Sweet Submission

by Desiree Gelsi

  "My name is Yuri,” the man introduced himself to Kita, “I'm his brother."

  She smiled halfheartedly. “I'm Kita...” her voice was strained and low, and she scowled in confusion, “I thought he killed you..."

  Yuri chuckled, “Everyone does. Are you Sasha's mate?"

  She winced as pain struck her shoulder. “No."

  "She's Nikita Yurikov,” Sasha announced as he came to stand beside his brother, “The man that was here was Ramsey, a were-cat ... and her ex-fiancé."

  Kita pushed against the base of the tree, rising to her feet weakly while bracing her back against the tree just to keep from sinking back down again.

  Sasha stepped towards her, “Are you alright?” his voice came out almost frantic with concern and it was echoed in the lines that creased his brow.

  She nodded, gently pushing him away when he reached to help her, “I'm fine."

  "This were-cat, he's an ex-fiancé because of you?” Yuri questioned his brother shrewdly.

  Sasha glanced at Kita, “She didn't want to mate with him. I didn't have anything to do with it."

  "I bet...” Yuri said with a smile, “how's my pack doing?"

  "Your pack?” Sasha replied with a cocky grin, “You mean my pack."

  "Ha, it was my pack before you killed me, remember brother?"

  Sasha rolled his eyes, “yeah, it's a joke to you, but you don't know the hell I've gone through because of it. Do you realize that Ivan refused to talk to me for the longest time? Not to mention the bad reputation you've given me. Kita told me that when she was younger she heard stories about me killing you!"

  Yuri grinned mischievously, “you probably deserved the silent treatment from Ivan. Growing up you gave him hell, and you probably still harass him every chance you get. And as for your bad reputation, you had that before you killed me. That's why Roman's father gave me the position of Alpha in the first place. He said you were too bitter and untrusting."

  Sasha shook his head, “you'd be bitter too, if you had my memory."

  "You can't be that bitter anymore. You have Sergey Yurikov's daughter here with you. If there's a werewolf pack to be untrusting of his is the one."

  "Don't remind me.” Sasha said as he reflexively reached out to Kita.

  He saw her trembling gently as she leaned against the tree. He had gotten the bullet out quickly but she still wasn't in the clear yet. The slug had already begun to dissolve. He could see the gray smearing in his palm, and even though he hoped that it wasn't enough to harm her, he could tell from her shaking that he had been wrong.

  Pain pulsed through Kita's veins. She could feel traces of silver darting like toxin in her blood. She looked up at Sasha, seeing the worry in his eyes. She didn't want him to worry, didn't want him to know how much she was hurting, and she pushed his hand away.

  "I'm fine.” She insisted.

  "Can you walk okay?” He questioned skeptically.

  "Yes, I'm fine,” she replied impatiently as she stepped away from the tree.

  The moment she left the stability of the tree her head began to swirl dizzily. She staggered forward, momentarily bracing her palm on Sasha's broad chest to catch her self from falling.

  Sasha grabbed her palm before she could tear it away and wrapped his other arm around her waist, effectually holding her up beside him. He could feel her labored breathing against him, and her slight trembling as she tried desperately to hide her weakness.

  Kita didn't fight him. She couldn't have even if she wanted to. She simply didn't have the strength to.

  "I need to get her home,” Sasha told his brother as he turned with Kita against him, “and you're coming with us."

  Yuri turned to follow him, “I don't know if that's such a good idea. Did you forget that I'm supposed to be dead?” He reminded, “If our pack mates see me alive and well your status is null and void."

  "That's why you're going to go through the back door,” Sasha replied.

  "You do realize that even going through the back door is risky? Someone could still see me you know."

  "No one is going to see you, Yuri."

  Yuri groaned, “I could just stay in the cabin for as long as I'm here. I can even set up camp in the mountains. I'll only be here for a week or so, so it's no big deal. There's no reason to be careless and risk someone seeing me, Sasha."

  Kita let an amused breath escape her lips as she gingerly stepped through the forest, “your brother is reckless, Yuri, I think he likes taking risks.” Sasha's arm tightened around her waist, and she glanced up to see him wink at her.

