The hybrid shifter slowly removed his clothes to reveal—heaven take me now! Sparky gazed at the chocolate flavored thong covering his mate’s engorged cock. He decided to get to the good stuff before his mate could change his mind. The mechanic knelt in front of the chocolate treat and began to lick at the concoction. True, it didn’t taste like the best chocolate, but the moans his mate made were worth it.
He grabbed the can of whipped cream and encouraged Charlie to lie on the blanket. Before the shifter could object, he sprayed his now sticky member with the topping. “Gah! That’s cold, Sparky!” Charlie cried as he arched away from the can. However, the mechanic simply sprayed more on his hand and applied it to the purple one-eyed monster standing at attention in front of him. It was too cold for them to spend too much time playing outside, but at the rate his mate was moaning and twisting beneath his tongue and mouth, it wouldn’t be long before Mount Vesuvius erupted.
Sparky continued to lick and eat the rest of the thong from his mate while pumping his own cock with his other hand. “Oh, Goddess, I’m going to—Sparky!” Charlie screamed as he drove his cock into his willing mouth. Sparky swallowed it all and quickly sat back on his heels as he painted his mate’s chest with his own release. He let himself fall forward, uncaring about the cold as he snuggled up to his mate.
The mechanic noticed the amulet his mate wore as he tried to bring his mind back into focus. He took a closer look and frowned, “Hey, Charlie? Look at that. I sucked you and made you come so hard that the stone in your amulet is glowing. I knew you’d like my Valentine’s Day gift!” Before his mate could respond, Sparky cried out as he felt something hit him in his rear end. He glanced behind him and groaned, “Please tell me that isn’t Cupid’s arrow sticking out of my ass!”
Sparky quickly rolled as more arrows rained down on them. He couldn’t keep the cry of pain back when the shaft of the arrow that hit him broke off during their mad roll to safety. Charlie managed to drag and roll them so they could crouch behind a downed log. Two more arrows hit the wood, making a loud thunk sound. “Did you piss off Cupid or something?” Sparky gasped.
“Quiet,” Charlie ordered as he slowly peered over the edge of the log. He dropped down quickly as more thuds announced the arrival of more arrows. “Can you shift?” Charlie asked. Sparky tried to call his wolf, but for some reason, it seemed to be hiding. The mechanic shook his head. This was ridiculous; he was part of the inner circle. Yet he was stuck hiding naked behind a log with a freakin’ arrow stuck in his ass. He was never going to live this down.
Before he could respond he watched as Charlie stood to his full height, his arms extended in front of him. Sparky immediately looked upward expecting to see a storm but instead, he watched as flames shot from his mate’s hands. A sharp scream was heard before the sound of something hitting the earth could be heard.
Sparky pushed himself up to peek over the log. He winced as he noticed the wall of fire directly in front of them. “Ah, Charlie?” He continued to watch as the flames continued to grow. His mate, however, was busy looking at the base of the flames as if he was looking for something. A moment later, he growled and shifted. His massive wolf leaped from their hiding place.
The injured wolf stood taller. He focused on the area his mate headed for but still could not see a thing. As Charlie disappeared into the wall of flaming trees, Sparky tried to take a step but fell to his knees. The world was spinning and not in a good way. What the hell was wrong with him? He leaned over the top of the log to watch for his mate’s return. Then he’d kill him for leaving him behind.
Chapter 19
Shadow loved chasing his mate in his wolf form. The two of them had been running for over an hour and were on their way back to the house. As they came into a clearing located not far from the alpha compound, he jumped forward and tackled Jake. His mate easily rolled him off, but instead of waiting for the return attack, Shadow shifted. “Hey, Jake, shift for a moment so we can talk.”
A moment later, Jake stood shivering in front of him. “I thought we were going to fool around when we got back home?” Shadow chuckled as he remembered how much his mate valued his balls not being frozen. Of course, now that they were his, he had to agree he preferred them nice and warm.
