by Anya Nowlan
The groceries lay discarded in the kitchen and her happy little idyllic home had been turned into a warzone in a few seconds flat. The cold night air wafted in through the door and broken windows, creating a draft. Keesha could feel tears welling in her eyes, though she tried to force them down as quickly as she could. She had to keep a level head. She couldn’t panic. It would just make everything worse if she did.
Forcing herself calm, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, keeping eye contact with Battle. They had to get through this. She’d just understood what she wanted – him, Shifter Grove, a family and a future. She couldn’t let it be taken away from them so easily.
“What the fuck do you want? Who are you?!” Battle pressed through gritted teeth, eyeing the slim, wiry man who was keeping Keesha hostage.
“I think you owe me an apology, Branson. And a sacrifice.”
Keesha’s blood froze in her veins when she heard the words.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Battle
Battle’s worst nightmares were all coming to life right before his very eyes and he was helpless to do anything about it. The fucker he’d seen in Shifter Grove had his hands on Keesha and a knife on her throat. The wolves between Battle and the intruder seemed to be of little consequence. If the man hadn’t had a knife right over her carotid artery, Battle would have already been plowing through the damn mutts on his way to his woman.
“An apology for what?” he asked, though he already knew what the man had to be referring to.
There weren’t that many things Battle had done in his life that warranted slashing the throat of his mate. He’d behaved well in prison – as much as a grizzly bear could – and whatever he did had been necessary to make sure he lived to see another day. That was how it went in prison – no one carried their beef out through those wrought iron gates. What happened there was in the past as soon as you got out of the system.
Killing a Longbrook wolf though… That was on him for life.
“For killing my brother,” the man stated simply, his face twisting in anger and the blade pressing harder against Keesha’s neck.
She let out a little yelp as the knife cut her, a slim trickle of crimson blood spreading over the blade and sliding down her dark skin. It made a horrific contrast and Battle’s bear rose up, slamming against his defenses, demanding to be let out and have a go at all these jokers who dared threaten Keesha. Battle knew he couldn’t let his self-control slip, not yet. The wolf could kill Keesha before he was done shifting.
“Argo?” Battle asked, frowning.
“Fuck no. I’m not my pussy-ass older brother. He’s been telling me to ‘move on’, to ‘let it go’. Fucking bullshit. You took Adam from me, from our family. You broke their Alpha pair. Argo and Adam were supposed to be our new leaders, create a new triad. And now? The Longbrook wolves are barely still here at all. Adriana has fucking disappeared, Argo’s just some prick without a goal, and you! You got off scot free.”
The man was vibrating with anger. His face spoke of a deep, well-rooted rage towards Battle that the werebear had long been expecting to see – just not from him. Battle had always assumed it would be Argo coming after him. Exactly for the reasons spoken – breaking the Longbrook Alpha pair.
But the man before him was certainly not Argo. He looked weathered, broken, sunken. Battle was sure the wolf had fallen into some drug use and other seedy aspects of a wasted life, and that his anger was as much pointed towards himself as it was towards Battle. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that the damn dog was threatening to take Keesha away from him.
“Ten years I’ve waited for this. Ten fucking years. You know we had a guy try to kill you in Drentwood prison? But you took him out too. Nobody ever found out, huh? That was the one decent thing my father did before he kicked the bucket, try to avenge the death of his son. But you know what? It doesn’t matter that one of my older brothers is dead. It doesn’t matter that the other doesn’t want to lead his pack. I’ll do it for him. I’ll fix all of this. I’ll bring Adriana back. And all of it starts with you, Branson Hunt. You gotta go. You gotta go where Adam went before you – six feet under.”
A fevered glint shone in the wolf’s eyes. Now, Battle could place him. It was Achilles, one of the younger brothers – the youngest, if Battle remembered correctly. He was just fourteen when Adam died and Battle got sent away. Anger had shaped him into the man he was now and there was little Battle could do or say to make it any better. He knew that a lot of what Achilles was saying was true. Battle was to blame for a lot of what went wrong in Achilles’s life. But an eye for an eye only worked if Battle’s mate wasn’t dragged into this.