  "I'm not usually reckless, sweetheart, but I swear, you bring out the worst in me.” He sighed, and his expression became graver, deeper with remorse, “if anyone is reckless it's you ... I keep thinking I'm going to lose you."

  * * * *

  Kita opened her eyes, blinking dreamily as voices danced faintly around her. She didn't know how long she had been asleep for but it felt like it must have been days. She rolled her head sideways, closing her eyes briefly in pain. Her shoulder was still aching, but at least she no longer had lethal silver running through her veins.

  She smiled. Sasha was watching her warmly from the edge of the bed. Yuri was in the room with them, leaning against the wall next to the fireplace as he and Sasha spoke. She turned her eyes to him. He was an attractive man, she though to herself, but nothing compared to Sasha.

  "Are you feeling better?” Sasha asked from beside her.

  She sat up, leaning against the headboard of the bed, “Much better,” a crooked grin slipped over her lips and she teased him, “it won't be long and I'll be well enough to go home."

  He shot her a brief glare, breaking out into a relieved grin when he realized that she was just joking, “Yeah, that's the problem with you, pretty baby. When you're asleep you're harmless, but when you're awake you're either running from me or causing trouble."

  She dropped her eyes and licked her lips thoughtfully before contesting, “that's not all I do when I'm awake."

  He let out a breathy chuckle and came over to her, planting a sweet kiss on her lips before whispering against her, “I'm glad you're feeling better. No more running from me, okay?"

  She blushed, looking up into his golden eyes that stole her breath, “No promises..."

  He kissed her again, “no more running, running will get you punished.” He drew away and left to sit on the edge of the bed again.

  She smiled bashfully, throwing her eyes back to Yuri as silence ensued. She cocked her chin pensively and eyed him with sincerity.

  "Yuri, why would you want everyone to think that Sasha killed you,” she shook her head and turned her attention back at Sasha, “And why would you go along with it?"

  Yuri's eyes rounded for a surprised moment, and he looked at his brother, “Do you want to answer this one, or do you want me to?"

  Sasha shrugged, “it was your idea, you can tell her all about your genius plan."

  Yuri sighed, “it's complicated. You've noticed that not everyone here is our breed, right?"

  She nodded. Most of the people here had auburn hair and brown eyes.

  "Well,” Yuri continued, “that's because this isn't our pack, not our original one, anyway. Our family was lost years ago during the wars, and Orion, who was this packs Alpha, was kind enough to take us in and raise us as his own. He was really close to our father...” He broke off, his voice cracking ever so slightly, “Anyway he took care of us through the years. He was getting older though, and he was sick. He knew that it wouldn't be long before he'd be unable to keep his position, some cheeky young subordinate was going to kill him for the right to be called leader."

  Kita frowned, “what do you mean kill him? Hadn't Orion ever heard of just conceding and leaving with his life?” She looked in panic over at Sasha, “did you—"

  Sasha laughed to her side, “Sweetheart, we're fighters, nobody concedes here. If you want to lead you had better be ready to kill for it, and later die for it."

&n
bsp; Yuri groaned, “don't say it like that, Sasha. She won't stay here if you scare her.” He shook his head in silent disapproval and looked back at Kita, “Orion wasn't killed, and he didn't die for his position. It was the sickness that killed him. No, he was going to bestow the position on his son, Roman, but Roman and our brother Ivan left to form a pack all their own. With Roman gone, he chose to pass the honor on to me."

  He sighed, “The problem was, I really didn't want to be the leader. It's a huge responsibility, you have to protect everyone here, coordinate hunts, patrol the territory, be ready to fight for everyone here, even die if necessary. It was too big of a burden for me. I was young, I didn't want to die for these people, and I wouldn't fight for them, either. I had other plans. There was a huge world out there, a world that I wanted to see. As an Alpha I couldn't just leave, I'd be stuck here for the rest of my life."

  "Why didn't you tell him that, you couldn't politely decline?” Kita asked. Both Sasha and Yuri looked at her as if she had just stepped on something sacred, and she glanced between them, “what?"

