Wolfrik grunted. Deep emotions aside, he wasn’t going to turn this into a sappy hug-fest. “Thanks for the warning.” His throat tightened on the words. He didn’t feel particularly grateful. He felt put out.
First, he’d found out the truth about Kallie using him to get Palmer off her back, now this. How could Kallie have had feelings for the ape?
You really have to ask yourself that? a little voice taunted inside his head. If she can have feelings for a maniac like you, then why not an upstanding packmate like Raider?
Wolfrik had simply been a consolation prize. A convenient fuck. She’d all but warned him from the start.
Dark clouds threatened to close in around him again. They seemed to always be there on the edges, waiting to storm in.
Wolfrik knew better than to form an attachment, but somewhere along the way he’d started to care for her. Love—
No. Fuck love! That star had winked out and died three years ago. He needed to stick to the basics: hunting, feeding, and fucking.
The muscles in Wolfrik’s arms tightened, and his jaw ached from the pressure of his teeth mashed together.
Sasha’s brows drew together. “Will you be okay?” she asked.
“I’ve always been able to take care of myself, haven’t I?” He didn’t mean to snap. He just had to get away—away from Sasha and from Kallie waiting for him in the glade. He stormed across the forest floor. “I’m going to make sure Aden caught up to Sparrow.”
“What do you mean?” Sasha asked.
Wolfrik kept walking, and she had to jog after him.
“She made a run for it earlier.”
“And you left Aden alone to find her?” Sasha demanded.
Wolfrik didn’t stop or slow his pace. “He can handle it, trust me.”
“I’m sure he can but—” Sasha stopped jogging and sighed loudly. “Just be safe.”
“Sure.”
Wolfrik thundered through the woods, waiting until he was sure Sasha was far behind to shift. Then he raced for the river caves, having already decided that he would spend the night there. Hopefully Sparrow had learned her lesson and wouldn’t tempt him into killing her before morning dawned.
Kallie sat, staring into the treetops in a daze. Her wolf had mated with Wolfrik’s and recognized in him the male she wished to claim. Then he’d taken her hand and told her he intended to protect her.
Kallie rocked gently in place, giddy as she waited for Wolfrik’s return.
She’d never intended to fall for him, but now she couldn’t imagine her life without him as her mate.
“It’s nice to see you smile.” Maureen’s voice pulled Kallie out of her daze.
She felt her cheeks warm, not out of embarrassment, but genuine happiness.
“I think the way Wolfrik acts around you is so romantic,” Maureen continued. She sighed wistfully, her lashes fluttering. After a deep breath, her gaze drifted back to Kallie. “I know he acts tough around the rest of the pack, but he softens when he’s near you. I can see him as the protective, caring type when it comes to his mate.”
“We’re not—” Kallie didn’t know how to finish her sentence.
Maureen lifted her chest and chin. “You two are good together, and I think things will work out for the best.” She glanced side to side and lowered her voice. “Wolfrik and Sasha always reminded me more of brother and sister.”
Kallie felt the smile in every crevice of her face. Maureen smiled back then returned to the cauldron, busying herself with the final dinner preparations.
Kallie tapped her good foot against the soft earth. The wild grasses in the glade were kept tamped down by the constant activity around the gathering space. The tufts of flattened grass tickled the bottom of her foot.
She inhaled the scent of the vegetables she’d spent the past few weeks tending to and harvested earlier that day. It wafted into one scrumptious melody that spread across the glade in beckoning.
The moon drifted like a cloud over the blue sky, darkening a little quicker since the passing of summer solstice. The moon had filled out like an expectant mother’s belly. Soon it would be the full moon. Kallie’s stomach warmed.
It was too soon to hope for a claiming—a child, but the possibility had grown like a seed inside her and blossomed the more time she spent with Wolfrik.
Howls went up in the distance and moved like a wave across the hollow. A wolf streaked across the glade, running north. A pack member had returned. Kallie’s human ears recognized basic wolf cries, but not the details.
