Mikayla could only shake her head at this revelation. Was there nothing Ulric wouldn’t do? At least pups seemed safe. So far. “So he just let you walk away?” That didn’t seem like the demon alpha she’d heard about.
It was Jack who replied. “We’d started to talk about leaving the pack before he showed up with his first female captive. But when Ulric returned from a recruiting mission pulling a group of females along, we knew the time for talking was over.”
“We helped the females escape and broke camp the same night,” Hunter said.
“And Ulric never came after you? Never looked for you…and the women?”
“He did. He tracked us for a time, but eventually he turned back. Maybe he decided we were too much trouble. We deliberately made our way north because we’d learned he was headed south.”
“And the women? What had happened to them?”
“We kept them safe, but we couldn’t return them all to their packs, not right away. Ulric might have gone looking for them. So we located what we thought was an abandoned property, far away from any real civilization, and we used it as a sort of safe house.”
Hunter grinned. “It turned out the property wasn’t abandoned after all, though, and when the occupants returned, they were none too happy to find us there. It turned out a group of shifters had already formed a resistance of sorts and were holing up in the building. They’d intentionally let the place look abandoned in case the wrong pack wandered in.”
“It was dicey at first,” Hunter said. “But we eventually came to an agreement. We would work together to make it a safe haven for wolves who needed it, mostly females, making sure that to anyone who happened by, it would still look deserted.”
They’d taken a hell of a chance deserting the Crimson Moon Pack. Many alphas would kill deserters on sight, but a wolf like Ulric would likely want to torture them, too. “So how did you end up here?” She looked around the room. Actually, she had no idea where here was. “Where are we anyway? And what were you doing in New York?”
“We’ve grown into a sort of underground,” Hunter said. “We’ve set up safe havens in several different states, and we try to anticipate where Ulric will strike next.”
That sounded like mission impossible. “How?”
Jack sighed. “It hasn’t been easy, but we managed to have a few of ours join the Crimson Moon Pack. They find out of where Ulric with strike next and get messages to us. We try to get there first.”
“It sounds risky.”
Jack returned to his spot on the bed. “It is, but it’s a risk worth taking.”
“So Hunter was in that apartment building because…?”
“Actually, I was there, too. I was standing guard out back, and Hunter was supposed to be watching the hall.”
He’d done a lot more than that. “Okay, but what were you doing there in the first place?”
“We’d learned a while back that a female from the River’s Bend Clan was going to be taken,” Jack answered.
“Liz? That’s why I was there, to make sure she was safe. God, no. Tell me Ulric’s pack doesn’t have her!”
“She’s safe.” Jack patted her leg. “We got there in time, weeks ago, actually. She’s at one of the safe houses.”
“Oh, thank God.”
“Sister?” Hunter asked.
She shook her head. “Friend. Well, a friend who might as well be a sister. We’re of the same clan.”
“That’s what seemed to make a difference this time.” Hunter nodded as if that statement made any sense.
“What do you mean it made a difference?”
Hunter stood and began pacing the room. Both men seemed to have a need to keep moving, and it was easy to guess that they didn’t much appreciate enclosed spaces. “Ulric’s crew usually hits and runs. They’ll take a female and then immediately leave the area, maybe thinking family or pack members will come looking. This time, though, one of our men told us Ulric had ordered some of his pack to stay in the area. In fact, they holed up in Liz’s apartment after discovering she wasn’t there.”
“What for?” Nothing Ulric ever did made sense to her, but why wait around? “They thought she’d come back?”
“Maybe at first, but they’ve been there for weeks now. We think her clan, your clan, is of special significance to Ulric, and our source says he’s hoping to get his hands on any clan members who come looking for her.”
Mikayla shuddered at the thought. Well, that explained why Liz hadn’t heeded Zion’s messages to return home to River’s Bend. “Like me.”
