Primal Night

by Ally Parker

  5

  Ryker’s eyes fluttered closed, and excitement lit in his veins. The reaction was uncontrollable; he was one step closer to bringing down his father’s operation. Only then would the shame shrouding him like a cloak ease. Biting back his emotions, he opened his eyes and looked down at the map to where Kali’s white pressed fingertip ground into Keystone.

  He didn’t miss how her finger trembled ever so slightly—she quickly withdrew her hand and fisted it at her side. He hadn’t missed the way her body had stiffened moments earlier, either. Something clearly was amiss. A need to protect what was his surged forward, the force striking him like a bolt of lightning. His muscles tightened with the need to close the distance between them, and he lifted a brow. “Is everything okay?”

  She shook her head. “I just can’t believe something like this exists. It sickens me to think what these females are going through.”

  Shame reached up and wrapped around his chest. He’d known about the evils of his father’s operation for months. All attempts to plan some kind of rebellion had fallen short. So he’d fought the urge to confront his father and gather as much intel as he could. It wasn’t like any other packs would join his quest based on his word alone. Not with the Council involvement. He’d needed proof.

  The urge to go to Kali, to comfort, to shelter her, ate at him. His wolf clawed at his insides, tearing him up to know his mate hurt and he did nothing about it. You are not claiming your mate, he reminded himself. At least he could spare her the taint of his bloodline. Too bad his instincts didn’t give a damn about condemning their mate.

  Bracing his arms, he curled his fingers around the desk. All the better to keep him rooted to the spot and stop him from doing something stupid like comforting and soothing Kali. His chest tightened and ached with need to wrap his female in his embrace where she would be safe. Denying the urge physically pained him. Thankfully, he was used to pain; he let the sensation tighten his muscles further and straighten his posture.

  Kali sucked in a breath, and a moment later all evidence of the pain she’d been radiating vanished.

  “Why not gather other packs and use brute force to stop this nightmare?”

  An idea he’d toyed with himself. It was too soon to do something like this. But, plans were in place. He shook his head. “I’d need proof since I believe the Council is involved. Other packs won’t start a war without it. And it would be a war. The Council will annihilate any threat that opposes them. If I go in with all guns blazing and this depravity runs deep in the Council, we’ll all be branded rogues and hunted. Nothing will change, and the Pit will probably re-locate with increased security. This has to be handled discreetly... For now.”

  Not to mention he was now wanted by the Council since he’d used everything at his disposal to rescue Kali—mainly, fraudulently using Council resources. Just the thought of finding Kali under that vampire’s control caused his canines to lengthen. It didn’t help that he’d attempted to save the females in his brother’s pack by taking them. If Saint had just handed over his pack’s females, he would have been able to hide them away from Josef’s reach. Of course he couldn’t explain that to Saint, and it was of no real surprise that his brother had refused.

  That’s why he had to play his hand carefully. It wouldn’t surprise him if somehow his father used him as a nice little scapegoat if his plan to deceive Josef was compromised. Ryker resumed typing into the database he had created. When the time came to confront the Council, he needed to be prepared with enough evidence that no one could cover up his father’s monstrosities, regardless of the bad publicity the Council would receive. He’d get word out about the Pit regardless, he just had to wait until everything was in motion.

  He read over the information he’d gathered. Other than his thoughts on the location of the Pit, the only lead he’d garnished was the name Kali had supplied. If he couldn’t convince his father he could be trusted he wouldn’t stand a chance of saving anyone.

  “What is your angle?”

  Pausing, he looked over to Kali and a wave of need filled him, the yearning to connect with a person specifically for him caused an ache to clench in his chest. A part of him knew he should send her away, give her enough money to get her away from his father’s knowledge and reach. It was too late. He was more monster than man and a selfish bastard too. There would be no mating, but he couldn’t let her go, either.

