A Broken Bond

by Stacey Kennedy

  Just when she thought she could take no more, he slid in a finger inside her, then another, and she was undone. He brought his mouth back up to hers. His lips became demanding as he worked his fingers within her body. Again, she fought to free herself from his hold, but it was pointless. He was in control of her body now.

  Her climax began to peak, a release she couldn’t even fathom. No orgasm she’d experienced alone equaled what she felt now. Before she could relish in it, he removed his hand from inside her, gave her clit a minute more of attention, which left her shaking beneath him, then brought his hand out of her jeans.

  His gaze connected with hers. He let go of her arms and moved between her legs. He reached up, tucked his hands under the rim of her jeans and began to pull them off. She raised her hips to assist him, and moments later, she was left exposed. Her knees came together and rested on his lap.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he said softly, running his hands up her calves until he came to her knees, where he encouraged her to open for him.

  Doing as he asked, she spread herself wide. His gaze hit the center of her for a long moment, then it snapped up. If she had any doubt that he wouldn't be pleased by the sight of her, those worries instantly vanished. His dark, hooded eyes declared she was beautiful.

  With a deep groan, he lowered himself between her thighs and ran his tongue over her sensitive flesh. Startled by the intensity, she sat upright and grasped his head. This was a man with a purpose. He had been so gentle with her to this point. Now, that care no longer applied. His only job was to make her come, and by God, she was going to.

  His mouth closed around her clit. He sucked hard, circled it, flicked it with his tongue. She was left to quiver, scream, nearly laugh as her mind was overcome with pleasure.

  Suddenly, his lips connected with hers, and only then did the world come back to her. Her release was intense enough she hadn't even known she was in it. The scent of woman came strong through her nose as his tongue swept against hers in rough demand. Her arousal heightened¯her climax lived on his mouth. It made her want more.

  He brought his hips close to hers. She raised them to meet him. Gently but swiftly, he entered her. Pain stole her breath for a few moments as her body adjusted to his girth. But as he pulled out slightly and slid back in, pleasure won over anything else.

  Their mate bond was completed.

  A warm, happy feeling washed through her as Layne’s presence evaporated and Cash’s settled in. Even though she knew this wasn’t forever, she let herself believe it now. Believe that she belonged to him, that his face was what she would wake up to and that he would be there to always protect her.

  His forehead rested against hers as he relished in the moment of the bond just as she had. Then, his hand cupped her cheek and his eyes locked in on hers as he began to thrust. Slow and sure. She moaned. His groans mirrored hers. The scent of desire and sex came heavy in the air as his thrusts began to quicken.

  Her mind continued to swirl with rightness. Her heart pounded against her chest, and sweat formed between their skin as his thrusts grew more urgent.

  “Can you take more?” he growled.

  “Hell yes,” she shouted.

  Her words barely got out before he went hard, fast¯the bed beating against the wall. She had no control now. Keeping her eyes open was impossible. Her screams of ecstasy couldn’t be stopped. Now, all that lived were two bodies in the heat of a moment, only existing in a complete and total state of bliss.

  Chapter Five

  Cash pulled Rylie in closer, spooned her body as she lay sated in his arms. Her scent of summer flowers filled him as his nose rested against the soft skin of her neck.

  His selfish reasons kept her here. It had been years since he’d cradled a woman in his arms and the feel of her completed him. Her breath grew deeper as she was swept away to sleep. He may have joined her if his mind hadn’t been so captivated by his thoughts. As much as he understood this mating was out of convenience and she didn’t belong to him, for the moment, he had let himself believe that she did.

  He deserved that little bit of luxury.

  His moment of bliss abruptly ended when the scent of wolves came sharp through his nose, equaled by the raw stench of anger. He lifted his head in the exact moment the front door slammed open. Rylie gasped and shot up in bed. Cash followed.

  “What have you done?” A man shouted, lunging forward in lengthy strides.