“Like you,” Hunter said. “I was positioned in the stairwell at one end of the hall, keeping an eye on things, waiting to see if anyone would show up. Our group at the nearest safe house has been taking turns at it since we learned Ulric’s men had stuck around.” He smiled then, a bright, sexy smile that shot straight to her core. “I knew you were my mate as soon as you stepped off the elevator, but I barely made it to you before you knocked. I didn’t want to yell out and startle you or let the wolves inside know I was out there poking around. As it is, we’ve had to go to extreme lengths to cover our scent for these missions.”
“So that’s why I didn’t notice you.” She hadn’t realized another wolf was in the hall, which wasn’t like her.
Hunter nodded. “That, and you seemed to be deep in thought.”
She had been somewhat preoccupied. “And what about you?” She gestured at Jack. “Did you know I was your mate by that point, too?” If so, why was it only Hunter who’d come to rescue her?
“No.” Jack shot another glare at Hunter. “I was in position waiting for the signal from Hunter. It wasn’t until he came hauling ass out the back door with you over his shoulder that I realized anyone had even shown up.” He paused to clasp her hand in his. “The moment he came barreling through the door, though, I knew you were my mate.”
“There’s something I don’t understand,” Hunter said. “Why did your alpha send a woman to check on Liz?”
“Right, because I’m too female to be capable of anything?”
“Whoa, that’s not what he means,” Jack said.
Hunter sighed heavily. “What I mean is, most alphas know Ulric’s reputation and how dangerous it can be for wolves to travel alone, not just females, but especially females. So why didn’t your clan send warriors?”
“They didn’t send me. I came on my own.”
Clearly neither of them could grasp that. “They let you travel alone?” Hunter asked.
“Never mind that.” She’d explain how she’d borrowed, no stolen, one of the alphas’ cars another time. “Where’s this safe house you took Liz to? Is she still there? I need to see her.” There had to be a bathroom wherever she was. She could shower and be on her way. She scooted off the bed and got to her feet.
“She’s definitely still there,” Jack said.
There was something in his tone that caught Mikayla’s attention. “What? Did something else go wrong? Why didn’t she come home to River’s Bend or even try to call us?”
Jack cocked an eyebrow at that. “For safety reasons, we don’t allow phones in any of the safe houses. We dispose of them on the way. But as to why she hasn’t gone back to your clan, that’s something you’ll want to ask her.”
* * * *
Hunter didn’t know about Jack, but he’d had enough conversation. The taste of their mate lingered on his lips and he meant to have all of her. He caught Jack’s eye and he could tell the man understood him perfectly.
He crossed the room in a couple of strides and tugged the sheet off until it dropped to the floor, giving him the view he wanted of his mate’s full, heavy breasts and her pussy. The pussy that now belonged to him.
“Now?” Her voice came breathy and nervous, and he questioned why she even had to ask.
The musk of her need for them still permeated the room. It had abated some after he’d brought her to climax, but it remained strong.
When he reached between her legs, she
took a step backward but didn’t bolt. Ahh, yes. She was still wet for him, for them.
“What about Liz?” She looked from him to Jack, breasts heaving.
He guessed she felt she had to ask, but her wolf had to know it was too late, much too late for that. Wolves who found their mate took her as soon as they could. He had no plans to be the exception to that rule.
“Liz can wait.” He reached for her hips, pulling her closer.
* * * *
Mikayla didn’t know why she was suddenly so nervous. This was what happened when you found your mate. Barring any obstacles, like a human mate you had to convince, you just mated. It was simple, but her heart felt like it would beat out of her chest. In some ways, she thought humans had it right. Meet, go on dates, and then mate. Not the wolves, though. No, as a wolf shifter female, she was expected to spread her legs the first time her mate demanded it.
Of course, she wanted them. Powerfully, so powerfully that her lips tingled with the anticipation of their kisses and her pussy spread cream all over her thighs. She was once again reduced to squeezing her legs together in a vain attempt to contain the throbbing.
