Paranormal Magic (Shades of Prey Book 1)

by Margo Bond Collins

  “It seems lil Adam is taken wit' you,” the older wolf said once the door shut behind Adam.

  Gemma watched the space where Adam had sat. “I owe him a lot,” she admitted. “He saved me and my pack.” She paused, thinking. “And it seems like he doesn't expect anything out of it.”

  At length, Carmichael replied, “He does expect somethin' out of it. Just not from you.” He stroked his aged biker's beard. “Adam has a score t' settle wit' Vincent.”

  “He told me.”

  Carmichael's eyes twinkled. “So y'know what happened t' Cheryl?” He shuddered.” A horrible way fer a young woman t' die.”

  “Why didn't you do anything about Vincent? Surely, he showed signs...of this...before he ran off...”

  Carmichael paused, considering. “You should know tha' your bein' single fer so long has caused a stir in all th' wolves. Those who're mated an' those who aren't. A lot of them...talk about what they'd do t' you.” She had a horrified looked on her face, to which Carmichael gave a slight wave. “It shouldn't be any news t' you. Wolves're a bit desperate t' move up th' ranks, but they'd ne'er act onnit.”

  “Except for Vincent.”

  “'Cept for Vincent,” he agreed. “Cheryl turned up dead three months ago, an' Vincent disappeared wit' her. 'Til last night, we'd all thought he'd died 'r gone off t' grieve. We had our suspicions tha' he coulda been planning somethin', but we couldn’t do anything 'bout it.”

  “Which is how this mess happened.”

  “If I coulda stopped him at any point, ya know tha' I woulda, Gemma.”

  She nodded, lost in her own thoughts. “How did Adam know that he would try to kidnap me last night?”

  “Adam'd always suspected that Vincent was after you. You're notorious fer laying low yerself, so when it came out tha' you'd be at your pack's meeting last night, he 'spected Vincent'd be there too. It was such a long shot, I even told 'im not to go. You know 'ow big of a deal it is if a were trespasses on 'nother pack's territory...”

  It was a move that could have been interpreted as espionage, which was part of the reason why Mark had been on high alert when Gemma had told him about the intruder at her own pack meeting.

  “He saved me,” she sighed.

  “Fer which we owe him a big thank ye.” Carmichael sighed. “Adam may be an Omega, but he coulda been a great Alpha if given th' chance.”

  She allowed a small smile. “Don't, Carmichael,” she softly warned.

  “He's a good 'un.”

  She nodded. “So I've been finding out.”

  Carmichael leaned forward. “I know ye hate hearin' this, Gemma,” he told her gently. “But you could do worse fer a mate.”

  Gemma fought the rising heat in her cheeks, but she couldn't tell if it was anger or just embarrassment. She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. “What are you saying, Carmichael? That I should choose Adam for a mate? I've only known him since last night!”

  Carmichael chuckled. “'Course it's your choice, Gemma, I ain't saying it's not. But you need t' think about yer pack.”

  “And give up my right to love freely?” she demanded. “I shouldn’t rush into a deciding who I should mate with. The only reason it leaves my pack vulnerable is assholes like Vincent are trying to force their way in.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s exactly why ye need t' consider making a decision,” he said soothingly. “Adam obviously cares a lot 'bout you. An' I can vouch fer his character. Even if he's a runt.” At her scowl, he took hold of her hand. “I ain't sayin' the old laws're right. But it'll at least shut down Vincent. An' I think ye fight it just t' fight it.”

  She frowned, unable to come back with another comment.

  ***

  Adam stood outside the dining hall, unable to hear their conversation. He frowned and clenched his hands into fists.

  He didn't know what to think. Here he was, throwing himself into harm's way for a woman he had just met. Granted, she was a beautiful woman who was strong and held to her beliefs. He applauded her silently that she hadn't given into pressure from all sides to pick a mate. He had only been a part of this underground world for less than a year, and he knew all of the old laws, traditions, and customs were outdated with an unfair skew to those who were stuck in it.

