Feathered Touch (Wyrd Bound Book 2)

by Shen Hart

  I laughed. As much as I wanted to tell him it’d be that very afternoon, I knew that I had to heal properly. With the pack apparently in such peril, I needed to get back to things as quickly as possible.

  “There won’t be one, not until I’m fully healed at least. I need to get back to full health so I can repair what damage has been done to my pack.”

  “They don’t realise what they’re doing, you know. They’re consumed by this need to help and protect you, in a way I suppose it’s—”

  I cut him off. “It doesn’t matter whether they realise or not, they should both know better, and I will not allow it to continue.”

  Dan smiled at me, his eyes beginning to return to their usual bright state. I vaguely remembered something that Ryan had said, about how Dan refused to take his shirt off. The way he didn’t quite fit into the pack, as though he didn’t trust the others. It seemed like a reasonable change of topic to me. It may not have been a happy topic, but the raven saw another sparkle of something interesting, something dreadfully curious. Curious topics were often worth a bit of pain, and they deflected things away from Alex and that unpleasant bullshit.

  “Tell me about yourself, Dan. About your past.”

  His eyes narrowed a little, and his arms crossed defensively, mentally blocking me out and pushing me away. “Is there something specific you’d like to know?”

  I tried to keep my voice calm and smooth. I didn’t appreciate his tone or the way he’d blocked me out. That wasn’t appropriate behaviour when dealing with an alpha. I reminded myself that he was still learning, and he clearly had some darkness and pain there.

  “The reason you don’t take your shirt off in front of the others.”

  His nostrils flared and his eyes took on some shades of amber. He quickly brought himself under control, but his energies remained spiked and a darker shade of blue. I raised an eyebrow and watched him pointedly.

  He took another deep breath to compose himself before he stood and simply said, “I’ll show you.”

  The wolf wanted me to stand as well. Having him stood above me while every inch of his body was taut and ready for a fight was not good dominant behaviour. I ignored it and stretched back in my chair, showing relaxation and a lack of caring for the situation, a much better alpha position to take. He kept his eyes down staring intently at the floor as he undid each button on his shirt, his fingers fumbled and struggled with each one but he finally shrugged the shirt off onto the floor. My eyes slowly wandered up his toned stomach, over the muscle definition in his tight abs before they settled on his chest. My eyes went wide and I stood. Without thinking I found myself trailing a single finger over the pale white lines that crisscrossed and marked his chest.

  I cocked my head and admired the clean straight lines, the elegant curves, and the precise runes and sigils they had carved into his flesh. It was difficult and took years of practise to get the designs that perfect on paper. Carving into flesh was another level of mastery. Dan remained stiff and watched my every move before I pushed the raven back and realised exactly what those scars meant.

  I moved my hand up over his neck and rested it on his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

  He closed his eyes tight and swallowed hard before he whispered, “They didn’t know any better.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must have endured, and no doubt at a young age, too. “Was it your own pack?”

  He simply nodded and wrapped his arms around my ribs as he melted into me. “My mother was there, she thought they were helping me. When it failed, they cast me out. I never saw them again.”

  I had heard of the ritual, where a pack will try and tear out two aspects from a tri-shifter to make them a good, normal shifter, but I had no idea that he had suffered such an atrocity. It was a horrific practice. Those that did it felt that tri-shifters were an abomination. In the rare cases that it works, the shifter is never quite right. How could they be? They have had their soul torn apart with a mismatched patch sewn in energetically to fill the hole. I stroked Dan’s hair and pressed my cheek to his. No one deserved to suffer like that, especially at the hands of their pack. The ritual was usually done in the early teens when the shifter came into their abilities proper. He must have been incredibly vulnerable out in the world entirely alone.

  I pulled back a little and said, “Never again will you suffer like that. You are in my pack now. I will keep you safe. I cannot fix what was done, but I can stop it from happening again.”