  Rylie scrambled to pull the blankets up over her naked skin. “Layne...I-I—”

  Fuck. Cash sighed to himself at the scent that came from this wolf. It was unmistakable. In a second, the reality of Rylie’s situation dawned on him and every unanswered question blasted into his mind. He glanced at Rylie. “Your former mate is an Alpha?” He felt much more irritated with her than his tone let on.

  “I-I—” she sputtered, glancing between Layne and Cash.

  For one moment, she let down all of her walls and Cash witnessed something he hadn’t expected to see. She looked to him for help. Not only that, but in the presence of Layne, she should be frightened. She wasn’t. Her gaze formed a question. Did he care enough to protect her?

  Blaine quickly entered through the door, out of breath. Apparently, he’d just run like a bat out of hell to get here. “What is the meaning of this?” he shouted at Layne.

  Layne stood, shaking, trembling with the need for revenge. “I was about to ask that same fucking question.”

  Blaine’s gaze swept with confusion then, just as Cash experienced, awareness came to him. His expression not only showed remorse, but worry as he looked to Rylie. “You were mated to an Alpha?”

  She nodded. Tears filled her eyes. “He killed my parents¯he—he was horrible to me.”

  Her tears ate at Cash and he had an urge to protect her. But Blaine had it right. Cash was a stickler for the rules. Her betrayal to her Alpha was not something he could interfere with. What she had done was the gravest of mistakes and would come with severe consequences. She had sealed her own fate.

  Blaine stepped in closer, his tone soft but firm. “If you had told me the truth to this situation, I would not have welcomed you.”

  “Damn right you wouldn’t have,” Layne roared. “She is my mate, and now, what is left? A broken bond.” He pointed at Cash. “I demand you destroy him for taking what was mine.”

  Cash sighed, throwing the blanket off him. He reached down and pulled on his jeans, then stood. He nodded toward the door. “Mind waiting outside so Rylie can get dressed?”

  “Fucking right I mind,” Layne growled. “She is mine. It is my right to see her nude.” He lunged forward to grab Rylie’s arm and she screamed out. “Put some fucking clothes on, you slut.”

  Cash gritted his teeth, but held himself firm. His mind swirled with confusion. The way Layne handled her, spoke to her, was enough to make him crazy with rage. But he knew his place. What she had done was wrong. He took a quick glance at Blaine, who held a look that surprised him. His eyes spoke of bewilderment and shock.

  Rylie quickly dressed as tears ran down her face. Once presentable, she sat back on the bed and kept her gaze to the ground.

  Blaine cleared his throat slightly before he spoke. “What are you planning to do with her?”

  Layne grabbed Rylie by the neck, which caused her to release another squeal. “I’m returning to Wyoming with her immediately and she will die for her betrayal of me.”

  Blaine let out a soft breath, then asked, “You are set in this decision?”

  Layne nodded. “A gathering has already been called.”

  Cash’s mind had trouble comprehending all this. Her betrayal in wolf culture did deserve death. This was their way¯their rules. He had never once doubted the method of how they had done things. He’d upheld the oath their kind lived by. Now, he hesitated. She was not deserving of this fate.

  Rylie’s eyes lifted to Cash’s as if she’d read his mind. “I deserve this,” she whimpered, then her voice came cold. “I would rather
die than return to him.”

  “And so you will,” Layne roared as he gather her up and dragged her from the cabin.

  The door slammed closed. Cash’s breath gasped out. She was gone. Forever. The woman had come so quickly into his life and was removed just as fast.

  “For fuck’s sake, Cash.” Blaine stepped forward, took him by the shoulders and shook him. “Where have you gone?”

  Cash shook his head, confused. “What are you going on about?”

  “You just let another man walk in and take your woman¯your fucking mate¯to her death.” Then, he sucker-punched him and sent Cash straight to the ground.

  “She’s not mine,” Cash retorted, grasping his throbbing jaw.