He managed to glance up from the lightly furred sack and the lovely cock that stood proud between the shifter’s legs. He grinned as he saw his mate blush at his perusal of his naked form. However, Jake was right; it was too cold. “As much as I’d like to help you out with your little problem, that’s not why I stopped.”
Jake canted his head sideways slightly. “What is it?”
“Well, Blaze talked to Alpha Grant about building a larger compound to house the enforcers. Right now, the facility is too cramped with the new recruits. Privacy is non-existent,” Shadow paused, “And well, I kind of brought up the idea of having a cabin or house built for us.”
“You did?” Jake looked floored, but at least he didn’t appear to be angry. Shadow had worried that he might have jumped the gun. He’d brought up the issue right after the meeting with Blaze and Alpha Grant. He was surprised when they not only approved but also liked his suggestion to have it as part of the enforcer compound. It was the first time in a while that he felt like the two shifters had noticed him. Maybe he should have spoken up more in the past.
“Yep and they approved it. As soon as the ground thaws, they will begin by building our home first. Alpha Grant even said we could design it.” Shadow held his arms wide, “and this will be the new site for the enforcer’s compound.”
“What about Sammy?” Jake asked hesitantly.
“We’ll build a place big enough for her to have her own room right next to the twins’ room. I thought we’d make at least four bedrooms so that when the pups get older, they can have their own space.” He watched his mate glance around the clearing for a moment before he launched himself at Shadow. He felt strong arms surround him as Jake plundered his mouth with a kiss. Shadow couldn’t help himself as he opened for his mate. They dueled with their tongues with loud moans of pleasure.
A few moments later, the two shifters broke apart. “I take it you like the idea?” Shadow gasped as he tried to catch his breath and keep his cock from exploding on the spot.
“I love it,” Jake replied. “And I love you too. I can’t believe you spoke to Blaze and the alpha about building us a home.”
“Well, both of us will have to return to the current enforcer building since I’m pretty much healed. I didn’t think you’d want to put up with the comments from the others when we heat up the bedroom.” Shadow winked, “Besides, this way we can be closer to help your sister with those two pups.”
“Why don’t we shift and head back to the house. We can celebrate with a hot shower and try out the new toy I bought for you,” Shadow said. The shifter grinned at the flush that spread up his mate’s chest to his neck. He knew Jake had enjoyed their recent explorations. He couldn’t wait to introduce him to the joy of toys. Shadow quickly shifted and began to follow his lover through the woods.
Suddenly both wolves stopped as they heard a warning howl from just west of their location. Without thinking, they both headed toward the sound. Jake howled to let whoever sounded the alarm know they were on their way. As they broke through the trees, both shifters stopped dead in their tracks.
Charlie had a clearly agitated Sparky flung over his shoulder with what looked like part of an arrow sticking out of his left cheek. He had one of his hands extended upward, as clouds began to form while lightning filled the skies. As torrential rains began to fall, Jake noticed the other problem; the whole forest in front of them was ablaze.
Jake shifted. “What the hell is going on, Charlie?”
“We were attacked,” the shifter growled while stating the obvious. Jake wanted to roll his eyes at the abrupt wolf. “Thank you, captain obvious. Could you be a bit more specific? And why is the forest on fire?”
“Oh, that would be my mate’s idea of a l
ittle bonfire. We brought the marshmallows, after all,” Sparky quipped.
Charlie shook his head. “I’m not sure. I mean it’s been a long time since I’ve seen one, but if I’m right, we are still in trouble. We need to get out of here and warn the alpha.”
“What about the fire?” Jake asked as he squinted through the downpour.
“I put a protective shield around the burning trees. The rain should put it out. Now let’s go before the other attacks,” Charlie barked before he turned and headed back toward the compound. Jake took one final look at the fire before he shifted to follow the others. He certainly hoped the hybrid was right or they’d have more than an enemy to worry about.
