My mate.
Everything had changed. I barely even left the pack house anymore because what was the point of going home? Jacob had tentatively asked if I wanted to go back, because of course he would join me, but stuffing him into a tiny apartment seemed cruel. Out here he had the huge house, free range of the woods and a pack that loved him. I would be a bastard if I tried to take that away.
Together we took off and headed for the tree line. Inside we would get to hunt again and lounge by the lake when we came out on the other side. Another scent reached my nose. When I glanced over Tom saluted me, naked as hell. I snorted to myself. He shifted and Elenore was right on his heels.
I couldn't believe the rapid change in Tom. Sure, I was changed too, but it was still astonishing that shifters even existed. The fact that they could heal so quickly was the best part to me. It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that I was going to live longer now, all because Jacob wanted me to be his mate. Pride swelled in my chest.
Jacob ran toward me and jumped onto me out of the blue. The surprise of it made me turn and nip at him. Jacob quickly danced away, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Oh, it's going to be that kind of run. He would be lucky if we even made it back to the house. We'd shifted together several times and at the end of it all, I usually screwed Jacob into the dirt if we couldn't make it back to the house fast enough.
I think he knew exactly what he was doing, riling me up. My wolf grinned and I smiled at him. We were still getting to know each other, trusting and merging and just being, but I was fond of my beast already. He adored Jacob just as much as I did and would do anything to protect him.
We reached the lake and Jacob shifted back before he ran for the water. I was right on his tail. The minute my body slammed into the chilly water I was shocked fully awake, but I didn't stop swimming after Jacob. He fled, avoiding me until he we reached the bank and I caught up with him. He laughed and fell into the grass as I pinned him down and grinned.
"You really like starting trouble, don't you?"
Jacob's cheeks flared and he squirmed underneath me. "Is it so bad that I want you all the time? Most men would take that as a compliment," he teased.
I growled. "You know I'm already dealing with this crazy wolf libido. I think you're taking advantage of me, just going after my dick." I grinned. "Or is it my knot you're after?" I leaned down to him and he sucked in a breath. "Is that what you want? My knot stretching your wet little hole while you moan for me?"
"L-Leo!" He gasped when my lips connected with his neck and I lapped at his mark. "Oh," he melted. "Yes, please. Stretch me. Knot me."
I chuckled against his skin. There was my Jacob. He was as adorable as he was hot, and I couldn't get enough of him. I ran my hand over his bare body and my nails dragged down his skin. Jacob inhaled sharply. I smiled at him and he matched my expression as he leaned up and pressed his lips against mine.
"I love you," he whispered. "I love you so much."
"And I love you." I pushed my fingers through his hair. "You are everything to me."
Jacob shivered happily and my smile widened. How had I gotten so lucky? I'd always craved having a partner of my own and Jacob was all of that and more. I kept hoping and hoping that I would fill him with my babies now that he'd told me he could get pregnant. I was obsessed with it. He'd told me that was normal, the need to rut and knot. Part of me didn't even care. It felt good, he loved it and that made me happy.
"Aren't you two cozy!"
I jumped up before I could even think. My wolf was on high alert, the smell of someone else near us making him crazy. End the threat. I didn't understand why I needed to do that, or even who was speaking, but apparently my wolf had a mind of its own and was ready to fight.
The man I stared at stood casually with his hands shoved inside of his pockets. His dark hair fell down his shoulders and he wore a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Everything about him radiated an energy that I wanted to rip apart with my fangs.
"Allister." Jacob jumped up and frowned. "I told Mike when he came through to leave and I meant it. Nothing has changed."
Allister narrowed his eyes. "An omega bitch speaking to me like that?" He scoffed. "You've really forgotten just who and what you are, haven't you Jacob?" He took a step forward and I shoved Jacob behind me and growled. "And who is this? Another big, bad alpha pack mate to protect you?"
"He's my mate!" Jacob yelled. "You can't have me, and you know it. So, leave!"
I glared at the man. "You heard him."