  I brushed my thumb over his cheekbone and rested my hand on his cheek while maintaining a soft eye contact. He shifted his weight a little closer to me and tilted his head slightly. Alex cleared his throat. Neither of us had noticed him enter the room. He set his shoulders back and amber flecks crept into his blue eyes. Dan stiffened, and I pulled back, moving one hand to his shoulder that I then used to make him face Alex. I moved my other hand over Dan’s stomach to rest just under his ribs. Alex’s eyes followed my every move. He looked between Dan and me as he approached us. His face softened when he finally saw the scars.

  His nostrils flared and his teeth gritted as his gaze passed over the sigils. “I am sorry that you suffered. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through and how you must have suffered. It will not happen again while you are a member of our pack.”

  Dan swallowed hard and nodded, “Thank you.”

  “Give me some time with my alpha now, please.”

  I wasn’t entirely happy with his clear territorial intent at reminding Dan of his position with me, but I couldn’t blame him, either. I squeezed Dan’s shoulder before sitting back down in my chair.

  Alex pressed his hand between Dan’s shoulder blades as he passed. “We look after our own.”

  Dan gave him a small smile and closed the door on his way out. Alex sat in the chair next to me. “Can we talk? Civilly, that is.”

  I pursed my lips and looked at him pointedly. “I have been perfectly civil thus far.”

  He ground his teeth together as he dragged his fingers through his hair. “I’m trying to help you, Baby Girl.”

  “So I keep hearing.”

  He bared his teeth a little before he leaned back in his chair. “What was going on with Dan?”

  I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. I could see what was running through his head. Dan topless, us in a close embrace; but that didn’t excuse his accusatory tone.

  I finally looked back at him. “He was stressed and feels as though he doesn’t belong in the pack. I confronted him about why he doesn’t take his shirt off, something Ryan had mentioned noticing. He showed me. I comforted him. Now the important point here, you and Lee are tearing this pack apart. I know it’s a very old fight, but can you not let it lie for another few days while I heal?”

  His mouth tightened as he tried not to bare his teeth. “You know it is inappropriate to have relations with pack members. You shouldn’t be encouraging Dan. You know that Lee is the problem here, he’s the cause of the stress and fractures. I don’t see why you insist on keeping him here.”

  “Many alphas sleep with their packmates. It keeps bonds tight. I keep Lee here because I feel that the boys can learn a lot from him, and his presence comforts me. I enjoy his company.”

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he leaned forwards and took my hands in his. “I worry about you Baby Girl. You went through a lot. I can’t see you go down that path again.”

  His cool, soothing energies wrapped themselves around my hands, adding another layer to the tactile sensations of the security, protection, and comfort that he offered me. The raven wanted to curl up in his lap, and tuck its head under its wing. To allow things to be as they were, just for a little while. To let things fade into the background and enjoy the peace. I pushed it back in its nest and reminded myself that it was he who left, who started the path with Lee. Lee had been the one to help me embrace myself. I looked away from Alex. I didn’t want to think a
bout the past. He gently pulled my hands up to him and kissed the backs of them softly. His lips brushing over my skin made my heart flutter. I couldn’t help but look into his eyes and wonder if maybe I could allow it all to slip away. He was trying. He wanted things to be as they were.

  I looked away. I couldn’t. I wasn’t going to risk him leaving again.

  “Lee left as well. Don’t forget that.”

  I was forced to meet his gaze at those words. “He was clear and open with me. You gave me nothing, you slipped away into the night.”

  “It was the Sisters who took me, us, from you. Blame them.” His voice was wavering and his eyes began to glisten. “I’ll send Lee up, given you want his company.”

  He allowed my hands to drop and left the room with a heavy sigh.