  He had voluntarily, albeit stupidly, joined this underground world; she had been born into it without a choice, yet she was expected to abide by all these old rules. Rules that even controlled who she should and shouldn’t fall in love with.

  It was unfair.

  “Fine pair of legs in there,” a Delta wolf in the shadows muttered. “I'd like a piece of that.”

  “Shut it, Nate,” Adam growled. The wolf inside of him – the part of him that he was still trying to learn how to control – roared to life to defend the young woman in there.

  “Sounds all good coming from you,” Nate sneered back at him. “When you're helping her just to get in her pants. Just think, an Omega,” he laughed, “an Omega trying to get with an Alpha. You know it won't happen. She'll find a real wolf. Like me.”

  It was bold words for a Delta.

  Adam growled and reached into the shadows, pulling out the sniveling Delta. “You leave Gemma alone,” he snarled. His wolf was clawing to get out, wanting to rip him to shreds.

  “Touched a sore spot, eh?” Nate said with a grin. When Adam didn't answer, he growled and thrashed about, head-butting Adam on the gash on his cheek. It stunned Adam enough to make him lose his grip on Nate and the man straightened up.

  “She's a horrible pack leader anyways, from what I hear,” Nate snarled. “Abandons her pack for months at a time. She doesn't want anything to do with werewolves. From what I see, what Vincent is doing is only what she deserves.”

  The wolf inside Adam snapped. He roared and punched the Delta, sending him reeling against a wall. “Leave her alone,” he growled again.

  Nate lay there, prostrate and knocked out. At least he was quiet now.

  He turned and walked away, battling his own feelings towards Gemma.

  She had asked him why he was helping her and he couldn't really give her a good answer. He honestly didn't expect anything out of it. He just couldn't idly stand by while he knew there was a killer out there. Vincent had killed Cheryl, he wasn't going to get Gemma or anyone else.

  But Adam couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else. He had fallen for the Alpha female and was sinking deeper and deeper into the feeling the longer he knew her.

  “Oh Adam,” he muttered to himself. “What have you done?”

  CHAPTER 5

  They finished breakfast with lighter conversation. Gemma didn't want to talk any more about it, and Carmichael didn't push her.

  Adam didn't come back to join their breakfast, disappointing her on some deep level.

  For such an eventful night, her morning went by pretty slowly. She was constantly under surveillance wherever she went in Carmichael's mansion. She didn't really feel safe, but she didn't know what else to do, or how to spend her time. A brief phone conversation with Mark told her that nothing else had happened that morning.

  She didn't see Adam at all. It was as if the young wolf was keeping his distance. She found herself feeling irritated that he was avoiding her.

  It also didn't help that the other wolves seemed to view her as a piece of meat. They wouldn't touch her here, but it made her realize that she wasn't safe anywhere. All of their eyes made her feel dirty, so she fled to the safety of her guest room.

  Even though she had just showered a few hours before, she desperately felt like she needed another one. There was some grime that just didn't come off with one quick wash.

  Gemma sat on the floor of the shower with her back against the tiled wall, and just let the water cascade over her face and shoulders. She reflected on the events of the past twelve hours.

  She had almost been kidnapped last night. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Vincent had tried violating her body and her rights, and it wasn't over. She wasn't safe y
et. She knew that there would be more attempts to either take her in the coming days, weeks, months, or even...

  “Years?” she whispered out loud. Would she would have to worry about attacks from over-eager suitors for years to come if she didn't find a suitable mate?

  Suddenly Carmichael's idea seemed appealing.

  Deep bruises still purpled her skin. If it wasn't for her supernatural ability to heal, she might have died from Vincent's attack.

  She shivered, even in the hot water.

  Half an hour later, she emerged from the bathroom and walked into the massive guestroom, a towel wrapped around her naked body. She stopped to slip into a pair of panties and readjust her towel.

  She stopped short, and against her better judgment, she opened the door into the hallway.

