As she’d learned today, some of that responsibility fell on her shoulders. In the not so distant past she’d have been little more than an expendable foot soldier fighting for her betters. Not that much had changed. Vampires still looked out for their pack’s best interest, killing those who got too close and dispensing punishment where required.
She didn’t want any of that. She just wanted to be part of a pack, like she’d always been until her eighteenth birthday when she’d had to face up to the reality that she’d never be a wolf.
Tonight’s run was a poor approximation of what she should’ve had. But that didn’t stop the anticipation from thrumming in her veins and quickening her heartbeat. Around her the air vibrated with excitement, and the heartbeats of the gathered vampires. This was the experience she’d been craving since last gathering. She was getting it, though not in the way she’d once hoped.
“Two rules for our runs. No messing with the wolves, no crossing the boundary. The ones on patrol will knock you on your ass and you will be banned from running again. If you see a human on pack land, you need to say something. Even if we aren’t on patrol, we’re still guarding our pack.” Ajax said from out the front. “If this is your first time, enjoy but don’t let anyone force you to do anything. If I hear any reports of misbehavior, there will be hell to pay.” He pointed to an eight-foot post to the side. “That isn’t for tying up horses. While we heal fast, a wolf taking blood payment for injury done to their vampire will be painful. I know you’ve heard it before, yet I can guarantee by the end of the gathering one of you will have gotten too hot and out of control and end up tied to the post getting scratched up. Stop. Breathe. Walk. Most importantly think—we aren’t animals.”
A few people laughed at the jibe.
Macey’s brain scrambled to process what Ajax was saying.
Talia elbowed her. “I’ll look out for you. Keep the idiots away.” She grinned; her fangs visible.
Macey smiled. Not sure if she was excited, or nervous, or if she wanted to be sick.
“You can let your fangs out.” Talia’s eyes glittered in the starlight.
Yes, she could. It took a couple of breaths before she had the control to let her partial shift happen. None of this was natural to her. She was so used to trying to act human. It had seemed better to be human if she couldn’t be wolf. Now though, she wasn’t sure.
The pulse of every vampire around her became the drumbeat of the night. It became a rhythm that called to her. She could run and be free, just not in the way she’d once hoped for. Is this what the patrols were really for, to escape and be away from the wolves?
She swept that thought aside as they started moving, heading into the forest. There must be twenty vampires, but there’d be far more wolves in the woods. Owen would be out there hyped up from the run and ready to let go.
Five years ago he’d have been a real catch. He might have even checked out her pack and lineage and thought the same. Not now though. She’d be lucky if he ever made eye contact again.
She glanced at the men in the group. Would they become more attractive as the night went on? When her blood was up would she be happy to pass the night with anyone? She hoped so. She’d scrub away the old hopes and crushes.
She wasn’t that person anymore. She wasn’t sure who she was.
The walk became a jog before they hit the tree line.
“Stay close,” Talia said.
Then they were into the trees. Some people leaped up into the canopy to run from branch to branch. Macey tried not to look amazed at the aerial feat. She didn’t think she could manage that. Others seemed to bounce from trunk to trunk, using their feet to launch off, laughing as they missed and stumbled.
For all the talk of not misusing their power this afternoon, tonight was exactly that. Or maybe it was a testing of limits. Talia ran at a tree and pushed off toward the next one. Macey had to follow. Had to at least try. And if she failed? No one seemed to care. People experimented with their abilities.
She ran, put her foot on the trunk and for a few moments sailed through the air, but she missed the tree she’d been aiming for and landed in something close to a roll.
Talia helped her up. “Try again. It’s like playing snooker, you’ve got to line up the shot.”
That was not helpful at all. But she managed to put two jumps together. The feeling of flying was exhilarating. Her skin could barely contain her. But they had fallen to the back of the run and Talia wouldn’t want to miss out on the fun…or what happened when the running ended, and the real fun began. “We should catch up.”
Talia nodded, and they sprinted between trees. Somewhere to her right she was aware of wolves. They weren’t close, but she could feel them moving through the forest, close to the ground and moving swiftly, though they couldn’t outrun the vampires.
“We need to go up, so we don’t cross their path.”
“What’s so wrong with that?” Macey wasn’t puffed at all. If only she’d had this kind of energy during track and field at school.
“We don’t mess with each other’s runs.” Talia jumped for a branch then pulled herself up. She reached out for Macey.
Macey made the leap and scrambled up. Not nearly as gracefully.
“It’s just practice. By the time you leave here you’ll be an expert.”
She should’ve gone out more at home. Tried things out in private instead of shoving it all down beneath bitter disappointment and pretending that she was human. Together they moved from branch to branch. The forest suddenly stiller, the night quieter. Animals hid as if they knew something was wrong with the night.
The rest of the vampires were ahead, their feet a whisper in the branches. Wolves ran beneath the trees where she crouched. A sleek gray mass of heat and heartbeats.
Longing stabbed her in the heart. That’s where she should be. Not here watching and waiting for them to pass. It was only when she glanced up that she realized Talia had gone. She was alone.