Allister chuckled. "Your bitch does the talking for you? Well, you certainly aren't any kind of alpha."
My fists clenched. "Jacob is capable of speaking for himself and acting on his own. Unlike you, I don't need to try to enslave him. He listens to me and follows me on his own." I smiled. "So, who does that really make weak? The one that forces loyalty or earns it?"
The smile was wiped from Allister's face. "Get him."
I heard the crunch of the branch and smelled the wolf a little too late. A man grabbed Jacob and yanked him away from me. He started to run with my mate over his shoulder flailing and fighting trying to get himself free. I took a step after him, but was surrounded by more of them. One by one they shifted. I was outnumbered, but I was going to go down fighting.
My wolf went from on guard to enraged. Snatching my mate, touching what was mine? That was a disgusting atrocity and I was going to make Allister pay for it.
I ran right for him, but his pack lunged at me first. Nothing could prepare me for the pain that came with a wolf bite when one was shifted. It sank into my flesh and claws tore at my side. I fought back and managed to shake two of them off, but a third went for my throat. My wolf tried to tell me to turn and run, but it was too late. I wasn't going to be able to avoid him.
A blur of fur and teeth shot forward and launched itself at the wolf. When I looked around there were more wolves facing off against Allister's. I could smell each and every one of them. Dom, Graysen, Soren, Tom. They each preoccupied one of the wolves and I raced after Jacob.
Thankfully, they hadn't gotten far. Jacob growled in the clearing as he faced off against the man that had grabbed him. I wanted to smile. My omega was strong as hell. I raced forward and attacked the wolf. He yelped and went down panting and out of it. That was enough for me.
I raced for Jacob until something slammed into my side. Without even looking at him, I knew it was Allister. I got up energized all over again. He was the one I wanted.
Pure rage fueled me as I sank my teeth into the back of his neck. I clamped down, my claws slashing and tearing at his flesh. Allister growled and tried to fight back, but I wouldn't let him go. Not after he'd tried to take what was mine. My wolf urged me on, wanting to tear him apart, but I didn't have that in me. I wasn't going to kill anyone. Not even a piece of trash like Allister.
I finally released him, and he stayed down on the ground. Jacob shifted and ran over to me. The minute his hand touched my fur, I shifted and grabbed him tightly. I started looking him over, a frown on my lips.
"Are you okay?" I asked looking for any sign of marks on him.
Jacob nodded. "I'm okay. A few scratches and marks, but that's it. I'll be fine." He went to the tips of his toes and kissed me. "Are you okay?"
"Nothing that won't heal, I'm guessing." I glanced over at Allister who glared at the two of us. I kissed Jacob's forehead before I released him and walked over to the alpha left bleeding on the ground. "This is your one and only warning. I don't want to kill you or anyone else, but when you come and attack my family?" I shook my head. "You're crossing a line and I will defend my pack." Allister tried to move, but I stood in his way. "Do you understand?"
Allister shifted back and glared between the two of us. "Yeah," he spat. "I got it." He looked at Jacob and his eyes narrowed into slits. "He's not worth it. Take your disrespectful little—"
"Call my mate a bitch again and I won't be able to stop myself," I warned, my fists clenching tightly
.
"He's not worth it. I get it, he's mated. We're done." Allister got to his feet and whistled long and low. His pack came sloping out from the trees, not looking so great themselves. "Let's go."
Allister shifted and they all took off back into the trees. The moment they were gone, I sighed. Suddenly my body felt heavy. Jacob wrapped his arms around my body and held me tightly as the rest of our pack arrived.
"You two okay?" Dom asked.
I nodded. "Yes, thank you. All of you." I held Jacob closer to me, but it still wasn't close enough after everything we'd just gone through. "If you all don't mind, we can talk later. I would like to get my mate home and keep him to myself for a while."
My wolf was on edge. Even with my pack, I wasn't ready for anyone to be near Jacob. I needed it to be the two of us only, just for a little while at least.
Dom nodded. "We understand. Take your mate and head home. We'll follow at a distance."
