Reclaiming the Wolf (Cascade Shifters Book 1)

by Jessie Donovan

  Remembering the last time he’d done those three things, her wolf urged her to stop with the human stuff and go to their cougar. They needed his touch. He would make them feel better.

  Yes, but let’s make him work for it. The wolf sulked, but understood she wanted to play with their soon-to-be-mate.

  She shook her head and said, “No, I don’t have anything that can’t wait. Come in and tell me what’s up.”

  Grinning, Sy stepped into her office. As she always did when she saw him, she gave his tall, muscled body a sweep with her eyes, but she stopped at his t-shirt and burst out laughing.

  Sylas Murray, badass cougar-shifter extraordinaire, was wearing an “I Heart Wolves” t-shirt.

  She finally got her laughter under control and said, “I’m surprised you wore that thing voluntarily. We haven’t had a chance to do our rematch, which means you never lost our bet.”

  Sy shrugged. “Wearing an ‘I Heart Wolves’ t-shirt has brought some smiles and laughter. I figured what the hell. It would probably help the clan with both their sadness from the last few weeks as well as help ease the clan’s nerves about this afternoon’s celebration.”

  Some of her good cheer faded, but not all. The ten deaths from the virus had hit GreyFire hard. The clan was starting to recover and get back on their feet, but it would take some time. In another week, she could probably tell Kian that his cougar-shifters could go back home.

  Well, except for Sylas, of course. She was keeping him.

  She smiled and said, “The celebration will go fine. I don’t know what the hell they’re so worried about, especially after everything the cougars did to help us.” She leaned forward on her desk and raised an eyebrow. “So, tell me why your sexy self is in my office?”

  Light danced in his eyes. “Now that you’re well, I can finally give you my surprise.”

  “You mean the one you’ve been taunting me with for the past two weeks?”

  He grinned. “That’s the one.”

  He walked over to her desk and sat on the edge. Then he took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Ta-da, here it is.”

  She took the rumpled piece of paper that looked as if he’d been carrying it around in his pocket for some time. As she unfolded it, she glanced up at him and said, “There had better be something pretty damn fantastic on this piece of paper to merit all of your hinting about it.”

  He made a motion with his hand for her to look at it. She glanced down and saw it was a letter. Curious to see what it said, she read it:

  Dearest Kaya:

  I’ve spent the last few weeks, or should I say, years, trying to find a word to describe how sorry I am for abandoning you at our mating ceremony ten years ago. But one doesn’t exist. I was a coward, plain and simple. Your uncle threatened to attack Clan DarkStalker if I went through with our mating, and rather than consult you and my clan leader for help, I took the out to join the army.

  Not that I’m trying to pass the blame on to your uncle. Ultimately, it was my choices that hurt you. I can’t even imagine what it must’ve been like for you to stand alone among a clan of wolf-shifters who had warned you against me from the beginning. Their smugness alone must’ve crushed your heart.

  But all of that is in the past and as much as I might want to, I can’t change it. Instead, what I can do is focus on the future.

  If you would take a chance on me and allow me to have your heart again, I will never, ever abandon you. I tried to show you how much I wanted to make this work by managing our clan—yes, our clan—to the best of my ability while you were sick. This may not be enough to convince you that I mean to stay forever this time, no matter what challenges we face, but I will do whatever it takes, Kaya, because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

  Love,

  Sylas Horatio Murray

  Her heart was now pounding inside her chest. Sylas wanted to stay with her forever.

  Kaya blinked back the tears that threatened to fall and looked up into Sy’s eyes. The look there was vulnerable. The fact that the cocky, self-assured cougar-shifter was nervous made her soften even more.

  She had a feeling he’d written the letter to give her a taste of what he’d sent before, a decade ago. But her disappointment and heartbreak concerning the cougar-shifter was in the past. Kaya, too, could only focus on the future.

  And she knew what she wanted.

