by Lexie Davis
“You’re not a stray, Sasha. You have a pack that loves you and cares for you. You may not see it because you’re mad but they do. They’re very protective of you.” He stroked her side.
“You don’t know them. They’re protective of their name. I just happened to have their name.” She moved away from him, obviously disturbed with the thought of talking about her pack.
He sighed. “Well, what do you want me to do, Sasha? I’ve got to deal with Deacon, who promised me he’d kill you if you came around here again. Your pack sounds like paradise compared to him. So what if they don’t like you, or you feel like you don’t belong? At least they’re there when you need them, which is more than I can say for any of my former pack members.”
“Do you have any idea how I became a Grey Wolf? I wasn’t born one. My parents were white wolves from the Colorado area. Roni, my twin, decided we’d be better off without them because the pack was growing old and not reproducing much. She didn’t want their values to be associated with her so she ran off and I followed. She met Quinn and mated with him during her first change. The Grey Wolves only had the two males and they wanted some females to join the group so we decided that’s where we belonged.”
She turned towards him, a disturbed look crossing her face as she thought about the past. “I always thought whoever saw me through my first change would be my mate if I survived. There was no one but Max and I thought it would be more. He took care of me and gave me everything I needed to survive, but he refused to give me himself.”
She stood and wiped her tears. “So since I was the only unmated female of the group, the guys took turns servicing me during each full moon. I never meant anything more to them and it hurt.”
Diego sat up and reached for her. “Come here and lay with me.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Why? Because of my sob story? No thanks.”
He pulled her to him. “Not because of your ‘sob story’, as you put it. You and I have a lot in common. More than you think.”
She settled against him. “You’re hardly a nobody.”
He kissed her temple. “Neither are you.”
Chapter Four
Sasha woke around noon the next day with Diego by her side. He smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her lips.
“Why are you in a happy mood?”
He chuckled. “You’re so sweet when you wake up. How will I ever resist that charm?”
She slapped at his stomach and rolled over, closing her eyes again. She hadn’t slept much the previous night. She felt warm and secure in Diego’s bed but her mind wouldn’t shut off.
He caressed her side, making it impossible to go back to sleep. She thought about the previous night and how the sex had been great. She’d once thought sex like that could only exist between a mated pair but she’d been wrong. He moved closer to her and reached around to cup her breast.
“You want me to put you in a better mood?” Diego kissed that tender spot behind her ear and Sasha melted.
She tried to pretend he didn’t affect her. “Not sure you can.”
His lips trailed to her cheek and he whispered, “Is that a challenge?”
Sasha’s entire body tingled. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her mood immediately changing. He kissed her shoulder as he rolled her nipple between his fingers.
“Diego,” she found herself moaning. He looped his arm around her and dragged her beneath him, before taking the tip of her breast between his lips.
His long hair fell around her, tickling her skin as his mouth worked her nipple into a stiff point. Sasha pushed his hair back and forced him to meet her eyes. He was beautiful, in every way.
“I’m only going to tell you this once.” She leaned in for a kiss. “Slow is not an option. Stop teasing me.”
He chuckled and nipped her lower lip with his teeth before kissing her. “I’m pretty sure you’ll take it any way I give it.”
His lips moved to her neck as he settled between her legs. She wanted to believe she’d found a place to stay even if it was for just a brief time. With Diego, he made her feel that way, which was the only reason she’d come back to him. He could—and should have—killed her when they first met, but instead he took her home, wrestled with her pack mates, just to make sure she’d be okay. Then when she came back to him, he immediately wanted to protect her from Deacon. All of that made her want to believe something more could develop between them.
Diego pulled back and looked at her with a frantic expression. “Shit.” He jumped up and stumbled to the dresser. “Deacon is outside right now with a few other males.”
Sasha stood and grabbed her clothing. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll mask my scent.” She stared at him. “But he’ll be able to smell it on you.”
Diego moved into the small bath and whispered, “Hide.”
Sasha closed the bedroom door and dressed quickly before crawling beneath the bed. Using her powers, she masked her scent, virtually erasing it from the room. Her heart beat wildly as she waited, hearing Deacon barge in like he owned the place.
“My boys said a dark-haired female came to your house last night. Where is she?” She could hear Deacon rummaging around Diego’s things. “And don’t lie to me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sasha heard a grunt and assumed Deacon was the cause.
The bedroom door whooshed open and Sasha held her breath. She’d positioned her arms and legs on the rails so she didn’t appear to be beneath the bed if they looked. Deacon rummaged around, moving about the room. She counted four pairs of feet, meaning he’d brought two thugs with him.
“You’d better not be lying to me, Diego. You won’t like the consequences.” Deacon left the room with his goons behind him.
Sasha waited for the door to slam before she dropped to the ground. Diego came back to the bedroom. “Where are you?”
She rolled out from under the bed. “He’s an arrogant ass.” She stared up at Diego who sported a busted lip. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing.” He held out his hand and pulled her up. “You’re going home though.” She made a motion to protest, but he held his hand up. “You may feel like you don’t belong with your pack, but I can guarantee that you don’t belong here with me. After you shower and eat, I’ll drive you home.”
