Primal Instinct

by Ally Parker

  Already, the bruises on her face and wrists has started to heal, and he wondered if she had noticed. His instincts screamed to ease her pain. The only way to do it might speed up the loss of his humanity. He would do it, but they needed some place safe from prying eyes. In the meantime, he would try and distract her. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

  Her head lolled, and her lips pressed together before answering. “Not really.”

  She acted like a wounded animal, and from what he could gather, she’d been treated as badly. “If you want Delmac to be accountable for what’s been done to you, to all those other people, we need as much info as possible.”

  Looking out the window, she closed her eyes. “Who is we? Some wolf justice system?”

  “You could call it that.”

  She exhaled a heavy breath, and told him everything—how she found Milly in a cage, being bitten, and her escape. He sat and listened, trying to remain calm, and was rather proud of his ability to do so. Inside, rage festered like an ugly growth, warping and swirling through his body. He clenched his jaw, and his claws dug into the steering wheel. If he could go back and kill every one of those fuckers who had hurt his mate, he would.

  “I see.” The word sounded like a growl to even his own ears.

  He needed to run as his wolf and exhaust some of his aggression. He tried to focus on anything to take his mind off the killing fury that was consuming him. On their own accord his eyes pinned their sight on his mate. He drew in a breath and focused on her scent.

  A groan tore from Mackenzie’s throat as she buckled over, hugging herself. Fur flared across her arm and receded just as quickly.

  Cursing, he pushed his foot flat on the gas. “Hold on, things are about to get bumpy.”

  Time had run out. His mate was starting the change, and he prayed she survived.

  8

  Kenzie pressed a hand to her stomach and hunched over. She was going to die. Pain had been her companion since Lucas bit her. Over the last hour fire had started to smolder in her gut. At first, the discomfort was bearable, but it had grown to a raging inferno that blazed through her veins. Jaxx had proved to be a good distraction. He had sat as still as a statue, listening to her ordeal. The only thing that moved was a tick in his jaw and his hands tightening on the wheel.

  Agony flowed in her body, building to a crescendo and swamping her senses. Everything seemed heightened. She sucked in air, and as crazy as it was, Jaxx’s crisp scent filled her nose. He smelled like a rainy winter’s morning drinking cocoa by a fire. It was the only thing that brought her a measure of peace.

  “Am I going to die?” Denial was a luxury she didn’t bother with. Her fear skyrocketed as fur sprung from her pores, lingering before it disappeared just like that woman who had been cuffed to the trolley right before she died.

  “It’s the change. Don’t fight it—that will only make it worse, so I’ve been told.” Jaxx pulled out a cell, and after a moment started barking orders down the line.

  Her dry throat felt like a million fire ants bit into her flesh. Pain burned in her leg, and the bone snapped. She cried out. “Oh, God!”

  “Shit,” Jaxx cursed.

  The pressure in her stomach expanded, and she flung herself back into the seat. Her shoulders pumped with each breath, and she braced herself with one hand on a headrest and coiled her grip around the black suede seat cover. A spasm racked her body. She looked up and met Jaxx’s glowing gaze in the mirror.

  “Hold on, we’re nearly there.”

  Her eyes snapped shut, and she clenched her teeth as her muscles contorted. Each breath accentuated the pain stabbing every inch of her body. How the hell was she going to get through this? Tires squealed, and the back end of the car swerved. Her vision wavered, and she lost all sense of time.

  The car screamed to a halt. Too many scents and sounds engulfed her senses. It was as if every possible sensation detonated, and she was experiencing them all at once. Jaxx open his door, and a cacophony of voices filtered in from outside.

  “Holy shit!” a deep voice boomed.

  Wrapping her hands around her head, Kenzie struggled to focus. Pressure built, sending her into a spiraling vortex.

  “What the hell happened?” a female asked.

  She couldn’t see the strangers. In fact, she couldn’t see much of anything. Colors spiraled around her, and she couldn’t focus on a damn thing.

  “I’ll fill you in later, Hayden,” Jaxx answered. “Did Seb make it back? The others?”