“Must be Tabor or Ford,” Maureen said, stirring the stew inside the cauldron.
It turned out to be Tabor. He and Sasha walked into the glade. Maureen spooned stew into a bowl and handed it to Tabor, even though the dinner gong had not yet sounded. He and Sasha sat on a log where he ate slowly, speaking to her between bites.
Kallie scratched her nose then her cheek and looked around the clearing, wondering when Wolfrik would return. If Sasha had left the council meeting, they would have to disperse, wouldn’t they?
The longer Kallie sat, the more her body stiffened. She extended her legs and tilted her head from one side to the other, stretching her neck. She laced and unlaced her fingers, unease taking the space inside her stomach where butterflies had fluttered earlier.
She got up, feeling her muscles groan. Kallie looked around the clearing and forced a smile to her lips as she headed over to Tabor and Sasha. Her limp, which seemed to fade away around Wolfrik, became more pronounced with each step. She gave up the smile to grind her teeth and get through the pain shooting up her leg.
“You delivered Elsie safely?” she asked when she’d made it to Tabor.
He set his half-empty bowl of stew in his lap and nodded. “She wasn’t happy to be back at Balmar Heights, but it’s for the best until the threat has passed.”
“So, she’ll come back once it is?”
“I hope so,” Tabor said.
“Me too. I miss her.” And Kallie knew what was at stake for Elsie if she didn’t claim a mate soon. She shuddered at the thought.
Tabor ran a hand through his hair and pursed his lips. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I hope the humans hurry up and get here. The sooner we take them down, the sooner we can get back to normal.”
Sasha nodded. “We’re cancelling another full moon celebration. The hollow appears to be jinxed this summer.”
Tabor sucked in a breath. “Don’t say that. This summer was moon-blessed and the happiest I’ve ever known. It gave me a strong, wise, and sexy mate, and a sister.” His eyes shone as he stared lovingly at Sasha.
She smiled. “You’re right. Besides, our struggles make us stronger and bring with them gifts where least expected.”
Kallie backed slowly away, feeling intrusive as Tabor’s and Sasha’s gazes turned to longing. The two recently mated shifters had been apart for several nights. By the time she limped back to her log and sat back down, Tabor and Sasha had disappeared. Even if Kallie hadn’t felt a duty to keep up the garden while the den mates were away, she wouldn’t have wanted to visit Tabor’s cabin to do more reading—not at the risk of walking in on him and Sasha.
Maureen picked Tabor’s bowl off the ground and set it inside an empty basket then went to the gong and struck it with the mallet. The sound rang out across the forest and Kallie’s soul.
Where was Wolfrik? He said he’d be back.
Shifters began arriving in pairs, lining up at the cauldron. When Raider strutted into the glade with Jordan, Kallie scowled. Had he said or done something to delay Wolfrik? She still couldn’t believe Raider had punched Wolfrik, especially after everything he’d been through. Other than a swollen lip, Raider didn’t have a bruise on him, which made her want to punch him on Wolfrik’s behalf.
Jordan led her mate to the line. He stepped behind her, wrapped his big arm
s around her waist, and pulled her against him. Jordan’s giggle soured Kallie’s appetite. Palmer’s daughters were the biggest flirts in the hollow with the exception of Sydney, who turned out to be a psychopath. Jordan had gotten worse since claiming Raider. She’d quit drinking Jager’s brew now that she was drunk on love.
Zadie and Heath, and Jolene and Alec arrived. Her fingers curled into fists. What was taking Wolfrik so long? Obviously council wasn’t in session and hadn’t been for some time. Even Sasha and Tabor returned, grinning from ear to ear and ogling one another happily.
Kallie waited as each shifter dished up until everyone had been served a bowl of stew. She waited while shifters went up for seconds. Her heart fell as Heath, Alec, Zadie, Nudara, Lacy, and Jolene headed to the eastern trail with their drums and laughter.