  Kali arched a dark brow, her eyes glistening with the flicker of the lantern’s light. His stilled. Breathtaking! Without even trying, she radiated temptation; heat surged to his cock. He adjusted in his seat and ignored his erection. Why did she have to be so damn mouthwatering? Her mere presence beckoned him, and she stood there unaware of the danger. The scent of night lilies emanated from her, curling around him as if to lure him into her trap.

  She cleared her throat. “You do have a plan, right?”

  Right. Unlike his raging libido, she wasn’t experiencing the inexplicable mating call. It annoyed the hell out of him. He shook his head, focusing on the question she’d asked. “Of course.”

  He snapped the words. More out of frustration that she wasn’t affected by his presence than by her question. He softened his voice. “I have been working at this for months. I won’t risk any of the females’ lives needlessly.”

  Her hairline tugged up her brows. “Months?”

  Being a one-man band, there was only so much he was capable of. As unfortunate as it was, his father wasn’t stupid. If he wanted in on his father’s operation, he’d have to prove his loyalty.

  “Criminals tend to be suspicious. It takes time to gain trust. I’m nearly there—I just have to find something that’ll push my dedication over the edge and prove I’m on board. Once I have proof, I’ll send word to my men and then we can use brute force to burn the Pit to the ground.” He wouldn’t risk the lives of his men without the hard proof needed to protect them and their actions.

  Kali stood staring, her lips forming a little pout. What he wouldn’t do to feel them trail down his neck, where she’d sink her teeth into his shoulder, claiming him—saving him from his cold, bleak future. The ache of longing seeded in his stomach. To have the one person who could rescue him in his grasp yet be unable to claim her was the very definition of torture.

  “Use me as proof of your devotion. I can be your ticket into the Pit.”

  He’d conjured up such a strong fantasy, he could feel the trickle of her hot breath fanning across his skin. Then her words froze the image and it smashed into tiny particles. “What? Hell no!” His body jerked back, alarmed with what she was suggesting. “You don’t even know what you’re asking.”

  Shooting out of his chair, he rounded the desk, about to shake some sense into his female. Lord! The pack of fiends his father employed would devour Kali alive. There would be no way he’d be able to control himself; he’d have no other option but to kill any who even gave off the scent of arousal in Kali’s direction. Then his cover would be blown and they’d both die.

  She stepped back, holding up a hand to fend him off. As if the gesture would stop him.

  “Hear me out… please.”

  His steps wavered. Damn it. When she looked up at him with her big, onyx eyes, desperation lacing her words, he could do nothing but yield.

  “Sex trafficking, breeding farm, whatever way you look at it—it involves the enslavement of females.”

  “I am a female.” She ran her hands along the edges of her curves. “What better way to buy yourself some proof than to stoop to their level? It’ll give the impression you are of the same ilk, giving them a gift for the project.”

  His wolf surged forward, sharpening his vision, and he knew Kali would see the beast in his eyes. A low growl emanated out of his chest. As dark as he was, he wasn’t even capable of using his mate to that degree. “Absolutely not.”

  Kali bit back a growl and raised her chin. “It will work. Think about it.”

  In that moment, his brain struggled to
do anything but claim what was his so no other would dare touch Kali. He took a step closer, reaching out to hold her waist. Hell, his palm nearly stole up half of her side. She was so small compared to him, yet he’d already been taught not to underestimate her.

  His fingers flexed into her warm soft flesh, and he yanked her close so not even an inch separated them. She sucked in a breath, her hands flying to his chest. Her wolf shone in her eyes, and he wasn’t certain it was to fight him off.

  Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, “Are you prepared to have males touch you like this, Kitty?” He let his hands trail up her waist and his palms flirted with the edges of her breast.

  Blood rushing south, he ground his erection into her. Soft as a feather her arousal skated across his senses and he groaned. “To be at the whim of their desire? To be tasted and taken any way that struck them? Because if we followed through with your plan, how could I stop the males from taking you any way they wanted?”