He moved past her and grabbed a tie to pull back his hair.
“Were you in love with Alison before her parents took her away?”
He paused, keeping his eyes down. “Yeah.” He took a deep breath and turned, looking for something. “I thought she would be my mate. She wanted offspring immediately and I found myself wanting to give them to her. I understood, even then, what her parents were trying to do, but they wouldn’t let me see her. They moved into the refuge camp and I, as a Black Wolf, wasn’t allowed anywhere near.”
Sasha knew he tried to disguise his hurt by keeping busy. “Did she not want to meet up with you? Run away together or something?”
“She pretended she didn’t even know me.” He turned towards her. “Go take a shower. The faster you leave, the better off we’ll both be.”
Sasha bit her lower lip. “What’s he going to do to you?”
Diego sighed. “Nothing if you leave.”
“Do you want me to go back home?”
“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate. She nodded and left the room.
The bathroom was across the hall, stocked complete with fresh towels. She entered and closed the door behind her. In her mind, she pictured how it would be. She’d go home, Quinn and Max would yell at her and absolutely nothing would change between them. She’d lose a chance at developing a relationship with a possible mate and be stuck in the rut she called her life.
She undressed and thought about Diego. He knew heartbreak like she did. He knew what it was like to have that one person right there within reach yet a million miles away. At least he doesn’t have to watch his former love make out in front of him.
Tears filled her eyes. S
he wanted something more. Everyone around her had something more and she had nothing. Diego knocked on the door and she sniffled, trying to wipe away the evidence of her tears. She cracked the door open and was greeted by Diego’s handsome face.
“Don’t do this.” He pushed the door open so he could enter.
Sasha turned away from him to start the shower. “Do what?”
“The crying. Stop with the crying.” He closed and locked the door behind him.
“I’m not crying.” She stepped inside the stall and revelled in the heat from the water. The water ran in her face and prevented him from seeing how big of a liar she was.
Diego wasn’t fooled, though. He undressed and stepped in behind her. His hands were warm when they touched her, turning her to face him. She went willingly into his comfort and let him hold her.
“It’s for the best. Maybe another time, another place, it could be different, but right now, you’ve got a pack and you have to go back to them.” His hand pressed against her ass while the other moved between her shoulder blades, holding her to him.
She closed her eyes and relaxed against him. She didn’t know how long they stood there. Diego held her as long as she wanted, never once pushing her away. He kissed her cheek and ran his hands along her back.
Sasha pulled away and turned, continuing with her shower. Diego reached for the soap and lathered it between his hands. He cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples before sliding his hands down her body. His lips pressed against her shoulder as his fingers slipped between her legs.
“Diego.” She gripped his forearms.
“Shh.” He slipped two fingers inside her.
Diego pressed his crotch against her ass as his fingers pumped inside her pussy. Her emotions were a rattled mess, and somehow, Diego seemed to freeze everything with his touch and allow her to live in the moment. His other hand came around her to fondle her clit while his mouth worked every sensitive area along her neck and shoulders.
Sasha came, dropping her head back against his shoulder. Diego’s teeth scraped against her shoulder while his fingers continued to pump inside. Her body felt elated. When the last ripple of pleasure stopped, she turned towards him and reached for the soap.
“How do you mask your scent?” he asked.
She smiled and gripped his cock. “It’s a secret.”
“So I imagined.” He gripped the shower wall. “Tell me anyway.”
“My mom came from a sorcery background. As generations were produced, her bloodline passed on a special power to its young. She was a tracker which made it hard for my sister and I to sneak out of the house.” Sasha smiled, recalling the many times their mother caught them. “Anyway, that was her gift. Mine is camouflage and Roni’s is healing.”
She bent forward to flick his nipple with the tip of her tongue. His busted lip was practically healed and the slight grin on his face made her want to stay with him even more. He gave her freedom.
His hands came to her shoulders as he leaned down to press a kiss to her mouth. “Turn around.”
She did. The spray from the water hit her face lightly. Diego positioned her hands on the stall wall and pulled her ass out, consequently spreading her legs wider. He gripped her hips and pressed his cock against her opening, thrusting inside. An animalistic growl left his throat as he moved, taking her hard and fast like she wanted.
“Say my name.” He rammed his cock inside her. “When you come…I want you to know it’s me you’re fucking.”
She closed her eyes. “Please, Diego.”
His hand came around, his fingers finding her clit. “Say it again. My name.”
She nearly wept as the beginning of her orgasm came over her. Diego stroked that one spot inside her, repeatedly, giving her exactly what she needed. She screamed his name, her pussy clenching around him. It seemed to go on forever.
Sometime later, Diego turned the water off and wrapped a towel around her limp body before ushering her out of the shower. He urged her to sit on the closed toilet seat while he reached for his own towel. A bubble of emotion—all the emotions she dealt with prior to her shower—rose to the surface and hit her like a brick wall. She tried to stifle a sob, bringing a hand to her lips. It wasn’t good enough though. Diego spotted her sudden emotion and was there within seconds, asking the one question she didn’t want to answer.
