Tatiana yanked her hands from his, needing to touch him and hold him. She ran her fingers over the slick planes of his chest and then trailed them over his rippling, six-pack abs as she licked and nibbled at his lips. Fumbling with his belt, they laughed through their kiss, and he groaned as she finally released him.
The sight of him fully aroused was almost as much of a turn-on as hearing him moan when she ran one finger up the hot length of skin—scorching satin over steel. Dominic breathed a sigh of pleasure against her lips as she took the heavy weight of him in her hand and stroked.
“Oh God, yes,” he whispered as she massaged him.
Dominic deepened the kiss as she worked him, and his talented fingers slipped beneath her sweat-soaked top. He lifted it over her breasts and pushed her bra aside before capturing her swollen breast in his eager hands. The rough skin of his palm braised the sensitive nipple, sending shocks of pleasure to her feminine center. Erotic waves swamped her as she worked the hot length of him and ran her thumb over the swollen head. He pinched her nipple as she arched into his hand and kept massaging his engorged cock.
Dominic broke the kiss, and in one swift movement, pulled her shorts and underwear down past her hips, which she quickly stepped out of and kicked aside. Tatiana let out a soft cry of pleasure as his fingers slid between her slick folds, and he slipped two inside of her. Holding her gaze, his thumb worked the tiny bundle of nerves, making her wet and ready.
Sensing they were both nearing the edge, Dominic gently removed her hand from him and once again linked his fingers with hers. A sly grin cracked his face as he held her hands over her head with one hand and pinned her body against the wall with his much larger frame. The look in his eye was feral and predatory and made her moan as she waited for the only thing that could satisfy her.
This was what she needed—what they both needed.
Tense with unfulfilled desire, she quivered with anticipation as one strong hand slid along her bare thigh and lifted her leg over his hip, opening her. Dominic reached down between their sweat-covered bodies and prodded her swollen entrance with the tip of his erection. Then in one swift stroke, he buried himself deep inside.
Tatiana’s cry of pleasure was muffled against his shoulder as he filled her in one thick, satisfying thrust. He sought her mouth, licking and suckling her lips as he pumped into her. Slowly at first, the kind of long, deep, languid strokes that can make a woman scream and beg for more. Dominic rolled his hips and ground against her, putting pressure on the right spot, which sent white-hot streaks of lightning through her.
Tatiana whimpered and rolled her hips, needing more. “Fuck me harder,” she whispered as she flicked his earlobe with her tongue. “Faster, Dominic.”
Dominic dragged her leg higher over his hip so he could dive even deeper and give her exactly what she asked for. Carnal need swamped them. Like a man possessed, Dominic pounded into her faster, and with every stroke, the passion peaked higher.
Their energy waves mingled wildly in the air like a tornado as the orgasm exploded and carried them both over the edge. As the final burst of pleasure shot through them, their bodies shuddered in unison, and Dominic’s mind touched hers on a growl. Nos es unus. Materia pro totus vicis. Ago intertwined. Forever.
Tatiana’s eyes flew open, and she gripped Dominic’s shoulders as the delicious weight of him pressed against her. Both of them were completely spent and shaking from the aftershocks of the shared orgasm. However, through the blinding fog of lust, the reality of those whispered words—and what they meant—came crashing down.
“Did I just hear what I thought I did?” Tatiana asked through huffing breaths as her hands gripped his shoulders and pushed him back, forcing him to look her in the eyes. Her voice shook with disbelief and a touch of fear. “D-did you say the mating rite?”
Dominic’s face fell, and he swallowed hard, but he didn’t release her. His body remained locked inside of her. He looked as though he didn’t realize he did it, but even if that were the case, it didn’t change the outcome.
If he said it, they were mated.
“Answer me,” she seethed. “Dominic?”
“Yes.” His features hardened as his mouth set in tight line. “I did.”
Tears pricked the back of her eyes, and all the air rushed from her lungs as she stared at him in shock. Her body cooled swiftly, and a knot formed in her chest as the weight of this betrayal washed over her.