  Heat slammed into Kali, her center clenched with the desire to be filled, her nipples tightened, and she flexed her fingertips into the expanse of Ryker’s muscles. Ryker’s scent of pine and leather enveloped her body. The way his voice turned to gravel when he’d called her Kitty left her knees feeling weak.

  She looked to the slash of his lips and wanted them on her, kissing, sucking, nibbling—it didn’t matter as long as they eased the ache between her thighs. She swallowed, the action stilted. Ryker leaned an inch closer, his lips a breath away.

  What the hell?

  Why was she pining over Ryker? Yes, he was a healthy virile male—a specimen even she could appreciate. Of course she was no blushing virgin, but wanting your captor to feast on your body wasn’t a response she normally felt. Considering this wasn’t’ the first time she’d been captured, she ought to know. And her reaction certainly wasn’t to the scenario he’d painted. Not trusting what was happening to her body, she pushed him away.

  His arms tensed and for a moment she feared he wouldn’t let her go, or that he would let her go. Jeez, she was a mess. One that apparently wanted to be cleaned up by Ryker. Nothing seemed like a better idea than to be devoured by his carnal hunger. She shouldn’t be wanting things like that from a male like Ryker. He was holding her captive! She needed room, needed air so she could think clearly. Barely able to get the words past her lips, she whispered. “Don’t.”

  He stilled and let her go, his chest rising and fulling in choppy waves.

  Sucking in breath, she took a step back. Her clit throbbed and she clenched her legs tighter to ease the ache with each pulse. Another step back and the air cleared somewhat, allowing some logical thoughts to fire through her brain. “It won’t come to that. Once you have your evidence and know the location you can call in for your help. We won’t be there long enough for anyone to lay a hand on me.”

  She hoped.

  Putting her life on the line wasn’t something she wanted to risk lightly. There wasn’t a part of her that was built to lay down and die. She was ruthless, determined, and filled with an ample amount of self-preservation. Her life didn’t have room for anything else. If you were weak, you died. So she’d done plenty of horrible things to keep herself alive. But Gracie hadn’t. They’d barely known each other, yet she’d risked her own life all those years ago for her—someone undeserving, unclean.

  True, Gracie wouldn’t have had any idea of the risk she’d taken—not the full risk—and that knowledge made the situation worse. Despite the fear and desperation, she’d ignored the danger to Gracie and taken her offer of help, regardless of the consequences. All things considered, she owed Gracie a life debt.

  During her life time it had become imperative to be a good at reading people or, more importantly, reading shifters, often her life depended on it. If she knew the person well enough, she could find the most subtle tells, tuck tail, and get the hell out of the way before blood was drawn.

  In this case, she didn’t know Ryker, but the air prickled against her skin and her senses caught the web of tension spinning around the room. Then it hit her—the scent of blood. Her gaze zeroed in on Ryker’s clenched fists, his claws unleashed and blood dropping to the dirt floor. She sniffed the air again, the tang of rogue absent. His temperament was all over the place, and it made her wolf itch under her skin.

  “Ryker, are you okay?” She blew out a breath and bit her lip, her muscles tightened with need to comfort Ryker?

  Experience had taught her not to poke the beast with soft words so why in the hell had she said anything? His gaze leveled on her, giving her full view of the shadows held beneath the thinly covered veil of a man. Her muscles tensed. Slowly, she wet her lips and adjusted her weight, ready to flee… to fight.

  He spun to face the desk. “Stay back. Just… stay… back. You’d do well not to tempt my beast.”

  Oddly, a part of her fought off the urge to ignore the order and glide her hand over the dips and planes of his muscled back. Which was stupid. From five paces away the she could clearly see he was fighting his wolf. His shoulders bunched, the muscles corded around the expanse of his back. Each ragged breath seemed to enlarge his torso, making him even more imposing if it were possible. Fur webbed across his skin and black claws scrapped across the tabletop, carving grooves into the wood—clearly, he was losing the battle with his feral side.