“Let the girl go, Achilles. You can have me. I’ll come along without a fight. You can do with me whatever you want. I don’t care. Just let her go,” he pleaded.
“Battle, no!” Keesha yelped, but her words were cut short by the knife pressing on her neck once more, drawing more blood.
Keesha was becoming pale in the face. Battle knew he didn’t have much time left. He had to convince Achilles or figure out a way of getting Keesha away from him. The two grubby looking wolves snarled and snapped their jaws at Battle, testing Battle’s patience.
“Shut up, bitch!” Achilles hissed. “No, Branson. This is exactly how it has to go down. I kill your girl and we’ll watch the life go out of her together. I’ll let you really look at her. Really take it in. Realize what it means for you, for her. Wallow in the fact that you killed your black whore, that it was all you. One life just put out like that. And then, when I feel you’ve internalized it enough, we’ll get rid of you too.”
“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Battle choked, rage boiling at the pit of his stomach.
“But it does,” Achilles said, grinning.
“Battle,” Keesha whispered, defiance mixing with fear in her eyes.
“I love you, baby,” Battle said.
“I love you t…” Keesha said, before the knife pressing against her throat silenced her.
“Enough with the fucking sentimental shit. Let’s do this,” Achilles growled, a pained smile spreading over his thin lips.
Just then, Battle let the bear take over. No sooner had he began shifting, letting himself fall into bear form faster than he ever had, than Achilles yelped and his grip on the knife faltered. Keesha slammed her elbow into his stomach and twisted away from him, stumbling into the corner of the room. Achilles keeled forward and spun around, eyes wild with surprise. Another man, the one who had just slammed his fist into the back of Achilles’s head and made him falter, was standing in the doorway. He’d come so quietly, like a demon in the night.
Argo, Battle thought.
The bear had taken control. He jumped on top of the first wolf, his giant claws and fearsome fangs ripping and shredding. Faintly, he saw Achilles and Argo both change, a look of disbelief warping over Achilles’s face at seeing his brother. The two wolves that had been keeping Battle at bay had their teeth in his sides, but he shook them off easily. Controlled, though burning with fury, he plowed through both of them. He threw one of them against the wall and he slumped on top of a pile of glass shards.
The other one was cleverer. He evaded Battle’s jaws and claws and, using his superior speed, crossed behind him and jumped on his back. Battle growled in pain as the wolf sunk his teeth into the scruff of his neck. From the corner of his eye, Battle could see Argo corralling Achilles into the house, so he couldn’t escape. The wolves were having a tense standoff and Achilles had to have known that he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, as his wild golden eyes darted between Argo and Battle.
Pawing at his back and trying to get a hold of the wolf, Battle backed into a wall and then jumped forward, shaking the mutt off. Before the wolf could scramble away, Battle caught him by the back and shook him hard and fast, making him flail around like a ragdoll. He could hear the wolf yelp and then grow silent. Battle dropped him on the floor and left him there, stepping over him. He
looked for Keesha and found her still molded against the corner of the living room, looking entirely shaken. But she’d defended herself and got away from Achilles – a ride or die kind of woman, and Battle loved her even more for it.
He came up behind Achilles and the scrawny wolf snapped at both him and Argo, not sure who he had to protect himself from more. Though Battle was almost blind with anger, he met the calm, soothing eyes of Argo for a moment and relaxed slightly. The wolf was completely in control of himself in a way Battle could only admire. Then again, he wasn’t the one whose mate was being threatened.
When Achilles looked away, trying to protect his flank from Battle, Argo grabbed him by the neck. Lightning fast, Argo dragged him out of the house and into the pitch-black darkness of the night. Battle followed until he reached the porch and the wolves disappeared from sight, covered by the shadows that were impenetrable for the faint moonlight. He heard snarls and yowls, hisses and growls and then a loud yelp and retreating footsteps that led into the night. A moment later, Argo padded forward, one bloody, gray-coated ear firmly between his jaws and his previously pristine white legs covered in blood and scratches.