  She stood up and walked around her desk to stand between Sy’s legs. She looped her hands around his neck and stared him dead in the eye. She had a question she needed to ask. “Sylas Horatio Murray, will you do me the honor of becoming my mate?”

  His eyes flashed to a deeper cougar green and back before he growled, “Yes” and took her lips in a possessive kiss.

  ~~~

  Every muscle in Sy’s body tensed as he watched Kaya read his letter. He’d written dozens of drafts, but he’d decided that this was the best he could do while still remaining himself. He only hoped she agreed.

  As the seconds ticked by, Sy tried to think of how else he could prove he wouldn’t abandon her ever again when Kaya looked up.

  And the woman looked about ready to cry.

  His cougar growled, not liking to see their wolf upset. But as she stood up and walked over to stand in between his legs, hope surged in his heart. Maybe her tears were of joy and not because his letter had brought up their rocky past.

  Kaya looped her arms around his neck and it took everything he had not to pull her close for a kiss. This was too important. He needed to know how she responded.

  She ran her fingers along the back of his neck and said, “Sylas Horatio Murray, will you do me the honor of becoming my mate?”

  Time stilled for a second as he processed her words. Despite everything that happened, she still wanted him.

  Joy surged through his body and he wanted—no, needed—to kiss her. He whispered, “Yes,” before lowering his head for a kiss.

  He didn’t try to be gentle. With Kaya healthy, it was time to release the rougher side of him.

  Sy thrust his tongue into her mouth. As he twined his tongue with hers, she fisted his hair. Suddenly, kissing her wasn’t enough and he hauled her body up against his, the softness of her breasts and the sharp points of her nipples making his cock as hard as steel.

  Claim her. She is ours, his cougar growled.

  Sy agreed. He broke their kiss, nipped Kaya’s bottom lip, and said, “Take off your shirt.”

  There were times to tease and dawdle, but this was not one of them and Kaya understood that. She lifted her shirt over her head as he tore off his own.

  He ran his hands up her ribcage, over her beautiful bronze skin, and traced the edge of her black and white bra. He’d have to ask her to wear this one again. It somehow managed to both highlighted her strength while also making her extremely feminine.

  That fit his wolf to a T.

  For now, however, he wanted to see more of her. He pulled down the cups of her bra to expose her high, small breasts. Her dark nipples were already hard, and he tugged each of them in turn.

  Kaya sucked in a breath and he looked up into her eyes. “Are you wet for me, love? Or do you need some more encouragement?”

  “I’m always wet for you, Sylas. Now take off your pants.”

  He smiled at her bossy tone. He smacked her ass and pushed her away so he could shed the rest of his clothes.

  By the time he’d shucked his shoes, socks, and pants—he’d been optimistic and gone commando—Kaya was standing naked and rolling one of her nipples between her thumb and forefinger, a sexy smile on her face.

  Take her.

  Sy didn’t need any more encouragement. He stalked over to Kaya and backed her against the wall. She put her hands on his chest, but he took her wrists and pinned them over her head.

  Her breath was hot on his chin as she leaned her hips against his cock. Sy kept her hands pinned with one hand and moved a hand down her smooth stomach until he reac
hed between her legs. As he ran his fingers through her folds, he growled at how wet she was.

  Kaya murmured, “Is that the best you can do?”

  He’d planned on fucking her with his tongue, but at her goading, he took her hard little clit between his fingers and pinched. Hard.

  Kaya moaned and arched her back. He could tell she wanted more, but he released her clit and nuzzled her neck. “I see you didn’t learn anything back in the cave.” He nipped her neck and licked his bite with his tongue. “I think it’s time to show you once and for all that your pussy belongs to me and only me.”

  ~~~

  Kaya had thought she’d been wet before, then Sy had told her that her pussy belonged to him; she now felt her juices coating her inner thighs.

  She wanted this desperately, but knew that begging would only turn Sy off. He liked her strong for a reason.

  So she said, “Fuck me hard enough and I may just agree with you.”