Relief flooded through both me and my wolf. "Thank you, Dom." I could understand why he was the pack leader. He knew how to handle difficult situations and I didn't need to explain a thing to him. I turned to Jacob. "Let's go home, baby."
Jacob nodded. He kissed me once more and then shifted. I was right on his heels as we tore through the trees. We needed the safety and security of home and each other.
13
Jacob
"Leo," I breathed as he ravished my neck with kisses and bites. "I'm okay. Really, look at me. I'm fine."
Leo only growled low in his throat. Water splashed down on our bodies, washing away the dirt and blood from the fight outside. As soon as we'd made it upstairs, Leo had inspected every inch of my body to make sure that I was okay, despite my protests. I felt the worry emanating from him in waves. If letting him hold and touch and kiss and bite me made him feel better, then I was all for it.
I moaned when fangs sank into my shoulder. My knees buckled, but Leo kept me standing. His tongue ran over my claiming mark and I groaned.
"Baby," I whispered. "Really, I'm okay. Thank you for watching over me."
Leo pulled back and frowned. "I should have killed the bastard. If he comes around again..."
I reached up and caressed his cheek. "If he comes around again, then by pack law you'll have every right to kill him. He trespassed on our land, tried to steal your omega." When he glanced away, I brought his face back toward me. "I know you're not a killer and that's okay too. You protected me. Us. I love you so much, Leo."
He leaned his forehead against mine. "I love you too, baby. So, fucking much."
I trailed my fingers down his stomach, loving the feeling of his abs as I went. The heat that I'd felt all week had grown and I was at a fever pitch now that all the adrenaline had worn off. Allister was gone and I just wanted my mate's cock inside of me.
"I’m craving your knot," I whispered. "Your seed. I want you to take me and calm this heat. Can you smell it?"
Leo growled and nodded. "I could smell it all day. It's easier to get you pregnant during your heat, isn't it?"
I nodded hard. "Yes, it is. Is that what you want? To get me pregnant?"
A groan left his lips. "Fuck, yes. That's exactly what I want."
Leo shut off the water, then grabbed me into his arms so quickly, I squeaked, and wrapped my arms around his neck. He carried us across the hall to my bedroom… no, our bedroom, and laid me on the bed.
"On your hands and knees," he ordered.
I moved quickly and shoved my hips into the air. Leo's hands gripped my hips, and I shuddered. Even his hands felt cool compared to the raging inferno of my skin. The heat was growing, becoming more aggressive and I needed Leo to soothe me.
"Please," I moaned. "Please, I'm so hot."
I felt my mate's cock pressed against my wet hole and I gripped the bed hard. He slowly worked himself inside of me, but I knew he wouldn't be able to go at that relaxed pace forever. My heat was so strong, and my body begged to be filled and fucked by him.
"Ah!" I jolted forward and shuddered. "Like that," I moaned from him shoving his length inside deeply and holding himself there. "More. I want more!"
"Mmm," Leo's moan was deep with a hint of feral. "Whatever you want, baby."
I yelped as his hand went to my back and shoved the top half of me against the bed. He yanked my hips up higher and pounded into me relentlessly. I quickly grabbed a pillow and used it under my chest as my body rocked back and forth.
My head spun as I panted and pushed back against Leo. I would never get tired of his cock being buried inside me. My mate. My alpha. Just thinking about it made my heart soar. I'd finally found him, and I was never going to let him go.
"Leo," I moaned as he picked up speed, his body slamming into mine. "Knot me. Fill me up." I groaned. "I want to feel it!"
Leo didn't say a word. He reached down and yanked me up until my body was pressed flush against his. I cried out as his fangs pierced my skin. Pleasure flooded my body from head to toe.
"Mine," he growled against my ear. "Tell me you're mine."
"I-I'm all yours," I whimpered. "You're my love. My alpha. We belong to each other."
Leo moaned. "To each other. That's exactly what I want to hear."
He released me and I went back down to the bed. Leo's breathing came in panting moans. He pressed his palms into my lower back pinning me to the bed. Each stroke pushed me to the edge before he shoved in deeply and his knot stopped him from pulling free again.