  Chapter Eight

  Alex didn’t speak to me in the few days following. Instead, Lee kept me company, helping me get back into my training routines one small step at a time. We danced each night to our own beat under the stars. I was beginning to feel myself again. Lee gave me a feeling of safety, security, and belonging, something I hadn’t truly experienced in a very long time. We melted into each other’s arms each night and woke with smiles on our faces. Things were peaceful in my hidey-hole away from the pack chaos. I knew that I needed to address it, but I didn’t have the energy and wanted to focus on healing, and on savouring the time I had with Lee. We both knew it wouldn’t last, not that we ever acknowledged it.

  In the morning I was was sitting on my bed eagerly awaiting Ark and the good news that I was free to wander and get back to myself again. Finally Ark greeted me with a big grin before rolling his eyes when he saw Lee’s arm around my waist. Lee smirked and nodded to Ark before standing and giving Ark room to check on my injuries. I couldn’t help feeling a little giddy. There was no soreness and only a couple of faint white marks on my skin.

  “I see you’re well, furball.” He couldn’t help but grin at me.

  “I’m very well thanks, and you? How’s Adam?”

  He smiled. “He’s doing well. He’s been practicing the training routines he learnt here. Have you been behaving yourself?”

  I did my best to pull an innocent expression, but it only made Ark laugh. “We haven’t done anything. We have some respect for Alex and the pack house.”

  Ark nodded and attempted to be solemn. “Well, you can remedy that now. Just don’t be too… vigorous. I don’t want to have to heal you again!”

  I hugged him tight. “Thank you, dear Elfie.”

  He hugged me back. “Have fun, furball.”

  With that he left, a small smile on his face. My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Lee. We finally had our chance. His eyes had a faint jade shine to them. “Shall we take a walk in the woods, Suriel?”

  I licked my lips and allowed my eyes to wander over his body while I thought of the happy memories we shared. “I think that would be a pleasant idea.”

  We remained very restrained as we walked through the house. I forced the ideas about why out of my mind and focused entirely on what I was going to do to Lee. I saw no reason to allow the facts of my situation to cloud or muddy the pleasure I intended on having.

  ~*~ ~*~

  We were barely out of sight of the house when I could bear it no longer. I pushed him against the closest tree and set about reclaiming him as mine. It had been far too long. I raked my fingers down over his chest, bringing him to arch his back into me, digging my fingers deeper. “I have waited so long for this, Suriel.”

  His voice was a hoarse whisper as his eyes met mine, shining jade. A blush crept over his cheeks and he leaned back against the tree.

  “Pardon me, I had no wish to overstep my mark.”

  A flicker of a smirk crossed his lips. It had been so long since we had enjoyed our little dance. I grazed my teeth over his throat, bringing his shoulders to tense and quiet whisper of a moan to escape his lips. His hands went to brush over my hips causing me to step backwards and raise an eyebrow at him.

  He lowered his eyes. “Please?”

  “Soon.”

  I wasn’t ready for him to take any pleasure in me, not just yet. I took my time removing his shirt, following my slow progress with hard kisses and gentle bites. His breathing was growing more shallow and his body more tense. He couldn’t help letting out a breathy “please” a few times. Each one made my heart skip a beat. I wanted to savour it, to have him beg. I didn’t know if I could wait that long, though. I needed him as much as he needed me. I pressed his bare back into the rough bark of the tree, his tongue flicked over his lips as he held my gaze, challenging me. I allowed the tips of my claws to shift as I dragged my fingers down his abs, a yelp of delighted pain brought pleasure to my ears.

  I whispered, “You may,” into his ear when I could bear my own teasing no longer.

  He was slow, careful, tender, and aggressive all at once. His hands worked slowly to bring me great pleasure as I enjoyed sinking my teeth and claws into his smooth, soft skin. He moaned and gasped with each bite and begged for more. I made him wait, just long enough for him to plead and beg again before I gave him what we both so desperately wanted. The wait was worth it.

  I allowed him to leave two small marks on my neck as a reward for good behaviour. I thoroughly claimed him, though. Blood trickled over his pale skin, pooling in the hollow of his collar bone and forged paths between his shoulder blades and abs. Shallow puncture wounds and claw marks left my claim on him plainly for all to see. He would be enjoying the painful pleasure they brought him for a few days to come as they healed. I licked up his throat savouring the sweet tang of his blood on my tongue once more before I kissed him tenderly.