♦ ♦ ♦
Ricky lay on the bed, waiting for his mate to finish taking his shower. His cock was already hard in anticipation. It was amazing to think about how much had changed in his life since he came to the Windy River pack. Before meeting Grant, sex to him was to be feared. It was bad enough, both his father, and his prior pack deemed his sexual preference to be deviant and unacceptable. But what Alpha Clifton had done to him by making him the pack’s sex slave meant he came to fear the act itself.
He smiled at the changes he was seeing in his mate as well. They had spent the afternoon at a converted barn located on an isolated property within pack lands. It had taken them an hour to drive to the small cabin that adjoined the barn. The cabin had been a cozy one-bedroom affair that Grant told him he used when he needed to get away. Of course, they had to christen it by making love in the large bed. But it was the barn that held the greatest treasure and insight into his mate.
When they entered, Ricky had been astonished at the beautiful landscapes that hung from the walls. Grant had converted the loft into a studio that any artist would covet. Grant explained to him how he’d always been good at painting. He’d even sold many pieces of his art under an assumed name of course. It was one of the ways he increased the pack’s wealth. The only other person who knew about his secret passion was his mother.
Ricky saw the attention to detail and the way the colors blended to tell a story of the land. He asked Grant why he hid this part of himself. The alpha explained that as the firstborn, it was his destiny to take over the pack once his father finished. So, growing up, there hadn’t been much time for this side of his nature. However, his mother had not only encouraged him but provided him with the converted studio to paint.
Ricky was brought from his musing as the door opened to reveal his mate. His long, dark hair hung loosely to the middle of his back. Ricky knew from experience how soft it was to touch. It was one of his favorite things to do while they were making love. His mate’s dark eyes glowed with an inner fire that the human had come to know meant Grant wanted him. He loved that look on his mate’s face and was glad he had lost most of his fear.
“I see you are ready, my mate,” Grant said in his low growly voice. Just that voice alone always seemed to go directly to Ricky’s groin. He watched as his mate approached the bed as if he was stalking prey. As far as the human was concerned, he was more than willing to be the prey to this man anytime.
“Did your parents and David get off, okay?” Ricky managed as he licked his suddenly dry lips. Grant’s parents had decided to go spend the night in town at the local bed and breakfast. David had gone with them to meet up with Brady. The plan was for David to leave the following morning to visit one of the packs identified by Radar. Grant’s brother would be going with Brady using the former marine’s jeep, so it worked out perfectly.
“Yes, and Sandy is tucked in his bed with visions of Spiderman in his head,” Grant smirked at him as he climbed up the bed to position himself between Ricky’s thighs. Before Ricky could answer, he felt his cock engulfed by a warm mouth. He relaxed his legs and prepared to enjoy the experience.
Grant continued to suck his cock while playing with his balls until he could stand it no longer. Ricky panted, “Please, Grant—I—I need…”
The alpha pulled off his cock and grinned, “Come my mate, but be ready because tonight I plan to see if we can break our record.”
“Grant!” Ricky screamed as he filled his lover’s mouth with a full load. He felt his mate continue to suck and lick until there was nothing left. For a moment, he was embarrassed at how quickly he’d come. But then he had been waiting for Grant to finish his shower and was more than primed and ready when he came out.
“That is the first. Let’s work on your second orgasm,” Grant stated as he leaned forward to reach under the pillow. He pulled out the lube that always seemed to be there these days. He had no idea how, but his cock was already at full mast again. Maybe Grant was right; tonight, they could go for orgasmic gold. He was more than game to try.
Grant captured Ricky’s mouth in a scorching kiss. Ricky could taste himself mixed with the familiar taste of his mate. He groaned as he rubbed his cock against his mate’s to relieve the pressure that was already building. But Grant had other ideas as he broke the kiss. “Time to start round two—”
Suddenly there was pounding on the door. Grant growled as he quickly pulled the comforter over them both. “Come in,” he ordered. Jason quickly entered the room. The alarm on the shifter’s face had both of their attention immediately.
“Come quick! Something or someone has set off the sensors, but when I looked, there was nothing there.” Jason glanced away as Ricky and Grant quickly grabbed for their clothes. A short time later, they were in the observation room. Ricky could see the flashing lights that indicated someone had crossed over more than one of the new sensors placed by David. But as Grant’s youngest brother stated, there was no one there.