  Her door opened, and she would have fallen to the ground if Jaxx hadn’t swooped in and wrapped his arms around her. She inhaled a breath. Then another, and concentrated on anything but the pain. Fresh air filled her lungs and mingled with Jaxx, the smell oddly comforting.

  “Not yet,” Hayden replied.

  She could make out a blurry vision of a man as he stepped closer. “What can I do to help?”

  “Just give us some privacy.” Jaxx’s arms tightened around her as he stood, cradling her to his chest. Jaxx strode forward, and the cool licks of the breeze danced across her skin. Her mouth throbbed, and needle-like pain pierced through her gums. She screamed and arched in Jaxx’s arms. He cooed soft words and brushed her damp hair from her face as he led them into darkness.

  “Jaxx—” Hayden called his name like a warning.

  “I know what I’m doing, now go!”

  Continuing on his path, Jaxx carried her toward a dimly lit house. He lowered his head, and the smell of fresh rain engulfed her. His soft words fanned across her ear. “I can ease your pain if you let me.”

  “Please.” She would agree to any of his demands, if he would just ease her suffering.

  She couldn’t be sure with her blurry vision, but it looked like thick fur dotted along her skin, and unlike before, it didn’t’ appear to be going anywhere. She moaned low in her throat. The air grew dense. A door opened and banged shut, Jaxx sat down, and positioned her across his lap so they were facing the same direction.

  He peeled back the hair away from the nape of her neck. “I should warn you, there will be consequences.”

  His words sounded ominous and, in that moment, she didn’t care. If she survived this, she could handle the repercussions then. A cramp started from the top of her head and rolled down her body to her toes. Her body contorted, and there was no more time for talking. If Jaxx planned on helping her, now would be it. He cursed, his hot breath fanning across her neck. His mouth clamped down on her skin. Sharp teeth popped through her flesh, and after the initial pain a euphoric numbness started to filter through her body. The aches, the burning fire, and sheer agony evaporated, and the spasms in her body seemed to target a different region.

  A new kind of pain developed. Her breasts ached to be touched, licked, and sucked. It was like a switch had been flicked, and a consuming need filled every cell of her body. Never in her life had she experienced such a demand as she did in that moment. Her pussy throbbed, and dampness seeped through her panties. She tried to control herself, she really did. The male sitting behind her was a stranger, and not even human. But, in that moment, her body had other plans. With each pounding of her heart, her clit pulsed, amplifying the uncontrollable urge for sex.

  She rolled her hips along Jaxx’s ridged length and moaned. Nothing had ever felt so good.

  Jaxx’s growled, his fingers flexing at her hips. “Fuck.”

  The one word triggered her to do it again, each movement sending an electrifying zap of pleasure through her. She reached around and grabbed Jaxx’s hands, leading them toward her aching breasts. Eagerly, his hands cupped her, and together they caressed and teased her sensitive mounds.

  He repositioned her so his hard length rubbed along her clit. All thought left her brain. She arched her neck and braced herself on his muscled thighs. One of his hands trailed down her body and held her hip, encouraging her to rock back and forth. Frenzied with need, she rubbed herself on his erection. It wasn’t enough. She needed more. Movin
g to face him, a growl sounded next to her ear, and she realized he was still fastened to her neck. His deep rumble caused dampness to flood her panties. How could a growl turn her on so bad? “I need more.”

  He grounded his cock against her. The pleasure built to a dangerous level, and she whimpered. His hand moved inch by slow inch toward her center. A noise of frustration left her, and it didn’t sound quite as human as it should have. Jaxx plunged his hand down her pants to reach her core. Thick digits dipped into her opening, and his palm rubbed her clit. One swipe. She dug her nails into his jeans. Again, he filled her, and assaulted her with pleasure. It was too much. On a scream, she exploded into a million fragments and hoped Jaxx could put her back together.

  Jaxx withdrew his mouth and swiped his tongue over the area. An overwhelming need pushed her to slide to the rug at their feet, and she slumped forward to her hands and knees. Effortlessly, her bones remolded into a wolf. Fur continued to fill out across her body in thick, silvery waves. Claws shot out from her fingers, and she flexed them in the white rug. Whatever Jaxx had done, it had worked. It was as if before she was a rusted old cog, and he had applied some much-needed grease. Her body rearranged bones and organs effortlessly, as if she changed to a wolf every day.