She heaved a sigh. She could stall by demanding to shower first. Her hair needed washing. Her head wound had already healed, but the sticky evidence of it clung to her hair. They’d probably grumble about it, but she was sure they’d agree to let her freshen up first. The problem was she could all too easily imagine what a shower would be like right then. A little light on the getting cleaned up and heavy on her own hand clutched between her legs. Still, it would give her some time to process the fact that she suddenly had not one mate but two. Though she’d wanted a mate since coming of age, it was still overwhelming.
Maybe she should stall until after she’d seen Liz. Problem was she had no idea how long that would require her to wait. Mikayla wasn’t at all big on the self-torture.
A deep growl startled her out of her thoughts and the next thing she knew, two strong arms had lifted her and deposited her on the bed. Jack’s face loomed over her, fierce with need. “You’re my mate. And I need to claim you. Now.”
The way he said it jolted her senses and she lay back, her lips parting, her belly quivering, submitting. Unable to do much else and glad he’d gone ahead and taken the reins.
“Our mate,” Hunter corrected, his voice thick.
Jack made no reply. He just went to work, kissing her hard on the lips, then trailing hot, hungry kisses down her body. His touch wasn’t gentle, but then she hadn’t expected it to be. Not from a man like him. He didn’t hurt her, but he definitely handled her.
Hunter’s touch was different. His lips caressed, teased, drawing her even further into a haze of desire. He wasn’t exactly gentle, not really. Instead, his movements simply seemed more fluid, more patient. It wasn’t fair to compare the two, though, because rough or not, they both drove her crazy.
Jack cupped her breasts, squeezing, kneading them while lapping at her nipples. She moaned at the sensation, and in response, he gave her his teeth, biting just enough to make her arch off the bed into his mouth. He moved on then, trailing his hot kisses and love bites down over the sensitive skin of her belly.
Mikayla couldn’t help whimpering, as much at the loss of his hot mouth on her breasts as at the feel of his tongue dipping into her navel. Her whimpers caught in her throat as Hunter picked up where Jack left off, sucking her left nipple into his mouth and laving it with his tongue. She gripped his head, holding him close, only letting up when she felt Jack kiss her pussy. Hunter took her right nipple in his mouth then, cupping her other breast in his hand, flicking and squeezing one nipple as he teased the other with his tongue.
“I. Love. The. Way. You. Taste.” Jack punctuated each of his words with a lick of her slit or a suck on her clit.
Hunter apparently agreed. “I could lick her all night.”
Jack responded, but Mikayla had no idea what he said. His mouth was muffled by her pussy. He didn’t let up the pressure of his tongue against her clit as he pushed a finger inside her. When he pulled back it was to say, “Damn, she’s tight.”
Her pussy flexed at his words, squeezing his finger. As amazing as his lips and tongue felt, clearly the little bitch wanted more. Mikayla swiveled her hips, trying to fuck his finger, already imagining what it would feel like to have him inside her.
“Take her,” Hunter said. “I can’t wait much longer.”
“Soon.” Jack pushed another finger inside her. “Just as soon as she’s ready.”
“Ready? Are you kidding?” She panted with need, having to force the words out. “I couldn’t get more ready.”
It turned out she was so wrong. It turned out she could be brought to a fever pitch of desire. Jack worked his fingers in and out of her pussy, slowly at first, all the while keeping up the maddening caress of his tongue. Mikayla bucked and moaned until he quickened his pace and pushed a third finger inside her. He fucked her with his mouth and fingers, and she fucked him back, but each time she came close, so close she wanted to scream or cry, he backed off and blew cool air over her clit. It was the best kind of torture, pushing her further and further beyond reason until she actually felt like she could beg him.
Hunter watched, caressing her breasts and belly, whispering in her ear a long list of dirty things he planned to do to her. Everything he said sounded too hot for words, but they kept up their delicious torture until she thought for sure they would destroy her, kill her with the wanting.