Argo spat the ear in front of Battle and sat back on his haunches, lowering his head a little. It was an apology – one that Battle didn’t feel he deserved. Still, he lowered his head as well and then, after having looked at one another for a long moment, Battle turned around and headed back into the cabin.
He shifted, the bear giving up control easily. The bloodied fur disappeared and the animal became a man once more. When the shift was finished and Battle stood up, he almost crumpled to the floor on his knees. His left leg had a pretty deep gash in it that split through the muscle. It hurt like a bitch. There were other smaller bruises and wounds and he could feel blood tracking down the back of his neck. It didn’t matter much.
Keesha ran to him and threw her arms around him, the color slowly coming back to her cheeks. She was shaking like a leaf. Battle’s big arms scooped her closer against him and he breathed in her sweet scent, made even sweeter by the fact that he had almost lost her forever. He cradled her against him, his breathing slowing only when he was sure she was safe, in one piece and right there with him.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” she choked out.
“I wouldn’t have let that happen,” Battle whispered.
He knew, though, that he alone might not have been enough. Battle looked up and saw Argo standing on the porch. He was just what Battle had expected him to be. Tall, fair-haired and with intense blue eyes that were sadder now than he remembered from when they were teenagers. He had wide shoulders and a trim physique, not nearly as big or powerful as Battle’s but one built for function, speed and strength. He’d grown into a fine man and an even finer wolf. The fact that he was the only one left in his Alpha pair hadn’t seemed to hold him back, if not for the look in his eyes telling Battle something different.
“Thank you, Argo. I don’t know how to repay you,” Battle said, gently letting go of Keesha and stepping closer to Argo.
He reached out his hand to the man – something he thought he would never do. How could he apologize for killing his brother, his Alpha twin? And how could he thank the man for saving his mate? Battle owed Argo far more than he could put into words.
After considering the outstretched hand, Argo took his right hand out of his pocket and put it firmly in Battle’s, shaking hands.
“There is nothing to repay. I should have controlled Achilles. I knew he could be blind when anger took over him. But I guess I didn’t want to think of it. I wanted to put it all behind me.”
A wry smile skirted over Argo’s features as he let go of Battle’s hand. It reminded him of Achilles’s, but where Achilles only had anger, this man had spirit that persevered through the pain. Battle could only imagine what Argo had been through in the last few years.
“What will you do with him?” Battle asked, referring to the bloody stump of an ear still lying on the porch and the young wolf who had got away.
“We’ll see. Wolves have their ways. Would you have preferred him to die?” Argo asked.
There was curiosity in that question. Perhaps a test?
“No,” Battle replied firmly. “There’s been enough Longbrook blood spilled because of me.”
“It has never been about you, Branson. Adam, or the both of us, would have died one way or another. He had that bloodlust that I never did. He wanted the power, the recognition, the sacrifices. I didn’t. In a way, it’s good he died as young as he did. I think otherwise, the Longbrooks would have become something I wouldn’t have been proud of, and me along with them, following his anger until it consumed me. There certainly wouldn’t be a Shifter Grove so close to our lands.”
Argo shrugged, a simple motion that looked impossibly elegant and seamless on him. Battle had to wonder if the man was comfortable with who he was now. Words were one thing, but those deep blue eyes spoke of a lot more than the wolf did.
“I’m sorry about Adam,” Battle said, Keesha squeezing his hand when he got the words out.
Argo smirked, cocking his head to the side with a sudden sadness coming over him. It had to be horrible, living without the other half of an Alpha pair.
“I am as well. You better call someone about those two, though,” Argo said, pointing behind Battle.