  Sy growled and moved his free arm under her ass and lifted her as if she weighed no more than a feather. In response, she wrapped her long legs around Sy’s trim waist. And now, with her pussy a few inches from his cock, he released her hands to wrap his other arm around her ribcage and said, “Position me so I can fuck you against the wall.”

  After two weeks of celibacy, she didn’t need to be told twice. She gripped his hard, long cock and maintained eye contact as she gave him a squeeze. “Tell me your dick belongs to me, and I’ll consider it.”

  “It always has, Kaya-love, and it always will.”

  Love surged through her body and her wolf howled. He is ours.

  She positioned him and he thrust to the hilt. She gripped his shoulders and extended her claws a fraction. He hissed as the sharp tips broke his skin, but then he growled and started pounding in and out, each thrust forcing her harder against the wall. She might have bruises tomorrow, but as his long, hard cock started hitting her g-spot, waves of pleasure coursed through her body with each thrust.

  She moaned and decided that bruises would be totally worth it.

  He moved his arm from around her ribcage so that her back was now against the wall, giving him more leverage to pound into her. He fisted a hand into her hair and pulled her in for a kiss. Without preamble, his tongue swept into her mouth and their teeth clashed. He wasn’t so much kissing her as dominating her.

  But damn, the man knew how to kiss.

  He simultaneously released her hair and her mouth and she cried out at the loss. But then, he moved a hand between them to rub her clit, and Kaya tilted her head against the wall behind her. “Fuck yes.”

  Sy growled and thrust even faster, his balls now slapping against the lower part of her ass. The pressure was building and Kaya clung to his shoulders and leaned forward to kiss him. This time, she swept into his mouth and explored every inch, wanting to memorize every contour and crevice of him.

  Then Sy pinched her clit and she cried out as her orgasm hit her, the waves of pleasure and pain almost too much to handle.

  As her pussy clenched and released around his cock, Sy broke their kiss and bit her shoulder as he stilled and came inside her.

  They remained like that for about a minute. Then he released her shoulder and laid his forehead against her neck. His breath was hot against her skin and she moved one of her hands to his hair. As she gently pet him, he started to give the human equivalent of a purr. His voice was deep and husky when he said, “So who owns your pussy?”

  “You.”

  He kissed her neck and raised his head. The look in his eyes was possessive and fierce. “You hesitated a second. I think you need more convincing.”

  She truly didn’t, but she lived to tease her cougar-shifter. “The woman might be convinced, but the wolf needs more.”

  He ran his hands up along her ribcage to under her arms. Then he stepped back from the wall and lowered her, his cock sliding out of her along the way.

  Neither she nor her wolf liked the sudden empty feeling.

  Sy released her and motioned to the ground. “Then get down and show me your beautiful ass so I can take you from behind.”

  She might’ve just orgasmed, but her clit was already throbbing again in anticipation.

  Still, she couldn’t resist reaching out and squeezing Sy’s cock. Coated in her juices, she easily pulled up and down his length and some of Sy’s determined glint turned into desire. “Ask nicely, Sylas.”

  He moved to take her shoulders, but Kaya released his dick and stepped back. She raised an eyebrow, knowing full well she’d pay for it.

  That thought only made her hotter.

  “Please, Kaya, get on all fours so I can fuck your wolf into submission.”

  Do it, her wolf urged. She was impatient. She’d let them do it the human way. She wanted the wolf way.

  Kaya strode to the far side of the room so that Sy would follow the sway of her ass with his eyes. In a clear space on the floor, she kneeled down before lowering herself to all fours. She wiggled her ass in the air. To prod him even further, she said, “Hurry up before I change my mind.”

  Sy growled. A few seconds later, she felt his heat behind her and without a word he thrust into her.