  Sasha scowled, “When an Alpha offers you his position you don't decline. You accept it as an honor. Orion was a very proud man. If Yuri had refused him it would have been insulting, and it would have hurt more than being killed for his position would have."

  Kita nodded in understanding.

  "Sasha, on the other hand,” Yuri said as he eyed his brother, “is a born and bred leader. He takes what he wants, he defends what's his, and he refuses to lose. I knew that he would be a great Alpha, ten times the leader that I would have been, and I'm not just saying that because he's my brother."

  Sasha scoffed, and Kita nudged him playfully with her foot, “why couldn't you just pass on the title to Sasha, just like Orion did for you?"

  Yuri shook his head, “That still would have been offensive, and it would have told the entire pack that I thought Orion made a mistake by giving me the position. You just don't do that.” He nodded thoughtfully, “The only way around it was for Sasha to kill me."

  "It sounds easy, but it was actually quite painful.” Sasha reflected, “we really did have to fight. We had to time it perfectly, when there were other pack mates around for witnesses.” He laughed, “We were in the meadow, with Kiser, Micah, Aleksey ... a few other guys, all waiting to go out on a hunt when I challenged him."

  "We were supposed to be pretending, by the way, but you got rough.” Yuri grumbled, “You really hurt me, you know."

  "Hey, you started it, and I fought just like we always did in training. It's not my fault that you have thin skin.” Sasha grinned roguishly, “besides, the river washed away your blood, and I bet it numbed the hell out of you, too."

  "Yeah, it was damn cold that day.” Yuri smirked, looking back at Kita, “We were both fighting in our pelts, and he threw me into the river, you know, so I'd drown and the river would carry off my body. No evidence that way."

  Sasha frowned, “I really did worry about you. I never knew if you were really hurt, or if you had gotten out okay. For all I knew you were dead. You disappeared and I haven't seen you until now."

  Yuri shrugged, “It's not like I could come back. I take it Orion wasn't too concerned that you didn't have my body to honor."

  Sasha shook his head proudly, “The other guys told him what happened, we honored you with a hunt, and I took your throne, brother."

  Kita grimaced. She was appalled, “What? Wasn't Orion furious that you killed your own brother?"

  Sasha smiled broodingly, “No, in his mind Yuri died an honorable death. He died fighting to keep what was his, and Orion taught us that there's no better way to die. It was how our parents died, how our family died, and how we should all die.” He tilted his jaw and looked into her puzzled blue eyes, “And I won the packs esteem. I fought for something that I thought I deserved, and that was just as admirable as dying for it.” He raised his eyebrows in afterthought, “Of course, Ivan was infuriated."

  She shook her head. These men really were unchanged from the days of old.

  "Is Ivan still angry, or does he know the truth now?” she finally asked.

  "Two years ago I helped him and Roman when they were having trouble with another pack. I told him the truth, and he's not angry with me for killing Yuri anymore.” He chuckled, “no, now he's angry that I didn't tell him sooner."

  "Tell me something, Kita,” Yuri said as he studied her inquisitively, “why does this all surprise you? Hasn't your father ever been challenged for his position?"

  She frowned and shook her head, “he's been the Alpha ever since I can remember ... I recall when I was little that occasionally he would be confronted by other males, but they would disappear shortly after. Later, when I was older, he was never challenged. I just don't think anyone dared after awhile, he's never lost a fight."

  Sasha stood to his feet, “neither have I.” He mumbled under his breath, “But one of us is going to lose for the first time when he comes for you."

  CHAPTER 13

  Kita pulled her shirt over her head, setting it down on the tile floor of the bathroom as she readied herself to climb into the shower. She heard Sasha open the bedroom door, pausing to talk to his brother.

  "Something has really been bothering me, Yuri. How did you know to come home when you did? I mean, your timing was flawless."

  "I have a friend who claims to be very intuitive.” He let out a deep breath, “she insisted that I had to go home, that my brother needed me. I never told her that I had a brother, or a home for that matter, so I listened."

  "A friend that happens to be a she ... huh,” Sasha mused, “would that make her a girlfriend?"