The two wolves were lying still on the ground. Battle could see their chests slowly rising and falling. They were still alive – thank the spirits for small blessings. When Battle looked back at the porch, Argo wasn’t there anymore. All he could see was the darkness outside, the porch light shining its dim rays into the blackness of the night.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Keesha
The sun flooded the bedroom. There still weren’t any curtains on the windows but it didn’t matter. Keesha had found herself liking waking up with the sun slowly rousing her from her slumber. This time, though, it wasn’t just the sun that woke her, but a very determined tongue making teasing circles around her dark nipples.
Through the haze of her sleep, Keesha heard herself moaning softly, her back arching to feather light touches along her stomach, her hips and her inner thighs. Those raspy fingers that could be so gentle kept coming closer and closer to the wet coils of her heat and Keesha spread her legs wider, begging for him to tease her further. Battle kissed little circles around her nipples, his other hand kneading her tits before sliding over her stomach and pressing down on her hip.
His tongue followed the same path until it came to the dark curls surrounding her sex. He kissed her inner thighs, making her shake with need. He was toying with her, dragging her out of her sleep. She knew she was going to be begging him, pleading with him and screaming his name in a matter of minutes – she couldn’t wait.
Keesha’s eyes fluttered open and her hands grabbed for the back of his head, trying to force him lower on her. She wanted to feel that thick tongue on her pussy, lapping up her juices, giving her the relief she needed. But Battle played at his own pace. She knew he partially did it to get her on edge, and damn if it wasn’t working just like he intended.
Ever so gently, he traced the outlines of her pussy lips. His other hand went under her big, plump ass, lifting her up just a little and making her gasp in a breath. Damn this man. His thumb was pressing into the crease between her ass cheeks, so close to her entrance. She tried to grind up against his mouth but he wouldn’t let her, keeping her down by the hip.
“Battle, please,” she pleaded softly, sleep still heavy in her eyes.
“What do you want, Keesh?” he asked, sounding perfectly innocent and unaware of the torture he was putting her through.
“I want you to eat me out,” she whined, little moans puncturing her words as he let his tongue dip deeper into her honey pot. “I want you to make me scream with your mouth and tongue and then fuck me with your huge cock!”
“All you had to do was ask,” he said.
She didn’t have to look down t
o know the devilish smile he wore when he said it. Immediately, he attacked her pussy with his mouth. His tongue lapped against her pussy lips and then moved up, swirling circles around her clit. He sucked her clit into his mouth and she mewled loudly, her long nails digging into his skin. Even though he healed fast, she could still feel the scars on his neck.
His thumb forced into her pussy and she clamped down around it, grinding against his touch. Keesha let go of his hair with one hand and started playing with her nipples. She knew what she liked and she knew Battle loved it when she played with herself while he gave it to her like she needed it. He growled a little and it reverbed through her, making her tremble even harder. Her orgasm was growing fast and hard, the demanding pulse of her core making her heart pound faster.
“Oh my god, Battle,” she squealed, lifting her hips to push herself harder against his mouth.
She was drowning in her juices. The only thing that could have made it better was his cock. Battle must have sensed that she was close to coming. He tore himself away from her slit quickly and rose up, kissing her hard on the mouth. She moaned into the kiss, tasting her own sweetness on his lips and tongue.
Roughly, he spread her legs wider and pushed into her. Keesha’s legs wrapped around his hips, her heels against the back of his thighs, and her whole body convulsed as he started pumping into her. Within a few thrusts, he had sunken into her pussy, filling her completely with his hard, veiny cock. Her moans grew more and more strangled until she could only make little wheezing noises, her head buried against his chest and her hands clutching at his sides.
“Come for me, baby,” he murmured through gritted teeth.
“Battle!” she screamed.
The orgasm exploded through her, like a wave of fire and pleasure burning within her so hard and fast she nearly forgot to breathe. Keesha wailed, scraping at his sides as her back arched and her hips ground against Battle. Her pussy muscles gripped him hard, begging for him to come right along with her. The way Battle hissed and then roared was the sweetest sound, and when she felt his thick seed spew into her, she could finally relax her body.