  “Wanna bet?” Blaine retorted. “My hands were tied here. I might have welcomed her, but interfering would have been seen as a challenge to Layne for his status. Something I doubt my mate would agree with. She needed you to defend her, and you have failed her.”

  Cash jumped to his feet. “I am powerless here. You, of all, should understand the rules. She has betrayed an Alpha. What am I to do?”

  Blaine lunged forward, knocking them both to the ground. “What are you to do?” he shouted, attempting to get another hit. “Are you that dense?” Then, he pinned him in a hold that left him unable to move. “Fate has stepped in and given you a second chance and you just let her walk out the door to die.”

  With the inability to move, Cash’s instinct to fight fled him and now Blaine’s words began to settle in. This little woman had done the unimaginable. She had made him smile, made him need, feel something other than his pain. It was she that had brought him home. It was she who had bandaged up his soul.

  Blaine’s hold loosened when Cash went limp in his arms, defeated. He flipped him over and met his gaze as he held his shirt in his hands. “Now I ask again¯where have you gone?”

  Cash grinned, his brow arched arrogantly. “I’m right fucking here.”

  A slow smile spread along Blaine’s face. Then, he gave the side of Cash’s face a hard smack before he jumped off him. “It’s about bloody time.”

  * * * *

  Rylie had remained silent during the drive back to Cody. The scent of Layne’s rage was enough to keep her quiet. What she had done was the highest betrayal to werewolves, and she had even upped the ante since her mate was an Alpha.

  There was no doubt in her mind she deserved what was coming to her. Her father had raised her within these rules. She knew this could have been her fate when she’d left. She accepted that. That was not what stole her thoughts. It was Cash who kept her mind reeling. It was wrong of her to let herself believe there was more to his feelings for her than just pity over her situation. The way he’d looked at her, how he’d made love to her…she had believed he cared. Obviously, that assumption had been wrong. He had let her leave without a moment’s hesitation¯not a single word to stop it.

  And it broke her heart into a million pieces.

  Now, surrounded by the pack of Wyoming, she sat at Layne’s feet on the cold grass and never had she felt so alone. She’d committed the unthinkable and the disgust on every face and in the words spoken here only proved it.

  Layne raised his hands for the crowd to quiet. They responded immediately. “We all know why we are here. Rylie has condemned herself for her betrayal of me and her pack.”

  Loud shouts of agreement ran through the field next to what had once been her family’s home. Layne had taken it as his own now. A stone bungalow that had seen five generations of her bloodline. Now, nothing of that happiness resided here.

  “Rylie.” A scream cut through the cheering crowd. Rylie raised her head to find Devan restraining Chloe. “You can’t do this,” she shrieked. “Stop this now.”

  Layne growled at Chloe. Devan instantly covered Chloe’s mouth with his hand and dragged her from the field to vanish from sight as she screamed and cried, kicking madly.

  Rylie gulped. Chloe, she would miss. But her fate was written. No one could save her now.

  Or so she thought.

  “I agree, this is going to stop,” a deep voice rang out. “Now.”

  The crowd, including Rylie, snapped her head toward the voice. Cash, Blaine, and some others of the Montana pack were striding toward them.

  “Blaine,” Layne roared. “What is the meaning of this?”

  Blaine shook his head, grinning. “It is not for me to answer.”

  A moment later, Cash reached Rylie. He cupped his hands under her arms and pulled her up. Then, he took her into his arms and kissed her. Her breath was lost as his lips came with force, almost in a show of strength. Meant as an apology¯one she heard loud and clear.

  “He should not have taken you. That will never happen again,” he growled against her lips.

  As he backed away, she couldn’t wrap her head around this. “You’re here...for me?” Her voice was as shocked as she felt inside.

  Cash arched a brow and smiled. “You are my mate.”

  Tears filled her eyes. The one line spoken from his lips filled her with so much joy she could only cry in response. Her heart grew with enough love she thought it might burst wide open.

  Suddenly, Layne shouted, “Release her!”