  It all ended too quickly. His hand moved over my ribs as we lay on the forest floor, his eyes grew larger, and I knew. They were taking him from me again. I brushed my thumb over his cheekbone and offered him a small smile. It wasn’t his fault. I knew how this worked. I pushed back the flood of emotion, the anger and sadness at losing him again. I had to be strong, for him.

  “I’m sorry, Suriel.”

  I placed my finger to his lips. “Not a word, my beautiful. Our day will come, when we are free of the Sisters, when they will drag us apart no longer.”

  A tear welled up in the corner of his eye and made a quick escape down his cheek. I kissed him hard and bit his bottom lip, a final reminder to take with him. We dressed in silence, and he departed with his usual feline grace, as though nothing had happened. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that it wasn’t forever. I closed my eyes tight and smiled at the images imprinted on them. I had happy memories to take me through the dark nights. Our day would come.

  Chapter Nine

  I felt my hands clench and my shoulders go back when I heard the Sisters’ voices. I walked into the kitchen area to find them holding court with the boys. They were dressed in their typical white tailored outfits. I never did understand why they insisted on that. A splash of colour wouldn’t do them any harm. They stood with their backs to the entrance of the kitchen with the boys in a loose semi-circle around them. The cubs huddled a little further back, closer to the table while Alex stood tall and proud directly in front of me.

  The tallest, only by an inch, but still, with the long straight hair glared at me. “So good of you to join us, Thalia.”

  Alex gave me a pointed look that quickly faded as his eyes wandered down my neck. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. I walked into the kitchen proper and stopped a couple of feet away from them, putting myself between them and the cubs as I could while remaining sort of subtle.

  “And what have we done to deserve the honour of your presence in our home?” I growled.

  It wasn’t often that they deigned to visit us in person, so I knew there had to be something they felt required extra interference. Lee had already left, so it couldn’t have been that. The tallest Sister, with her poker-straight hair and cement-coloured eyes gritted her teeth while the shortest one with the softer face and fulle
r lips smirked.

  “You have a new assignment. You are to kill a human cult.”

  I shrugged. “And you couldn’t put this in a note or some such because…?”

  I really wasn’t in the mood for their shit. They had already taken Lee from me; their presence was not welcome, and I saw no reason not to make that very clear. Nik and Ryan were looking between me and the Sisters as they backed away a little. Dan, however, tried to stifle a grin. I tapped my foot once, waiting for the bitchy Sister who acted as their spokesperson to compose herself and give me an answer.

  “We thought it was a good opportunity to see how your pack was progressing,” she replied.

  Ryan whispered to Nik, whose brow creased before he nudged Ryan, who said, “Did you say we have to kill a human cult?”

  Dan cocked his head a little and watched my face before he glanced back at the Sisters. Alex tucked his hands in his jeans and sighed softly.

  The bitchier Sister in the middle said, “Yes. I did.”

  Nik stepped forwards and gestured with his hands as he said, “Why humans? How can they be a threat? Cults are a common thing. They never cause any harm; their grasp on energies isn’t good enough.”

  He glanced back at Ryan for backup before Dan said, “Does it matter? They’ve clearly done something; do you feel that humans are superior to non-humans?”

  Nik’s jaw tightened before Alex moved and stepped between them and the Sisters. “We have been given an assignment. The species subject to the assignment is irrelevant. All species are capable of disrupting the balance.”

  Nik’s eyes narrowed, but he lowered them and stepped back next to Ryan. Dan smirked at him before he crossed his arms and leaned back against the kitchen countertop.

  The original Sister, the bitchy spokesperson in the middle, glared at me before she said, “I see you haven’t trained them in respect.”

  I grinned. “They respect those who have earned it.”