  Yuri inhaled, “I wish. She's beautiful. She saved my life, but she's having trouble accepting what I am. I think she's afraid of me.” He looked back at the bathroom, abruptly jumping up from his seat as if he had become uncomfortable all of the sudden, “I'm going to take a run, explore our old stomping grounds while I have the time. I'll have to leave in a day or so, I don't dare stay longer. I always worry about her when I'm gone."

  Sasha shifted the towels that he had on his arm, he wanted to ask his brother more about this woman, but Yuri was already halfway out the door. “Be careful, and don't let anybody see you.” He warned before his brother could disappear.

  Yuri waved, “I'll be back in a bit."

  Sasha grabbed the towels and stepped into the bathroom. Kita was naked, just climbing into the shower as he set the towels on the sink. He stared at her, unable to take his eyes from her as she closed the glass shower door and stepped under the running water. Everything about her captivated him. He was mesmerized as soap suds trailed down her smooth shapely legs, glazing her with lush oil. He could smell the sweet fragrance, lilac and chamomile intermingling as it clung to her skin.

  She rinsed lather from her pale blonde hair and turned to look at him, smiling demurely and blushing when she saw him staring at her. Her pink cheeks were dotted with water that fell from her long dark eyelashes, and her thick pink lips were glossy and wet. She looked up at him with those piercing blue eyes of hers, and it hit him like a punch in the gut. He was breathless, lost in her eyes.

  Kita looked away, feeling heat crawl up her spine to see him watching her so raptly. Even with a door between them he was able to make every part of her burn with desire when all he was doing was looking at her. It was as if her body was becoming trained to his appeal, and she felt excitement tingling between her legs.

  The clear shower door slid open and she gasped in surprise. Sasha had rid himself of his clothes and he climbed in beside her, immediately scooping her up in his arms. She melted into him, welcoming his embrace as his lips fell down on hers, claiming her kiss for his own. His tongue sank into her as his lips took command of her mouth, devouring her feverishly.

  She moaned against him, circling her arms around his neck as he clutched her to him. His open palms trailed down the smooth curve of her back, stopping on her buttocks and cupping them as he presse
d her against him, crushing her body into his. She could feel his rigid erection against her stomach, and she cried out against his lips. She draped a leg over his hip, encouraging him further.

  He left her lips and kissed her collarbone, rasping against her throat, “oh, Kita, what are you doing to me woman?"

  She rolled her head back, so deep in her need for him that she hardly even heard his words. She felt a burning in her shoulder where she had been shot, but it was drowned out by his passionate kisses that lingered on her skin. He nipped at her throat, grazing her skin with his teeth as she dug her nails into his shoulders.

  "Sasha,” the words were a whisper on Kita's panting lips, and they were quickly replaced by moans and cries of pleasure.

  "Kita, my pretty baby."

  He lifted her against the wall and she wrapped her legs around his hips, clinging to him tightly as he continued to kiss her excitedly. Unbearable heat rose to flush her cheeks, and his every touch became a burning fire on her skin. If it hadn't been for the falling water in the shower she was certain that they would both be in flames right now.

  Steam rose around them, and she gasped as her lungs tightened with desire. She pushed against him, slowly sinking onto him until she was impaled on his eager manhood as he held her.

  Sasha gritted his teeth, hardly able to stand the incredible sensations that gripped his loins. Grabbing his shoulders for leverage, Kita began to rise and fall against him, gradually increasing her pace to match her outcries. She was so warm and moist, wrapping around him as if she were made just for him, and he couldn't keep from rocking against her. He felt feverish, frantic in his need for her. Her panting breath brushed his ear as she ground her hips against him, and it only made his urgency that much more desperate. He filled her completely as he thrust into her, only to withdraw and quickly dive back into her inviting warmth.

  Kita closed her eyes, feeling his lips graze hers in a tantalizing brush that sent a quiver of temptation to her lungs. She gasped. She could feel everything at this moment, as if her whole body was alive with sensation. She felt his hands as they cupped her bottom, his hot breath falling between thick lips as he rasped against her skin, droplets of water as it ran from her legs to drip from her toes, and even the ripple of scars beneath her nipples as her breast were compressed to his chest.