“Are you sure it’s not a faulty sensor?” Grant demanded as he glanced at some of the other monitors.
“Normally, I would have assumed that was the case. But it was more than one sensor that has gone off.” Jason pointed to two different monitors to emphasize his point. “Mack is sending one of his birds to get aerial surveillance—holy crap!” Jason stopped and stared as another view showed up on a monitor. The forest was burning and right in the middle of it stood Charlie, and Sparky, who appeared to be facing off against an invisible enemy. Arrows were laying near them, but there didn’t appear to be anyone shooting at them.
“Jason, call Dakota and alert the enforcers who are still on duty. You better ask Artemus to return from Sebastian’s home too,” Grant ordered.
Ricky started to ask what he could do when the tattoo on his arm began to burn. He gasped and grabbed his arm. Sadly, he knew what this meant; they were in danger again. He watched as his mate simply glanced at his arm before he continued, “Ricky, you go get Sandy and do what you have to.”
“What about the safe room?” Ricky asked as he watched his alpha head for the door.
“No, we haven’t had time to repair it yet. Just keep him in his room and guard him as best you can until I can figure out what’s going on. The sentries on duty outside should keep anyone from getting in here.” Grant joined Ricky as they both exited the monitor room. Before they could get two steps away, the sound of glass shattering was followed by a scream from upstairs. “Sammy!” Both men yelled at once as they headed for the stairs.
Sammy stood by the window, looking out over the forest. She had to admit it was peaceful in this pack. She also loved the view of the mountains. The snow still covered the peaks and seemed to glow in the moonlight. She sighed as she thought about how things might have been different if Drake had survived. The she-wolf turned to glance back at the cribs. No matter what had happened in the past, she knew these two pups were her future.
The sound of glass breaking was followed by a searing pain in her back. Sammy cried out as she fell forward. She struggled to get to the cribs, but the pain in her lower back took her breath away. The room fell out of focus as she lay panting through the pain. As her vision dimmed, Sammy’s last thought was of the two pups who slept peacefully just a few feet away from her.
Grant held up his hand befor
e Ricky could burst through the door of Sammy’s room. He listened intently for a moment and took in a couple of large breaths of air before he slowly opened the door. The sight that greeted him brought forth his wolf. His clothes tore as he shifted. A hand on his fur couldn’t even stop his need to find the threat. “Get the pups to Sandy’s room and stay out of sight. I’ll send Jason up to protect Sammy,” Grant ordered through their mate link.
Ricky simply nodded and grabbed the pups. Grant stood guard until his mate was safely out of the room. He glanced at the unconscious form of the she-wolf for a moment before he took off to find the threat to his mate and pack. He ran back down the stairs and found Jason heading toward him. The alpha concentrated and shifted back to human form so he could communicate with his brother.
“Sammy has been injured. It looks like someone shot her through the window. See what you can do for her and guard her until I return,” Grant ordered.
“Dakota is on his way, and I’ve alerted the sentries patrolling the compound to stay close. Be careful; we don’t know what we’re up against,” Jason replied as he hurried past his brother and headed up the stairs. Grant didn’t waste any time as he shifted and headed for the front door. It was time for him to begin the hunt. The question was, how did he find something that alluded their surveillance and alarm system?
He didn’t have long to think about it as he felt a bullet whiz by his shoulder. His eyes snapped to the trees and began to search for the intruder. At least now he had a direction. His wolf launched from the porch. His large paws ate up the ground as he raced toward the area the bullet had come from. Several more bullets ripped past him. But his beast simply put on more speed to catch the enemy who dared to threaten his mate and pack members.
A couple of the sentries had joined him and were watching his flank. He heard one of them cry out in pain as he fell to the ground. Alpha Grant howled a challenge to the coward who hid from view. The other sentry pulled alongside the alpha and continued to race with him toward the danger.
Out of the Shadows Page 15