When the wolves were gone from sight, she dropped out of the tree. Her feet hit the ground hard and she put her hands down for balance. There she crouched for several heartbeats, feeling the night breathe around her. The wolves’ feet were quieter now, but their yips carried through the night.
Macey closed her eyes to listen for the vampires, they were quieter than wolves. Faster too. But there was no rustle, and no heartbeats for her to follow. They were too far away for her to find. She swallowed. Should she follow the wolves for a bit?
Through the treetops so as not to cross paths?
Or return to the campgrounds?
She stood up and turned around, but every tree seemed the same now. Shit.
She’d been so caught up that she hadn’t paid attention to direction or any markings. What kind of dumbass newbie got lost on their first run? If she climbed up again, perhaps she’d be able to see something over the tops of the trees. She took a few steps looking for a low enough branch to leap for, then a wolf, more gunmetal gray than silver, slipped out of the shadows.
For several seconds neither of them moved. Was it lost too? She was sure there were no animal wolves in the area as the campsite and forest were deep in pack territory. If they were both lost, they could find their way back together, but she wasn’t ready to admit that she was lost, even though she was glad that she was no longer alone.
At least she hoped she was glad she wasn’t alone and that the wolf wasn’t looking for trouble. The warnings about blood getting too hot echoed in her ears, and hers chilled even as her heart pounded against her ribs, excitement turning to fear.
Wolves didn’t mix with vampires. Even being this close to a wolf during a run was probably breaking some kind of rule.
“You going to shift so we can talk, or are you going to take off?” Macey hoped she sounded unafraid.
A vampire could outrun a wolf, so she had nothing to fear. But her body didn’t quite believe her logic. She was alone in the forest and had no idea which way was home. This
was the start of a cheap horror movie. At least she wasn’t blond. The wolf shook like a dog shaking off water, leaving a man kneeling on the ground on all fours. A naked man.
He was the blond, well light brown anyway.
Her lips curved. Maybe she was the evil he had to outrun.
Then he looked up. Her mouth dried and her heart lost and then found a most unstable rhythm. This wasn’t an accidental meeting. It was Owen.
“I’m guessing you aren’t lost.” Her words were little more than a whisper. Not the bold statement she’d been hoping for.
“I’m guessing you are,” Owen smiled. His blue eyes bright in the moonlight.
“I got distracted and left behind.” There was no point in hiding the truth.
“I got distracted and circled around.” He stood, completely naked.
She tilted her head and stared up at the branches, but she’d seen enough to spark more than a casual interest. “Do you want my shirt or something?”
She risked another glance at him. He was all fit, lean muscle and his blood was most definitely up.
Isn’t that what the runs were about? The vampires she’d been with would no doubt be pairing up and getting busy and all she was doing was chatting to a very naked Owen.
“I’ll take your shirt, thanks.”
She stripped off her T and tossed it over while trying not to look too closely. She licked her lip, suddenly aware of her fangs and his pulse. “You’ll miss your run.”
Where he’d no doubt find a nice wolf to roll around with. She really didn’t need that thought in her head. It wasn’t healthy to think about the things she could no longer have. Owen held the shirt in front of him which made him no less distracting as now he was safe to look at. Her gaze skimmed over his chest, his abs and lower. The shirt wasn’t hiding much, or he was deliberately letting the dark head of his dick peek over.
“So will you.” He stepped back; the corners of his lips tilted up. “Or we could have our own.” He took another step back.
“We aren’t supposed to cross paths.”
“I found you lost and alone and helped you back to camp.” He said like it was the absolute truth. “No one needs to know.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“Why what?”
Why would you come back for me? But she couldn’t say that. That she hadn’t been able to shake free of her first major crush was her problem not his. No doubt this gathering he’d find himself a mate and his perfect life would be complete.
“Run with me.” He took off, not as a wolf but as a human, with her T-shirt, leaving her wearing only her bra and shorts. Goddamn wolves. This wasn’t a game. She caught him and pulled her shirt. He kept hold and dragged her close.
“Seriously.” His breath was hot on her lips. “If you want to return, I’ll walk you back…otherwise.” He tugged her closer.
She could’ve resisted, but she didn’t want to. “Is this some kind of dare? Did someone put you up to this?”
Why did he want her when she wasn’t a wolf?
“No. Trust me I don’t want this to get out.”
“Gee thanks.” She stepped back, snatching her shirt with her.
“Macey. I remember you. I was hoping to find you this time so we could…I’d thought…I’d hoped we could spend some time together and see if there was something.”
His words hit hard, opening unhealed disappointments. She’d wanted the same but there was too much between them.
“Well you found me.” Her shirt remained balled in her fists. “And none of that matters. Does it? Because nothing panned out.” She hated the way those words sounded.
“We’re both here now.”
They were, so why was she pushing him away? She could have him and get him out of her system. This was nothing but old longing for what might have been. “We shouldn’t be.”
“Fine I’ll shift to wolf and walk you back.”
“What about your run?”
“There’ll be others. They’re fun, but I’ve done it before. I wanted more this gathering.”