“What’s wrong?” Diego knelt in front of her, concern on his face. He brushed her hair from her face.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him. He sat in the floor and held her, stroking her back as she cried against him. She couldn’t tell him what she felt. In her mind, she was just doing with him the exact same thing she did with Max. She wanted more from her lovers than a simple fuck and run.
She pulled away. Leaving Diego was for the best. She didn’t need to get too attached to something else she couldn’t have. She wiped her tears and gathered her clothes. The Grey Wolves could go to hell for all she cared.
“I swear to you if there was another way, everything would be different.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She pulled on her clothes, keeping her back to him. She steeled herself from feeling any emotions. She wouldn’t cry in front of him again.
He pulled his hair back and secured it in a band. “For what it’s worth, I like you, Sasha.”
She didn’t respond, instead leaving him standing in the bathroom alone.
Chapter Five
Diego pulled in the Grey Wolves sanctuary for the second time around two, frowning when Sasha nearly jumped out before he came to a complete stop. She hadn’t bothered saying two words to him after her breakdown in the bathroom and he didn’t force her to talk. He knew how much she wanted to stay with him, for freedom and whatnot, because he wanted the same. He enjoyed her company, even if she was like a bad penny.
He sighed and waited, watching as she climbed the steps in fury. Anger must be how she dealt with things when they didn’t go her way. He blew out a breath and rubbed a hand over his face. It was like falling for Alison all over again. While the two females weren’t anything alike, the situations were similar. There was something about Sasha that called to the wolf inside him. He’d never had that with Alison. He thought he had, but the connection with this particular Grey Wolf was completely different.
What a fuck up.
A pretty blonde answered the door and grabbed Sasha’s arm before she could stomp through. She spoke a bit, and he watched as Sasha’s reaction went from hatred to hurt. Diego undid his seatbelt and glanced around before stepping outside of the truck.
“…they’ve gone to look for her,” the blonde said as he came within earshot.
Sasha turned towards him. “Deacon’s got Roni.”
The tears were back and he did the first thing that came to him. He pulled her to him. “What happened?” he asked the blonde.
“She went into the woods to pick berries. She does it often, saying it calms her nerves. When she didn’t come back, Quinn, her mate, went to look for her and he said the woods were scented strong with the Black Wolves. They’ve gone to search.”
“Fuck.” Diego rubbed Sasha’s back. “You need to go inside and lock the door. I know Deacon and where he likes to hide. I’ll look for her.”
“It’s all my fault.” Sasha shook her head. “We’re twins and he’s looking for me but got her instead.”
Diego heard a loud growl to his right. He barely had enough time to push Sasha out of the way before the wolf lunged, attacking.
“Stop it!” Sasha screamed. She came towards them, grabbing the wolf’s ear and tugging. “Stop it, Quinn. He didn’t do anything. He’s not one of them!”
“Sasha!” Max came around the corner.
Diego needed just a little bit more room to shift.
“Sasha, let him go.” Max grabbed her arms and pulled her away.
Diego watched for a second as Max dragged her off, kicking and screaming. Quinn growled and snarled before lunging again, his jowls snapp
ing for Diego’s neck. He couldn’t fight the mad wolf off in human form. His heart beat erratically as he struggled, fighting for the room he needed to change form. Another growl came to his left and Diego knew he couldn’t waste another minute.
“Get off of him!” Sasha came running out again and stopped the second wolf within inches from biting him. “Max, help me.”
Diego shifted and went full force at Quinn. In wolf form, he only had one objective. That was to survive. He bit at Quinn just as Quinn bit at him. Another wolf appeared and jumped on him from behind. He howled in pain as its teeth sank into his skin.
“None of this is helping us find Roni. Deacon’s got her, not Diego. Take your anger out on him.” She kicked at Quinn.
“Sasha, stop.” Max stepped in between them and pulled the wolves apart. Diego snapped his jowls a couple of times, catching air as Max pushed him back against the truck.
The blonde was outside ushering Quinn away while Sasha shooed the other two wolves. Diego shifted back to human form and bit back a scream as pain shot through his side. Nudity didn’t matter, even though he regretted shredding his only set of clothing with him.
“I thought I told you not to come back to our property.” Max had no remorse. He pushed Diego’s shoulders, oblivious to the other man’s pain. “Where is she?”
“He doesn’t know, Max. He’s been with me. Deacon threatened us both this morning. It’s not Diego’s fault Roni’s gone. It’s mine.”
Max narrowed his eyes at Diego as he spoke to Sasha. “Go in the house, Sasha.”
“No.” She came to them and grabbed Max’s wrist. “He’s not the bad guy. If you’d stop playing childish games, he’d tell you he knows where Deacon hangs out. I have tracking skills. If you’d tell us what happened, we can find her.”
Max finally pulled his gaze away and looked at her. “We can’t trust him.”
“No, but you trust me. That should be enough,” she pleaded, tears filling her eyes. “It’s my fault she’s gone. Stop wasting our time and let us find her.”