“How could you do that?” she asked in a quivering voice as the tears fell, and she choked on the words. “How could you betray my trust like that?”
Tatiana shoved him away and scrambled to get her shorts on. She turned her back on him and said nothing as she got dressed, but she could feel him there, watching her. She spun around and faced him but did not find the contrite or regretful look she expected. Dominic, now fully dressed, stood with his arms folded over his chest in that cold, arrogant, alpha-male stance. Emotionless.
“We are mates, Tatiana.” His voice was cold and matter-of-fact, but for a moment, the mask slipped away, and she could swear she saw regret. “It is what it is.”
Tears filled Tatiana’s eyes, the weight of his words shrouding her, and she shook her head.
“So that’s it?” she said in a teary voice as anger crawled up her back, and she stalked toward him, her eyes glowing brightly. The urge to shift pulsed beneath her skin. “You go ahead and bind our lives together without discussing it with me?”
“Tatiana,” he said gently. His features softened, and he reached out to touch her, but she shoved his hand away. “Let me explain.”
“You’ve done enough.”
Tatiana raced out of the barn. Panic swamped her as she tore across the field and past the grazing horses. Their energy washed over her, and two of the mares, Obsidian and Poppy, ran alongside her. Tatiana smiled through her tears as the horses trotted with her because she knew they sensed her pain and sought to soothe it.
As she approached the fence, the animals slowed and watched as she slipped between the rails. Tatiana sent them gentle waves of energy, reassuring them before she continued toward the mountains. She needed space. She needed her wolf.
Tatiana didn’t know if Dominic was following—truthfully she didn’t care. Right now, the only thing she could focus on was shifting. Stopping along the tree line, she closed her eyes and pictured her clan animal—the timber wolf. The summery Montana air surrounded her, and moments later, static rippled over skin as the familiar flutter of the shift consumed her.
She threw her arms out and tilted her face to the sky as her body arched and stretched into the beast. Within seconds she burst into the form of her wolf. Skin was replaced by soft brown and white fur with four legs replacing two.
Energy surged through her as she reveled in the power of her canine body. She lifted her snout, breathing deeply, allowing the crisp scents of nature to fill her head, and then she ran.
Power surged through her as she raced through the tall grass and headed into the wooded area. She moved faster, keeping her head low and her gaze sharp. As much as she hated to admit it, shifting into her wolf always put her at ease. Perhaps it was because no one in her life, other than her family, knew what she could do. But when Tatiana became the wolf… nothing and no one could touch her.
Not even Dominic.
Tatiana had, after all, hidden from him in the dream realm for years, and she would have remained that way if she hadn’t set foot on this damned ranch. Now, here she was mated to an overbearing, alpha-male Amoveo who decided to choose what her future would hold. Tatiana whined as the reality of what had happened settled over her, but in spite of it, she couldn’t deny the way he made her feel.
Trotting up the hill, she barely felt the rocks and dirt beneath the pads of her paws. Lost in her thoughts and the exhilaration of the shift, it took her a moment to realize she wasn’t alone.
Tatiana stopped by a large pine tree and stood motionless as she reached out, attempting to identify the sub
tle ripple in the air. It was a tickle, almost a phantom, as though someone she couldn’t see was trying to disguise his or her presence. She crouched low and pressed her furred body into the brush, praying it provided the cover she needed. Her heart raced as she fought to identify the source of the energy pattern.
Eyes closed, Tatiana used all of her effort to pinpoint it, and as she breathed deeply, the flutter of energy became distinct and vaguely familiar. The sound of leaves and branches cracking beneath feet broke through the usual noises of nature and sent her heart into overdrive.
Tatiana definitely was not alone.
If she weren’t such a chickenshit, she could try to use the visualization skills of the other Amoveo and get the hell out of there, but she hadn’t a clue how to do it. She could call Dominic, but after running out like that… why on earth would he want to help?