  Pressure built across her head, and she heard bones crack and slide in new positions. The sound of fabric tearing jerked her attention to Jaxx. He sat ramrod straight, his face toward the ceiling. Veins and tendons bulged along his neck, his arm corded, and his fingers ripped into the brown leather. He didn’t make a noise, but it looked like he was in the most excruciating pain. Agony like she had just experienced not long ago. Her thoughts trailed off as she wondered if it was even possible for him to take her pain away. Concerned pushed her forward and she nudged his leg with her head. To her horror, she whimpered.

  “It’s… okay. I’m fine.” His gruff words were choppy, and he sounded far from fine.

  She studied him, and it dawned on her she could see with crystal clarity. Bright hues of warm honey burst along Jaxx’s hair, her vision detecting each note of caramel twisted in the strands. Pine hung heavy in the air, combined with the undertones of damp earth. Jaxx blew out a breath, rolling his shoulders. His head fell back into place, and he opened bloodshot eyes. A smile swept across his face. “Look at you. Beautiful.”

  She swallowed and glanced away. How would she ever be able to look him in the eye after what they had just shared? One-night stands weren’t for her, let alone whatever they had experienced. He stood and walked across the room.

  Evidence he too had gotten off from her embarrassing display was written all over his jeans. So he wasn’t going to acknowledge what had just happened between them. That was fine. She didn’t want to, either. Sitting on her haunches, her eyes trailed Jaxx over to a small kitchen as he opened a cupboard and pulled down a Scotch bottle and glass. The tight jeans molded to his ass, and she thought you’d have to be blind not to notice how delicious he looked. Turning to face her, he placed the bottle and glass on a black countertop. He unscrewed the cap, poured a nip, and slammed it home. “I needed that.”

  Jaxx looked strong and virile, and he spoke to her on a level that screamed sex. The hot, wet, and dirty kind. The things she could do to him—or better, the things he could do to her. In her mind she could easily imagine him kissing down her body.

  He coughed and his tongue darted out, licking his lips. His actions fed her vision further. He would lick every inch of her and sink between her legs. Her head would fall back, and as his hot breath brushed against her sex, he would lick her core.

  Jaxx froze, his glass halfway to his mouth, and his gaze shot to her. He cleared his throat. “I mentioned there would be consequences for what I did. I should tell you, I can sense any strong emotion from you—hear any strong thoughts. For a time, we will be connected.”

  Was he trying to tell her he was aware of what she was feeling right then? She damn well hoped not. Her wayward thoughts were only intended for a party of one. Despite what had happened, she didn’t have time for any male shenanigans. Maybe she could make time for sex. But that was it. Maybe her sex-induced thoughts were a side effect of what he’d done? She eyed him and got the suspicious feeling he knew exactly what she had on her mind.

  Jaxx rounded the kitchen bench. “I bet you’re itching to run, huh?”

  Now that he brought it up, she was feeling an overwhelming desire deep inside her to tear up some dirt. She stood, eager to stretch her legs. His arms crossed over his body, grabbing the hem of his shirt. Muscles flexed as he peeled the fabric from his torso. Her gaze honed onto the left side of his body, and it was hard to miss the huge tattoo of what looked like a wolf running along his leg, torso and up as far as the eye could see. His pecs flexed, and she noticed his movements had slowed. The expanse of his chest was predictably impressive, just like the rest of him.

  Valleys contoured his muscles into the perfect male specimen. His abs flexed under her perusal. Glancing up, she looked him in the eyes. He shrugged, and one of his dark eyebrows rose. “You looked like you were enjoying the show; I wanted to make sure you got your money’s worth.”

  She would have snorted if she’d been human. She guessed she deserved that.

  “As a shifter, nudity means little to our kind, but if you keep looking at me like that, I’m afraid we’ll be taking a tour of a different sort.”