  Cash placed Rylie into the arms of Blaine, who wrapped both arms around her tightly as if to protect her. She immediately sank against him, feeling the safety only found in a man. Her body trembled from a thousand emotions she still couldn’t get a grip on. Too much had happened for her mind to keep up.

  Cash turned to the crowd, which included Layne. “I challenge Layne for Alpha of Wyoming.” Whispers of shock and disbelief ran over the crowd.

  Layne’s gaze narrowed. “Is that so?”

  Cash’s nod came harsh. “Do you accept my challenge?”

  “I do,” Layne declared, and he stepped forward. His shoulders rose to show his size. He shifted, as did Cash.

  In the wake of two men were two strong wolves. Layne was black and deathly. Cash, a mixture of sand and white. Both powerful in height and weight, ears pinned to their heads, eyes glowing, and teeth barred in a growl.

  As if hit by cold water, Rylie awakened to the realization of what was about to happen. Her heart may have been overwhelmed by his claim of her, to know she was not alone in these feelings of love, but now Cash was in danger. “No, you have to stop him,” she shouted at Blaine. “He could die.” Die for me.

  Blaine tightened his arms around her. “He won’t.” His voice held strong and sure.

  She would have said more, argued more, demanded that this stop, but the fight had already begun.

  Fur.

  Teeth.

  Growls.

  Blood.

  Rylie couldn’t watch. She spun around into Blaine’s hold and he held her tighter. His body was tense, trembling as if he was holding himself back from stepping in and assisting his friend.

  Howls of pain made her raise her hands to her ears. Cash looked strong enough to defeat Layne, but then again, so had her father, and he was now dead. If his life was lost here, she couldn’t bear to watch him die. Never had she needed anyone as much as she needed him.

  Blaine reached up, cupped her head, and brought her as close to him as he could. He was protecting her, just as an Alpha should one of his wolves. Men shouted, encouraging the fight. Rylie wanted this to be over. Cash had come here to protect her, had come to prove himself as her mate.

  Something she had longed for had finally happened. She belonged to someone she wanted, someone who loved her, and who’d die to keep her. But now, she could lose him.

  Loud howls shook right into her soul. She hadn’t known Cash long enough to recognize his howl. One of the wolves was growing weaker. She couldn’t tell if it was him. The mate bond held strong, but that meant nothing. It would only diminish at the moment of death.

  Needing to know, she turned her head away from Blaine’s chest. Blood drenched the grass, as well as pieces of wolf. As her gaze followed along the ground, relief cam
e instantly. Layne was panting, his back legs dragging behind him as Cash circled him, stalking, his lips raised to show bloody teeth.

  A second later, it was over.

  Layne was dead.

  Cash shifted. His voice came out powerful and demanding. “Acknowledge me as Alpha.”

  The pack of Wyoming shifted, the magic shedding their clothes. Rylie followed bowing down in submission to her Alpha. But soon after, a finger under her furry chin brought her gaze up. Cash had a smile that sent desire, love and a lifetime of happiness through her. “My mate will never submit to me or to anyone.”

  Her shift came instantly. Tears spilled from her eyes. “You saved me.”

  Cash reached up, cupped her cheek, and ran his thumb across her skin. “Our bond may not have been destined, but it holds just as true¯two souls joining to save each other.” He lowered his mouth to hers and whispered against her lips, “And you have saved mine, Rylie. For that, my heart will always be yours.” With his mouth still on hers, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs straddled his waist as her arms wrapped around his neck.

  Here, was safe.

  Chapter Six

  Rylie felt Cash’s muscles tremble beneath her hands while she felt her way along his strong shoulders. She could hardly believe how this had all played out. He had come for her. She still wasn’t sure if she accepted this as true. But she ignored her disbelief and focused on him. And just how happy she was at this moment.

  Layne, the man who had killed her family, was dead. She was no longer in his clutches and she had Cash.

  His mouth was firm and demanding against hers, unlike the sweet touch she had experienced before. And that was perfectly fine with her.