Once again, Wolfrik had left her waiting, and she had no idea why.
chapter eighteen
Two full days he’d kept her waiting and still had yet to face her. Kallie’s heartache turned to confusion then rage—bouncing back and forth and wreaking havoc on her appetite. What had changed since they mated as wolves and he’d so tenderly taken her hand? How could he be protective of her one minute then abandon her the next?
Through overheard conversations, she learned that he had returned to the river caves. To his human.
“What do you think they’re doing down there in the caves all day and night?” a shifter named Carter asked Wiley.
“Taking turns.” Wiley thrust his hips back and forth with a crude laugh.
Kallie’s fingers curled and hands shook. She wanted to punch them both. Worst of all, she felt a sudden urge to hit Wolfrik. Shame sickened her stomach like spoiled meat. How could she even think such a thing?
Done with waiting and spending another day torturing herself, she shifted at midday and ran toward the caves, taking breaks along the way. She’d timed it so it would be evening when she arrived, too late to turn back to the glade or den. Wolfrik would be forced to face her and explain himself, and she’d finally meet the human.
Long before approaching the caves, Kallie lifted her head and howled. She waited and listened for an answer, but none came, meaning Wolfrik and Aden were probably in human form. She trotted forward—longing coursing through her wolf’s senses. If only she was reuniting with her mate rather than confronting her wayward lover.
She hadn’t even made it to the caves when Wolfrik shot through the trees in wolf form and skidded to a stop in front of her, blocking her way. She didn’t have much time to sniff him before his fur receded, fangs and claws retracted, and he hunched over the ground in his human body.
Kallie made the shift, full color returning to her sight as she blinked through human eyes at the male directly in front of her. Wolfrik helped her up then drew his arms back and frowned. Kallie noticed he had trouble meeting her eyes.
“You shouldn’t be out here. It’s not safe.”
Anger flared up Kallie’s spine. “I didn’t have much choice, did I? You told me to wait. I waited—and waited.”
“I’m sure Raider was thrilled to see me gone,” Wolfrik answered sullenly.
Kallie’s forehead wrinkled. “Did he say something to you again?”
Wolfrik ground his teeth and crossed his arms. “No, but I found out the truth. You had feelings for him. Too bad he’s mated now. Too bad you had to lower your standards. Too bad you had to throw yourself at me when there was no one else.” He threw the last words at her face.
Kallie planted her hands on her hips and dug her toes into the smooth dirt trail where she stood as steadily as she could. “Which is it, Wolfrik? Did I use you or settle for you?”
“Both,” he said sullenly.
“You’re a fool, you know?”
Wolfrik growled.
“Don’t snarl at me when you know I’m right.” Kallie glared into his contorted face. “If you don’t let the past go, it will eat you alive. And I mean all of it—yours and mine.”
“I know that!”
Wolfrik swung his arms in the air as he kicked a stick across the forest into a nearby tree.
Hilarity bubbled up Kallie’s throat. It seemed so out of place it made her want to laugh harder. Wolfrik’s head jerked up, and his expression softened when he looked at her.
“Feel better?” she asked.
“Hardly.” He shrugged.
Despite his answer, Wolfrik’s shoulders relaxed and the fight went out of his face.
“Will you return with me to the glade tomorrow?” Kallie asked.
He glanced in the direction of the river. “Sparrow’s my responsibility. I can’t just dump her on Aden. And Sasha said she’d make sure patrols were added to the den. I knew you’d be looked after.” Wolfrik avoided her eyes and sighed. “Look, Kallie, I’m a lone wolf. Damaged beyond repair. I’m not good for you.”
Kallie gritted her teeth. “You think you’re the only one who has suffered? I, too, lost my parents—lost in love. I, too, have physical injuries that will never fully heal. That doesn’t mean I’m going to tuck in my tail and give up when life throws me a bone.”
Wolfrik snarled and met her eyes. “I’m not tucking tail.”