"It's so big," I groaned. "I love it."
Leo's long strokes changed to quick and short, his knot tugging against my hole. Every thrust slammed against my prostate. The orgasm grew in my belly, tensed my balls and I came hard as Leo pumped me full of his cum. He continued to thrust and tug and moan, even when he was done forcing little shivers of pleasure through me all over again.
"Fuck," he groaned, and lay on top of me before he rolled us over and hugged me tightly. "I'm so fucking lucky," he muttered as he kissed my neck and told me how much he loved me.
My head was still spinning, the heat still raging. I had a feeling we weren't going to be leaving the bedroom anytime soon.
Leo ran a hand over my belly. He did this every day since I'd found out that I was pregnant, and it never ceased to make me smile. I was so close to my due date, another week or so and my pup would be welcomed into the world.
"You have got to stop obsessing," I teased.
"Leave me alone." Leo grinned up at me. "For a human doctor this is nothing short of a miracle. That's my baby in there and you're carrying it." He kissed my round tummy and chuckled. "I still can't believe it.
"Believe it, buddy, because you're about to be a daddy." I patted his head. "And I love you, but you have to get to work and I need to eat."
"Again," he muttered.
"Hey!" I huffed. "Don't start your shit with me."
Leo straightened up and laughed. "Sorry, my love." He kissed me deeply and kept a palm flat on my stomach. "I'm just so fucking happy."
"Me too."
I buried my head against his chest and held onto him. We'd gone through so much to be together already, and now we were going to have a child. I almost wanted to cry just thinking about it.
"Shhh," Leo rubbed my back. "It's just the hormones."
I laughed and pulled back. "Fine, but no one asked you." He kissed me and I poked his nose. "Come back quickly, okay? I miss you when you're away."
"Always," he answered. "The second work is done, I'll be here. And guess what?"
"What?" I asked softly.
"I'm bringing you back so much food."
My face lit up. “Promise?”
“Tons of chicken and veggies and cake.” He laughed and tilted my chin up. “And once we have our baby, I'll be taking you out on some real dates. Got it?"
I sighed. "Yes, my alpha." My lips curved up into a grin. "Whoever said no one is perfect was sadly mistaken."
"Completely fucking wrong," he whispered as his lips brushed over mine.
14
Leo
"Just one more, one more!"
I could hear the commotion from downstairs and my wolf wanted to run up and be with my mate. Dom glanced at me and shook his head. The man already knew what I was thinking.
"This is nerve wracking," I muttered. "He's so close."
"And you don't need to interfere with them. Elenore and Elias are perfectly capable of delivering your pup. Jacob's going to be fine."
I paced back and forth in the kitchen. "What if he's not? If anything happens to him..."
Dom raised a brow. "Yes, this is why you're not allowed up there right now. A newly changed, alpha wolf? You're more of a danger than anyone else in that room right now."
My shoulders slumped. Of course, he was right. Gray slid me over a glass of whiskey, and I sucked it down in one go.
"Thank you," I breathed as the fire filled my chest and spread out pleasantly.
"He's close," Soren patted my arm and gave it a squeeze. "Try and relax as much as you can."
I nodded, but it was almost impossible not to be on edge. The voices upstairs were mixed with Jacob’s moans. I wanted to hold him, kiss his head and tell him that he'd be okay.
Next time. When we have our next pup, I'll be more in control. I'll be able to be right there with him.
A cry filled the air and my head shot up. Dom beamed at me. Before any of them could say a word, I was up the stairs and had burst into the bedroom. Jacob looked up, his eyes half closed as he smiled at me.
"Look who it is." He pressed the baby to his chest and it latched on right away. "We have a beautiful, healthy little boy."
"A boy," I breathed and immediately crossed the space to his side. I slowly lowered myself beside him. "He's amazing." I leaned down and kissed Jacob's head. "You're amazing."
Hunted: An MM Shifter Romance (The Lost Wolves Book 2) Page 7