  He was leaning against the opposite wall. He looked up at her, his expression unreadable.

  “Adam?” she asked. She was shocked, but not as much as she felt she should have been.

  “Just making sure you're safe,” he said wryly.

  “Rather stalker-like of you, don't you think?”

  Adam allowed a smile. “Can you blame me? After what happened?”

  “No,” she admitted. “But why?” She hugged her arms to her body. “Why go through all of this trouble? We've only just met.”

  He sighed visibly and straightened from his post on the wall. “I don't know,” he admitted simply.

  Gemma frowned. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I never got a chance to say that.”

  “You did say thanks.”

  Nowhere near enough.

  She let out a breath and closed her eyes, debating what to do. She opened them and realized that the bandaged gash on Adam's cheek was seeping through with blood. She didn't know what it was from, but it looked like it was hurting. “Do you want me to have a look at that?” she found herself asking. “You probably need all of your wounds dressed again.”

  Adam looked at her, a mischievous smile playing across his lips. “Sure.

  ***

  “I feel like I don't know anything about you,” Gemma told Adam. He was sitting on the on the floor in front of her bed, facing away from her. She sat cross-legged behind him with some cotton swabs and a bottle of antiseptic.

  His shirt was off, making it very difficult for her to make conversation. She suddenly wished that she had had the foresight to put on some clothes before inviting him into her room. She was still just in her towel, which covered up everything, but she felt exposed in all the right ways...

  “There's not much to say,” Adam said, breaking into her thoughts. “I’m just a low-ranked wolf.”

  This ranking affects all of us, she thought sadly.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. She gently dabbed his back, and while she knew it must hurt, he didn't flinch at all. “Thank you for saving me.”

  Adam kept his eyes forward. “Remember what I said when we first met? I'm a slow learner.” He let out a laugh and shook his head.

  “I'm starting to find it more attractive,” Gemma found herself saying, and she cut herself off with such force, her voice squeaked on the last word. She caught it too late; he understood what she meant. He looked over his shoulder at her. “Not that I'm calling you stupid,” she added, trying to amend. “But you are.”

  His muscles seemed to stiffen under her touch. “You know how to flatter a man,” he said with a laugh.

  “I've been thinking,” she said slowly. “Carmichael had an idea. About you and me.” Suddenly it felt like her mouth was filled with cotton.

  His shoulders seemed to sag with the weight of a great decision. “I've been a werewolf for only six months. An Omega, the scum of the werewolf world.” Timidly, he glanced over his shoulder. “I've heard about you, before actually meeting you. I came to your pack tonight to stop Vincent, but after meeting you...” He frowned. “I...care about you, Gemma,” he whispered softly. “As stupid as it sounds.”

  She stopped dabbing at the wounds on his back. Even if she was unable to smell it in his scent, she knew that he had no agenda for saying that. He was being completely honest with her.

  He turned his head slightly. “Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It just sounds like puppy love or something.”

  Or something. Something bigger than that. Because she felt it too.

  “I've made my decision,” she whispered. “I've chosen my mate. If he'll have me.”

  “Gemma, don't say that.” he said softly. He shook his head and stood to face her. “You don't owe me anything.”

  “I don't,” she agreed with him. “But I want this.”

  He hesitated once more. “This would be you choosing a mate. You seem to be forgetting that.”

  “It's my choice.” She nervously swallowed, not expecting this reaction. “It's our choice.” She slid off the edge of the bed and stood up, facing him. He watched her, unmoving, his face uncertain.

  She took his hand in hers and kissed him, long and hard. Her free hand fluttered against his chest as she moved it across his skin, exploring. She paused just above the waist of his pants. “I want you, Adam,” she breathed.

  She kissed him again, her tongue exploring his mouth.

  He responded, running his fingers through her hair, relishing the kiss. “I'd want it to be because you want me,” he told her, his voice ragged, “not because I saved you or because I'd be the best option you have.”

  “Make love to me, Adam.” She was close to the point of begging. “Please.”