The ferocity in his gaze made Kallie shiver, but she didn’t back down. “Yes, you are.”
Wolfrik smacked his arms roughly against his sides, only to lift them back up and punch at the air. “Fuck, female! Why can’t you leave well enough alone?”
Kallie took a step closer, unafraid—emboldened. “And why can’t you listen to your wolf? Didn’t purebloods use to let their wolves choose their mates before elders began interfering?”
Wolfrik threw his head back and laughed. When he lowered his head and locked gazes with her, his eyes glittered like stars in a cold winter sky. “You want me for a mate? Are you mad?”
Kallie tossed her hair back. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life.”
“Think you can tame the wild beast, do you?” Wolfrik looked her up and down with a sneer.
“I wouldn’t want to,” she fired back. “I love the beast.”
Wolfrik went still. He blinked, and the next second his gaze turned hooded. He started toward her, and still she held her ground. The trees were too far from the trail to offer support, and she feared she’d topple over before she ever reached them.
When Wolfrik reached her, his lips closed over hers instantly. Moon above, she loved the way he kissed. She never would have taken him for a male who kissed and caressed, but it seemed to come as naturally to him as breathing. His tongue stroked hers while his mouth consumed her, causing warmth to spread down her entire body and curl her toes.
Kallie answered his kisses with her own hungry lips.
His hand cradled her neck and pulled her in as he deepened the embrace. He shoved his tongue into her mouth and she moaned, imagining that same tongue much lower, thrusting inside her. A callused hand slid down her hip, cupping her between the legs and the liquid heat gathering at her core. There was no hiding her excitement from him. She rocked into his hand shamelessly, mewling for more.
When he kept up the kisses, she broke away and nipped his neck in silent demand. She wanted him to take her here and now.
Wolfrik’s shoulders shook as he chuckled. “I’m the beast, and yet you’re the one who bites.”
“I’ll bite you again if you don’t make love to me soon,” Kallie said.
“Make love?” Wolfrik raised his brows.
“Yeah, you say ‘fuck’ too much. That’s not what this is. Not anymore.”
Cocking his head to the side, Wolfrik looked her over with consideration before shrugging. “Call it what you want, Kallie.”
Love. She called it love. She’d never seen it coming, not with him, but once her eyes were opened there was no closing them again—when she did, all she saw was him.
H
e turned her around gently and pulled her against his groin—the hard length of him entering her. Strong arms circled her abdomen, holding her securely against his chest so she didn’t pitch forward while his hips pumped. He moved steadily, feet planted apart on the ground, Kallie secure in his embrace.
She pushed back against him in a taunting motion to get him to go faster, but he merely gripped her harder and kept up his exquisite and excruciating pace. She whimpered, desperate for release.
Kallie thrust her hips back. Wolfrik’s hands settled on them. One drifted south until his finger reached her clit. When he stroked, her whimpers turned to shrieks of pleasure that silenced the birds.
Could the human female hear them from the caves? She hoped so. She wanted the bitch to know that Wolfrik was hers.
She leaned back against him, loving his solid strength and knowing that as long as she was in his arms, he’d never let her fall.
“Take me,” Kallie yelped.
“Not yet.” His voice was as firm as his hold. There was satisfaction in it. He had every right to be proud of himself. He could turn a woman into sap in his arms.
Kallie squirmed. Wolfrik’s arms roped around her torso. He squeezed her against him as though she were trying to get away and practically lifted her off her feet on the next thrust.
Shooting stars exploded in Kallie’s vision as her insides went supernova. Her entire body convulsed with the orgasm, and then she went as limp as a rag in Wolfrik’s arms. If his hold hadn’t been so tight, she would have crumpled to the forest floor.
He paused briefly and inhaled deeply as though her pleasure held a scent. Then he jackhammered inside her like a madman.
Kallie didn’t think there was anything left in her, but his urgency set her body buzzing, toes curling, and pulled moans from the recesses of her throat.
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