Chapter 8
Dominic watched her race across the field with the horses matching her speed, and any anger he felt flew away on the summer breeze. Tatiana was beautiful, stubborn, and spirited, but she was still scared. She was frightened, and instead of reassuring her and letting her figure things out on her own time, he said the mating rite.
“Fuck,” he shouted. The horses lifted their heads from grazing and looked at him as though he were crazy. “I’m in deep shit, you guys.”
The truth was that he didn’t mean to say the mating rite. Hell, he didn’t think he’d really said it until she confirmed it. Dominic didn’t know what came over him, but in that moment, he had to bind her to him. It wasn’t a matter of want to—he had to—and it scared him as much as it did her.
Dominic ran both hands over his face as he strode out to the field, keeping her in his sights. The afternoon sun beat down relentlessly as he stalked through the grass, but unlike with Tatiana, the horses kept their distance. Perhaps it was the predator in him, but they never cared to get too close.
Could that be why Tatiana didn’t want to mate with him?
Dominic stopped dead in his tracks and stared after her as the reality of what he’d done hit him like a ton of bricks. God, he felt like such a dumb-ass. She was afraid of him and of binding her life to his, and now, what did he do? He went ahead and confirmed all of her fears by saying the mating rite without her consent. She’d given him permission to take her body, but not her heart, and it made him feel like a thief.
Dominic stilled as he watched her slip through the bars of the fence. Tension settled in his shoulders.
“Son of a bitch,” he breathed. “Where the hell is that woman going now?”
Tatiana clearly wanted to be alone, and giving her space to run in the fields was one thing, but going into the wooded area—well, that was another. She may want to get away, but that was too damn bad. There was no way he would allow her to wander around the outskirts of the property without him.
However, every coherent thought was ripped from his head as he watched her stretch her arms out wide and erupt into her clan form. He knew she’d be breathtaking in the shape of her wolf, but nothing could have prepared him for the elegant beauty of his spirited mate. Her brown and white coat fluttered with the summer breeze as she trotted through the tall grasses toward the woods.
Fear gripped his heart as she vanished into the trees.
Dominic burst into a run, and as he tore across the field, his eyes flickered to their clan form. He growled the ancient language, “Verto.”
In a burst of static, Dominic erupted into his tiger and leapt over the fence in one fluid motion. Landing easily on all fours, he followed Tatiana’s familiar energy signature into the woods, and as he hurried up the hill, a dark stream of energy captured his attention.
Dominic froze. Scanning the area, he spotted Tatiana at the crest of the hill, still in her wolf form, lying low and stone-still. Tatiana. He touched her mind with his, shielding his thoughts from anyone else who could be in the area. Don’t move and stay calm.
There’s someone else up here, Dominic. Her frightened voice quivered, and the sound of it nearly did him in. The energy signature seems familiar, but I can’t quite get it.
Dominic moved painstakingly slow, making no sound as he crept through the sun-dappled trees. Movement, about fifty feet to the left, captured his attention. He sharpened his focus and watched as the air in that vicinity pulsed and shimmered, like heat coming off pavement.
Purist! Dominic roared to the collective minds of his friends.
As he exploded into action, an unfamiliar male from the Bear Clan materialized before him and immediately charged Tatiana.
We’re under attack. Eric’s gravelly, focused voice sliced into his consciousness.
We have two more at the main house. William’s voice shot into his mind.
In an instant, Dominic’s worst fears were realized. His mate and the prince were in danger—but the choice was far simpler than he thought it would be because there was no choice.
It was her. It would always be her.
Blinding rage consumed him as he watched the massive beast descend on his mate. Tatiana scrambled backward as Dominic roared and leapt onto the back of the enormous Kodiak bear. He and the bear went tumbling down the hill. In a blur of claws and fur, they slammed into the trunk of a tree, which momentarily dislodged Dominic from the Purist’s side.
Snarling, Dominic leapt to his feet as his opponent reared up on his hind legs and bellowed into the air. Tatiana’s frightened voice tore into his mind. There’s another one.
