and forcing the birds from their perches.
We were both breathing heavily as Nick continued to support my body, waiting until my legs stopped trembling enough that I could stand. When he deemed it time, he slowly withdrew from my legs and lowered me to the cold, snowy ground. Instead of gathering his clothes like most people who’d just engaged in a somewhat-public sex act, he turned to me with that crooked grin that indicated he was up to something.
“Ready for your next lesson?” he asked.
With a laugh, I arched an eyebrow. “You think you taught me something new just now?”
Nick shook his head, brushing his hair from his eyes with his fingers. “Not exactly what I was referring to, but…challenge accepted for later.” He paused, cracking his neck and shoulders. “I wanted to see if you’d be interested in testing your shifting abilities after expending all your energy.”
This time, my lips quirked up into a sly grin as I walked past him, laying a hand on his still-sweaty chest and meeting his eyes. “I think you’ve sorely underestimated my stamina,” I informed him before traipsing through the light footpath left by the Pack and other various animals.
“Well, all right, then,” he challenged, kneeling down in the snow. “Let’s see what you’ve got, baby.”
This was the first time he hadn’t waited for me to shift before transitioning. It only took minutes for his form to change completely, his bones cracking and realigning easier than I’d ever been able to accomplish on my own. I watched as his body changed, skin tightening over his newly formed animal body, and then darkening as a thick, sandy blond coat covered it. Once complete, he shook his body out and turned to me, sitting and staring expectantly.
I could tell when he grew impatient, because he raised his wolfy eyebrows and lifted his snout in my direction as if to tell me to get started. Stage fright set in, and I pursed my lips together, wringing my sweaty hands nervously as I prepared to crouch.
“Staring only makes me more nervous,” I reminded him, but he only huffed and inched closer. “Cocky son of a bitch,” I muttered, closing my eyes and ignoring him.
I blocked out the sound of his breathing, pushed aside his crisp outdoorsy smell and focused on the task at hand. I willed my mind to settle as I focused on my temperature, opening my subconscious to allow the wolf to come forward. It only took a minute for her to take the wheel, helping me along. The pain started right away, my skin stretching and bones breaking, but instead of dwelling on it, I went with it. I let it take me where I had to go, and before I knew it, I was shaking to relax into my new form. Nick approached, his pride evident in the way he looked at me and nuzzled my neck.
We took a minute to reacquaint ourselves in this form; this would mark the first time we’d shifted together since the days before I had been taken. I was excited. The wolf was excited. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as the wind picked up, and soon Nick and I were racing through the trees, kicking up snow as we competed to see who would reach the edge of the trees first.
Yipping and purposely running into one another, we dashed from the cover of the forest. With everything that had happened, I had forgotten how much fun this part of my new life was. Even though the threat of my brother and his coven still loomed overhead, I was able to let go and enjoy my freedom again with Nick by my side.
Feeling particularly playful, I glanced over at Nick as he picked up speed and tried to take the lead. Not one to give up without a fight, I used a burst of energy to catch up, running so close I could feel his fur against mine. We ran like this for a few strides before my competitive nature took hold again, and I drifted one more step forward and to the right, tripping him while I raced ahead.
Looking behind me, I watched him roll a couple of times before coming to a stop, fluffy white snow dusting his fur as he looked up at me with a devilish glint in his eyes. I stopped, tongue hanging out as I panted, and turned around. My tail began to wag as he advanced on me, and I crouched my front half down, leaving my tail end in the air teasingly.
Without warning, he darted toward me, sending me over backward as we rolled through the snow playfully. We played like this until we were both out of breath, so we decided to aimlessly wander for a bit before heading back. A couple times, the look in Nick’s eyes alluded to changing back, but I just shook my head, urging him forward. I wasn’t ready to change back yet; the wolf had been kept locked away by Bobby’s coven, and I felt it only fair to let her roam a little longer.
The sky overhead darkened as dusk approached, appearing almost black on the night of the new moon, but the final burst of light seemed alive over the mountains. Nick and I reached the edge of the frozen lake, and I recognized it as the same spot we’d gone after that one vampire the night of the fire. The wind picked up again, the cold cutting through my fur and making me shiver, b
ut it also brought with it a familiar scent.
Jackson.
I pranced along the edge of the lake, wanting to cross and go meet up with him. Even though he’d texted Marcus earlier and assured us that all was fine, I had this urge to make sure for myself. Nick growled his disapproval, nodding back the way we came. The look in his eyes told me he was worried about an attack now that it was dark.
Torn, I stayed put, looking toward the mountains and then back at Nick. What was I supposed to do?
My human self—that rational police detective—wanted to go see Jackson. I wanted to learn what he’d been able to gather. But the wolf? She knew that disobeying Marcus could have severe consequences, and she wasn’t willing to risk punishment.
So, I let her choose. Marcus said it wouldn’t be much longer before we went after Bobby’s coven. Until then, we would let Jackson play detective and inform us when it was time.
Patience had never been my strong suit, so I could only hope Jackson called on us sooner rather than later.
Chapter18 | nervous
Several days had gone by, and Jackson still hadn’t asked us to join him, nor had he come home. Normally, I’d be panicking a lot more, but his daily updates were keeping me from rebelling against Marcus’s orders and going after him in the middle of the night.
The Pack was still worried about an attack, even with Jackson’s reassurances that they seemed to be staying hidden in their super-secret fortress. Knowing I was some kind of key to their freedom from the night, Marcus wasn’t taking any chances that they would come for me. He had a patrolling schedule to keep the perimeter of the manor secure while he tried to contact an old friend about setting up some kind of mystical barrier.
I’d had no idea that such a thing even existed, but apparently the Pack had a group of Shamans on their payroll who cast the occasional spell to alert them of intruders. It seemed far-fetched…and that was coming from a werewolf.
The terror level in the manor took me back to when I’d first arrived and we’d found the wolf on the property and the dead woman hanging from the tree. I agreed that it was better to be safe than sorry, but I was starting to feel like a prisoner all over again. Thankfully, I was still “allowed” to roam the grounds by myself during the day and with Nick or another Pack member after sunset—but only if I had to get out of the house. I was under constant supervision, and while it was annoying, I understood it, and I made a conscious decision not to fight it.