  Kaya moaned as he started his rough assault all over again. Sylas Murray definitely owned her pussy, and she loved every hard, long stroke of it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Three hours later, Sylas was once again dressed in his “I Heart Wolves” t-shirt, his arm around his mate-to-be as they walked through the forest to where the dual clan celebration was being held. Kaya had tried to convince him to change, but he’d said no. He didn’t want there to be any doubt of where his heart belonged.

  Of course, looking over at his sexy wolf, he wished they could both be naked again. She was wearing a dark blue dress that hugged her breasts before flaring out, the skirt stopping just above her knee. His cougar wanted her to cover up those gorgeous legs from the other males, but Sy told his cat to settle down. She was theirs.

  And they would make it official this evening.

  But Sy was getting ahead of himself. They were going to meet with his brother and his mate first. The consensus had been to let the gathering start without the clan leaders. Not that they were letting it be a free-for-all; the seconds from each clan were keeping an eye on things in case they turned south. Especially since alcohol was being provided.

  They were nearly to the meeting point. Since they were early, Sy hugged Kaya close to his side and kissed the top of her head. “Are you sure we can’t disappear into the woods for half an hour? I’m sure your wolf would like it if I took you out in the open.”

  Kaya looked up at him with a slight frown on her face. “You might’ve forgotten, but my lady parts are out of practice and need a little time to recover. As it is, I think I’m going to have bruises along my back, not to mention the scratches on the side of my hips.”

  He squeezed her hip, careful to avoid where she was tender from his claws earlier. “Hey, you can’t blame me. I just gave my lady what she wanted. Next time, I can be all delicate and barely touch you if that’ll make you happier.”

  She full-on frowned. “Do that and I’ll leave your ass for another male.”

  He growled, pulled them to a stop and brought Kaya flush against his front. “Never.”

  She started to pet his chest with long, slow strokes. “Calm down, kitty cat. I was just teasing.”

  He gave her a quick kiss before letting her go so they could start walking again. “Come on, let’s keep going. My sister-in-law is going to be smug as hell, and I want to get it over with as soon as possible.”

  ~~~

  Kaya didn’t hold back her grin at that. She was looking forward to meeting face-to-face with Trinity and Kian when her clan wasn’t on the brink of collapse.

  She leaned into Sy’s side and wish she could just disappear into the woods with her cougar. Despite her earlier protests, she could take more sex, a lot more.

  But this was one of those t
imes when being clan leader meant putting your own needs second. Ensuring the truce not only continued with DarkStalker, but strengthened, was necessary for her clan’s survival.

  Besides, she owed Kian and his cougars the life of her clan. This was just the first step in repaying that debt.

  They reached the clearing with a high rock formation to one side. It was near the border between DarkStalker’s and GreyFire’s land, the same place where Sy had cheated eleven years ago to get her naked under the stars. In that second, she realized that neither one of them had actually touched the rock all those years ago.

  Let’s win, her wolf urged, and Kaya agreed.

  Before Sy could get the same idea, Kaya broke free of his arm and raced to the rock. She slapped her hand against the cool, smooth surface and grinned at her cougar-shifter. “I win.”

  He frowned. “Since when was there a competition?”

  She pointed a finger at him. “Technically, neither of us won that night you told me you loved me for the first time. You never touched the rock. You only tackled me to the ground. It may have taken eleven years to complete, but I just won our game.”

  Sy studied her for a second and then gave her a heated a look as he stalked to her. When he was directly in front of her, he caged her body with his arms against the rock behind her. “And what do you want to claim as your prize, Kaya-love?”

  It was hard to think of anything as his heat and scent surrounded her, but then she remembered his brother should be here any minute. She wasn’t a prude, but she’d rather not have her soon to be brother-in-law catch her in the act of having sex with Sylas.

  She may not be able to get her male naked right now, but she needed to touch him. She placed her hands on Sy’s chest and started to stroke, wishing it was the hair of his chest under her fingers instead of his t-shirt. She looked up to meet his eyes. There was only one thing she wanted, so she simply said, “I want you.”

  He leaned down to nuzzle her cheek. “You already have me, love. Try again.”