Run up the mountain, Tatiana. Just keep moving. I promise I’ll get to you.
With every ounce of power he had, Dominic pounced on the Purist and latched powerful jaws around his neck, tackling him to the ground. Pinning him with a stranglehold, he sank his razor-sharp teeth into flesh. The coppery taste of blood bathed the inside of his mouth. Knowing he was delivering a mortal wound, Dominic bit down with all his strength and growled as the neck of his enemy broke.
Dominic! Tatiana’s panicked voice shot into his mind. Up here. Hurry!
Blood dripping from his muzzle, he whipped his head around and glanced up to see Tatiana cornered by a female from the Arctic Wolf Clan. Dominic recognized her immediately as an elder and former Council member. She had backed Tatiana onto a thin ledge of rock, and the only place for her to go was about thirty feet down.
Moravian was right. The woman’s voice slithered into his mind. Your half-breed mates are pathetic.
Just as Dominic whispered the ancient language to visualize himself to Tatiana’s side, he saw the atmosphere between Tatiana and the white wolf ripple. As he vanished in a flicker of static, Courtney materialized in front of Tatiana at the very moment the wolf pounced.
What happened next, happened in a split second.
Dominic materialized on the ledge behind the white wolf in time to see Courtney and the Purist from the Wolf Clan tumble over the edge in a tangle of limbs. Tatiana changed back to her human form, screaming Courtney’s name. Dominic shifted and caught her before she disappeared after them.
“Courtney!” Tatiana’s hysterical cry echoed through the woods as they peered over the edge and saw two motionless bodies on the ground below.
“Hold on to me.” Dominic held her close and whispered the ancient language, “Verto.”
In a blink, he and Tatiana were standing next to the motionless bodies of Courtney and the wolf. He released Tatiana’s shaking form from his embrace and squatted down next to Courtney. Her energy signature was faint but still showed signs of life.
“She’s alive, but she’s in bad shape.” Frustration and guilt tugged at him. Steven. Courtney’s in trouble. Dominic didn’t know where Steven was, but since he didn’t come immediately to his mate’s side, he had to be in the midst of battle.
“This is my fault,” Dominic whispered. “I didn’t get up there in time.”
“Here.” Tatiana grabbed a bandanna from the back pocket of her shorts and held it on the bleeding wound on Courtney’s head. She took Dominic’s hand and placed it
over the makeshift bandage. “Keep pressure on it to stop the bleeding. I’m going to see if I can read her injuries the way I do with animals.”
Dominic said nothing but did as she instructed. He watched as she placed both hands on Courtney’s belly, closed her eyes, and focused. Tatiana’s body shuddered, and her eyes flickered behind her lids as though she were dreaming.
Covered in dirt, with blood smudged on her hands, she was still the most spectacular, beautiful creature he’d ever encountered. Her strength and focus in this moment of crisis had him in awe. She put aside their personal differences to deal with the trauma, and that was the most impressive thing of all.
“The baby’s heartbeat is steady and strong,” she murmured softly. Eyes still closed, her hands moved from Courtney’s belly to her arms. She brushed the length of her body, tuning in with flawless intensity. Her brow furrowed. “Courtney’s fading fast, Dominic.”
Tatiana opened her eyes and sat back on her heels as tears streamed down her cheeks. She took Courtney’s hand and kissed it. “Please don’t give up, Courtney.”
The air erupted in static electricity as Steven materialized next to them. His clothing was torn and bloody, evidence of a battle fought and won. His face was wracked with grief, and his bright green eyes went immediately to his mate.
Steven uttered a strangled cry and shoved Dominic out of the way as he knelt at his wife’s side. He brushed blonde hair from her bruised, bloody forehead and whispered to her as Dominic stood up. He stepped back, feeling nothing but helplessness as he watched the scene before him.
Tatiana, on the other hand, knew exactly what to do. The woman was the calm in the storm.
“Steven,” she said firmly. “We have to get her back to the medical facility at the main house. The baby has to come now, or you could lose both of them.”
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