  He didn't need any more persuasion. He cupped her bottom to him and kissed her neck, biting her collarbone softly.

  She started fumbling with the button and zipper in his jeans, but it was hard to focus. His lips were everywhere she wanted them to be. He unwrapped her towel and let it fall to the floor in a heap around her ankles. He paused for a moment to take in the sight of her nearly naked body.

  “You’re beautiful,” he murmured. He held her to him and they both sank to the floor.

  He kissed her creamy skin, massaging one of her breasts.

  “You're better at this than I am,” she said with a laugh. Her laugh turned into a gasp as he gave her pink nipple a soft bite.

  He gave a satisfied chuckle. “Not from practice.”

  She had finally worked open his fly. He scooted out of his boxers and jeans in one movement. The sight of him naked made her catch her breath. He was hard and ready. She wanted him so much.

  His hands slid under her panties. “You need to join me,” he told her. She glanced down, almost in animalistic disappointment that she wasn't fully naked. Yet. The wolf inside of her wanted to be with him so much. It had been too long since she was last sated.

  He peeled off her panties, exposing her to him. “You're so soft,” he murmured between kisses.

  “I want you now,” she purred.

  “Soon,” he told her.

  She gave a laugh. “How are you holding back?” she asked. “I just want to myself on top of you right now and to ravish you, again and again. I wouldn't expect you to have this much control of your wolf.”

  “That's all I want to do. But I want to do this right. And I say that you're not ready yet.” His cool, tranquil tone calmed the beast inside of her. He rolled her onto her back and licked his way down her collarbone, to her rib cage, across her stomach, then her hip bone, pausing briefly around her thighs, and then...

  She gave a short cry, grasping at his head in between her legs. Her hips bucked against his tongue working at her opening. He held her there while she breathed in short gasps.

  “Adam...” she whimpered.

  Wordlessly, he moved up and kissed her, his tongue sweeping her mouth. She clung to him. She was no longer able to subdue the wolf hiding inside. Her own eyes went green and gold as the sensations swept through her body.

  Every sense was now heightened to supernatural levels. The touch of a fingertip was akin to the brush of a thousand feathers. Every kiss was emblazoned with the passion of a lover's last n
ight. The smoothness of her lover's body was now softer than velvet. She could tell that he was feeling it as much as she was.

  Slowly but surely, he began pushing himself in. She moaned in pleasure at the feeling, biting her bottom lip. He went almost achingly slow, treating her like it was her first time. Her heightened senses, coupled with the newness of his body into hers, made her bite down so hard she began to bleed. He leaned in and licked the blood from her lip and gave her a soft smile.

  He stopped the movement once he was fully inside, and searched her face.

  “I'm yours,” he told her, a note of disbelief and surprise in his voice. He brushed his lips against hers. “We're mates now.”

  “How does it feel?” she asked playfully.

  “So good,” he breathed. He smiled warmly down at her.

  He started to move, slowly, but picked up rhythm. She held onto him, raising her hips to meet his. He stroked her hair, kissing her.

  “Faster,” she whispered.

  He nodded against her lips. He brought them into a sitting position. It was in this position that he got a little rougher, a little quicker, moving her up and down his shaft.

  She dug her nails into his back and held on, aware that she was panting, but also aware that there was nothing she could do about it. The orgasm hit her then, erupting from the depths of her soul like a display of fireworks as she screamed his name. Hearing her cries of passion, smelling her arousal, tasting the thin film of sweat on her body as he continued making love to her made it too much for him to hold back any longer.

  He came a moment later, making a noise that was both masculine and all animal. It excited her.

  She collapsed on top of him. With a satisfied chuckle, he reached up to the bed and pulled down some pillows and a blanket. Neither of them had the strength to get off the floor. They lay there, on the carpeted floor, caressing each other.

  “Adam?” she whispered finally, just on the verge of falling asleep.

  “Hmm?”

  “I think you were an Alpha male before this.”

  He gave a low laugh and kissed her.