She hadn’t even managed one run, but there’d be another one in a few nights. Would people partner up for the gathering or would they swap around? Why waste tonight? They could run together, and she could have all the fun and the guy she’d wanted last time.
It didn’t have to mean anything. Couldn’t. “I can outrun you.”
He nodded. “But do you want to?”
She didn’t reply, she just started running. A few seconds later she heard the wolf’s four feet behind her. She slowed so he could gain. What was she doing? She shouldn’t be encouraging him.
But he was all she wanted.
For the first time in her life no one was telling her what to do or expecting her to be a certain way. She used a tree to swing around to face him. Owen leaped over her. She turned to watch him land and shift. This time she didn’t toss him her shirt when he stood naked and human. She let it fall to the ground.
Her blood pounded hard. The thrill of running changed something. The night was sharper, her body more alive. She stalked toward him and pressed him against the tree. “Just tonight?”
“Yeah.” He kissed her hard. His lips hot and demanding.
Even though she knew this wasn’t a good idea she didn’t want to stop. If she’d been a wolf, this wouldn’t have mattered. Why did it have to matter? Who had made those rules?
His hands cupped her butt and dragged her closer. The length of his dick pressed against her belly. At least with a wolf there were no surprises as she’d already seen every hard inch of him. Her fingers traced over his shoulders, swept over his pulse—his life beneath her fingertips—she cupped his jaw and traced his lips with her tongue.
She was not going to bite him. That would be rude, but she wanted to.
“Fuck your teeth are sharp.”
When her fangs had first come through, she’d cut her tongue and lip on them so many times. “Sorry.”
She’d never kissed with her fangs out before. Had always been so careful because she’d been with humans—which was hard because when she got aroused, her fangs wanted to descend. She drew back a little, knowing she shouldn’t be tasting wolf blood at all, and tried to force her fangs back.
He licked his lip where she’d scratched him, and then smiled. “Don’t be sorry, do it again.”
She considered him for a moment then kissed him hard, scratching his lip with the tips then licking the beads of blood away. Hot and wild and heady.
He ran his tongue over the tip of one fang, drawing a fresh drop of blood like he enjoyed it.
That was…a shiver traced through her body. Her panties were damp, and she’d remember that deliberate action forever.
He unhooked her bra. She stepped back and undid her shorts but didn’t pull them down just yet. The cool night air swept over her heated skin, giving her a moment of sanity. “What if someone comes?”
He grinned. “That’s the idea.”
She tossed her bra at him, and he let it drop to the ground. Her nipples tightened into hard peaks under his gaze.
“We’ll hear them, or they’ll hear us and stay away. Wolves are polite like that.” He tugged on her shorts until they slid down her legs, his gaze tracked their progress.
Macey shed her panties. Her clothes now scattered about. Usually there was a bed, or a sofa or a car involved. This was a little cruder. Yet somehow more honest as neither of them was hiding what they were or the reasons they were here.
This time when they kissed there was nothing between them and only the forest around them. They could’ve been the only two people in the world. She ran her hand along his cock, feeling the thickness in her hand, then brushed her fingers over the smooth head.
He groaned and nipped at her shoulder as his hand slid between her legs.
His touch was slick, her pussy already wet as though she’d never been so hot in her life. It was the night and the run. She tried to remember the warnings about getting too caught
up, but she’d never wanted anyone as much as Owen.
He pressed his fingers into her, and she rocked her hips, needing more than his fingers. She pushed him to the ground, and he didn’t resist as she straddled his hips. His eyes were dark as he tugged her closer for another sharp kiss. She tried not to cut him, but he didn’t seem to care. Which only made her hungrier for another taste.
Macey lowered her hips to his. His cock slid between the lips of her pussy as she moved. That is what she needed. She lifted up slightly, and he angled his cock so she could sink onto him. She shuddered with pleasure at the stretch and feeling of fullness. Her body felt like it had been waiting forever for this moment. His fingers dug into her hips as she rode him. Needing more she rubbed her clit, and he watched for a moment before covering her hand with his as he thrust hard. Their skin slapped together, and their breathing quickened.
Her breath caught as her climax swept through her. The ripples continued with every touch. He closed his eyes and gave a low growl as he came.
For several heartbeats neither of them moved. She didn’t want to be the first to break the spell. It had been the run, tangling with hope and a memory. Nothing more.
With a sigh she leaned forward and kissed him softly. He smiled and opened his eyes, and for a few seconds she basked in the warmth of his gaze. But then his smile became a little less certain, as though he realized what they’d done.
She didn’t want this to be over, but it was and the heat in his eyes would turn cold too soon.
“I should dress.” Her skin cooled. The lust and sweat evaporating far too quickly even though the taste of his blood was still on her tongue.
“Yeah.” But he didn’t let go. “I’ll walk you back, as a wolf.”
There would be no more running together.
She hated her life.
Chapter 3
“What happened to you last night?” Zach shoulder checked Owen as they followed the trail to the lake.
Owen returned the favor and considered his answer. He’d known Zach a long time, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t secrets between them. Zach kept everything close and was friends with everyone.
Warlords, Witches and Wolves: A Fantasy Realms Anthology Page 40