  She took a step back to give herself more room if he lost it altogether and attacked. Battle wasn’t something she was a stranger to. She’d had her share of fights and lived to tell the tale. Considering the close confines of Ryker’s den and the clear instability of his control, she didn’t know how long she could hold off an attack before he overpowered her with his sheer size.

  Emotions were a dangerous thing if what she was feeling was any indication. All logic screamed stay away! Danger! Still, she couldn’t deny the way her body sought out to soothe his beast. It didn’t make sense, and that made Ryker more dangerous than any pack member of the Outlaws.

  “You’re safe. I am in control.” Ryker’s fur subsided, sinking back into his pores. His body shuddered a final breath and, one by one, his muscles visibly uncoiled. She got the distinct impression that he had left off the ‘for now’ part from his reassurance.

  She growled low, annoyed that he had picked up on her unease and was highlighting her weakness with words of comfort. You’re just tired, she told herself. Bone-deep tired, desperate and all alone. Being on the run for years would do that to anyone, right? A few times she’d even toyed with the idea of not running anymore, simply waiting for the Outlaws to catch up with her. Then reality would slam into her with memories of torture and the pleasure the pack took in teaching lessons to traitors. If the Outlaws got hold of her, she would have no peace or freedom while her heart still pumped.

  The sadistic bastard forced his pack to feast on the flesh of traitors. If you didn’t comply you were also seen as a traitor and shared the fate of being devoured alive. Considering she’d been on the run for over a year, she knew with every cell in her body, if Jefferson caught her, she’d be paying the price for a very long time.

  Breathing heavily, Kali wrapped her arms around herself as if she could somehow shield the memories from her past and stumbled backward. Her legs hit the edge of the bed and she plopped onto the mattress. If feasting is what Jefferson did to a shifter that he deemed a traitor, she could only imagine what would be in store for someone he considered his intended mate.

  6

  Ryker watched Kali’s demeanor change. Her body stiffened, her hand guarding her stomach. She swallowed hard several times, the action drawing his attention to the expanse of her slender neck. Within a nanosecond he’d already picked out the place where his mark belonged. The soft apex that joined with her shoulder. That was if he’d planned on claiming his mate. He swallowed down the salvia that pooled in his mouth and focused on his female. Not his. He’d do well to remember that.

  “Kali, are you okay?”

  The dim light cast shadows across her fe
atures, but with his keen vision he saw her blink and pale. What was wrong with her? As much as it shamed him, he’d been out of control moments earlier. Was she now frozen in fear?

  Stalking toward the bed, he dropped to his haunches and wrapped his hands around her shoulders. The soft, pliable feel of her flesh both soothed his beast and reared an ache deep in his chest, knowing he’d never experience the power of their mating. Up close her scent washed over him, and he smelled undertones of disgust mixed with a healthy dose of fear. Of course she would be disgusted with his behavior. Hell, he was too.

  She glanced down to where his palm cupped her slender shoulder and shook her head. “What?”

  He quickly let her go and took a step back, better to control his urges if he wasn’t tempted by the softness of her skin. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. It’s been a long night. I’m just tired is all.”

  That was true. Only hours ago she’d been fang deep in some blood sucking leeches and held at their mercy, all the while the vampire enjoyed his fill of shifter blood that packed an extra kind of punch for their kind. Darkness hedged around his vision, and he forced his thoughts away from another male sinking fangs into his female. The only bite that would mar her silky flesh was his.

  Why did he get the feeling she was feeding him a half truth? His gaze narrowed, assessing her face, looking for the smallest hint that something was amiss. Buzzing sounded from pocket. He reached in and yanked out his modified cell. The screen lit with a message from his father.

  I’m on my way. We need to talk.

  By the time he’d read the last line, his heart was hammering in his chest. He couldn’t allow his father to come anywhere near Kali. Jaw clenched, he quickly thumbed a response. It was ten at night; he would need to time lay a trail to cover where his den hid and, more importantly, his unclaimed mate.

  Near the river on the border of my territory, midnight.