  Her stomach fluttered. Jaxx was dangerous. There was no doubt—he was the bait, and she was being lured into his trap by some unnatural attraction. She shook her head and growled low. What on earth was going on? The fact that she paused to think about his offer of a new kind of ‘tour’ should have screamed a warning.

  He was a stranger, a shape-changing stranger, and she was in a world of trouble. Maybe it was the temporary connection he had spoken of? Abruptly she spun and faced what looked like a window; on closer inspection, it appeared to be four televisions in the shape of a wall of windows. All four TVs reflected the forest in them. Tall trees and a sweeping valley below.

  Her curiosity piqued, she stepped closer, inspecting the screens.

  “It’s a live stream of the pack’s land. Being this far underground, it doubles as extra security.”

  So they were underground. It was a rather impressive setup.

  “Come on, let’s go.” Jaxx strode toward the door, naked.

  She caught the flash of his bare ass as he pulled the door open, and then he shifted. Even as a wolf, Jaxx was impressive, towering over her with his height. His fur was a unique cream coat tipped in gray that ran over his body, and every step, every twitch of his ear, spoke of strength and masculinity, something her wolf found appealing—that she found appealing.

  He turned, his gaze set on her. “Follow me.”

  She stuttered on the spot. His velvet baritone spoke directly in her mind as if he had said the words as a man. How the hell did he do that?

  “When we are in our animal forms, it’s how we communicate. As alpha, Saint has the ability to project his voice regardless of what form he’s in.”

  Could he read her mind? Or was the wonder written all over her wolf face?

  Jaxx huffed. “You’re projecting. I can hear everything as if you were talking.” He turned and walked to the door, pausing for her.

  “All you need to do is concentrate on what you want to say and push it out there. I’m assuming it’s come so easily between us due to our connection.”

  He can’t find out… her thoughts came to an abrupt halt. For a moment fear coiled within her. “How do I stop you from hearing everything I’m thinking?”

  He glanced back at her, and as a wolf his expression was unreadable. She had no idea if he had caught her thoughts or not. After a long moment, he said. “I always imagine a safe that I go to and deposit anything I want to keep private.”

  Quickly, she followed his instructions and encased all of her thoughts in a bank vault, making sure to place an intercom so she could still access their mental connection. Fo
r the moment she would bench any thoughts of her sister, or Kali, until she found out more about the Shadow Moon people.

  Jaxx couldn’t believe his mate stood only a foot away. His mate. He’d waited lifetimes, never truly believing he’d find her. Yet, there she was. He’d been so worried she wouldn’t make it through the transformation. Every moment she was in pain just about killed him. He never wanted to feel hopeless like that again.

  Like magnets, his gaze drew back to her again. Glowing blue crystals burned into him as if they were judging the pit of his soul. Overwhelmed by the sensation, he looked back down the tunnel. She was perfect. Her silvery-brown hair had transformed into a similar shade of fur. Thick, glossy, and magnificent in every way. Sometime soon, he’d run his hands through it and enjoy its softness.

  He led Mackenzie through the intricate weavings of the den’s tunnels, all security measures for the pack’s protection. Glancing back, he caught her gaze absorbing their surroundings. Focusing back on the track, he tried to see the den through new eyes. He supposed the mud-brick walls and floor had somewhat of a medieval feel to it. Some would even describe it as dark and ominous. It had been his home for half a century.

  Every fifty yards, a recess in the wall glowed with lights. The air was a little musty, but the smell brought him comfort. Shadow Moon meant pack, and pack meant safety. He hoped it would be a place Mackenzie liked, since he knew Saint would never let her go while she remained packless. As her mate, he wouldn’t be able to be far from her side. Claimed or not.

  Her voice flittered through their connection, soft and unsure. Warmth spread through his mind and seeped into the cold recesses of his body. Did his stomach just wobble? He had been waiting his whole life to feel his female, his mate, speak across their mating link. Not even his first shift compared to having his mate right there a whisper away.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.” He wanted to take her somewhere special to share their first run together, to celebrate the first half of their union, even if she wasn’t aware it had occurred yet. He picked up the pace, and Mackenzie’s claws clipped softly behind him.