“Please let me come. Oh God! I just need to come.” Under normal circumstances, Mikayla would have been embarrassed to beg but not just then. She would have said anything to make them stop teasing her and give her what she wanted, the blinding orgasm that Jack so skillfully held at bay or one of their cocks crammed into her pussy. “Please. I’ll do anything. Just finish me.”
Jack grinned up at her, looking more than cocky, looking devilish. “Soon.”
That was all he had to say? She looked to Hunter then, who’d just left off sucking on her earlobe. “Kiss me,” she implored him.
Like a good mate, he did, and that was when she caught his lower lip between her teeth, biting him.
He didn’t pull back or yelp in pain. He just growled and drew her hand to his fly. His cock was so hard she was surprised he hadn’t ripped through the fabric, zipper and all. “Touch me,” was all he said, freeing his cock, giving her unimpeded access to its full length. She wrapped her hand around it and squeezed.
Her long-haired Viking had just made it worse, and she switched to begging him. “I can’t take much more. Please, Hunter. Please just…”
Jack did something new with his tongue that took her breath away. It was almost a full minute before she managed to get the rest out. “I need you to fuck me.” They’d been so insistent on having her right away. She couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just take her now.
Jack growled. “I will—first.”
She didn’t care who went first, as long as one of them put her out of her misery. Hunter began to pump in and out of her grip as Jack reared up over her. She writhed as he ran just the tip of his cock back and forth over her slit, stopping to slap it over her clit.
“Goddammit fuck m—” She couldn’t get the rest of it out as he surged into her then, hard, oh so hard, burying himself to the balls inside her. She screamed out, involuntarily dropping Hunter’s cock, her claws descending to dig into Jack’s back.
Mikayla was lost, wrapping her legs around his hips, arching into his thrusts. She wasn’t sure how many times he thrust inside her. Maybe three times, maybe four before her pussy clenched hard against his cock and she came, cursing and screaming her release.
* * * *
Jack had wanted to bring her over hard and fast the first time since he wasn’t sure how long he could last. It hadn’t been very long since he’d had a woman, but she was his mate and her wolf called out to his, threatening to turn him into a true beast. Now that she’d come so hard, he wouldn’t feel
as badly if he couldn’t hold on.
Jack pulled out, gratified when she protested at the loss of him. “Turn around and get on your knees, baby.”
Hers were the slow movements of the post-orgasmic haze, but she did as he said.
He seized her ass cheeks and squeezed until she moaned, then adjusted his grip to her hips, pulling her back toward him. Good thing she was so wet. His wolf wrestled for control and he couldn’t be gentle. His cock felt as if it would burst, so he quickly palmed it and pushed into her cunt. The part of him that was a man struggled to hold on, reaching between her legs to stroke her clit, listening for her moans of pleasure. He lasted long enough to see Hunter kneel in front of her on the bed and tell her to open her mouth. But as she started to moan again and push back into his thrusts, he broke and the beast took over, his canines descending as he pummeled into her faster and harder until he could hardly see, much less think. He took her mindlessly until his balls tightened and filled, only managing at the last second to fall forward against her back and sink his teeth into the tender skin between her neck and shoulder. Her pussy squeezed and pulsated around his cock, but it was her tiny growl that pushed him over the edge, his canines sunk deep to mark her even as he filled her pussy with his seed.
* * * *
Hunter didn’t know how he’d held on so long. Those gorgeous lips wrapped around him had threatened his sanity. And then when she’d begun moaning around his cock as Jack fucked her from behind, he’d almost lost it, wrapping his hands in her hair and using it to hold her steady while he fucked that gorgeous mouth of hers. He’d barely been able to hold on, mostly by thinking about unsexy things, like caterpillars, when she’d reached up to brace herself on his thighs, splitting complete control of her body between him and Jack.
He pulled out when Jack bit her, not wanting his cock in her mouth at that moment. Females could be unpredictable during the marking, and he was willing to bet his mate would want him to keep that part of his anatomy. Her little growl, though, called to his wolf, and he was relieved when Jack finally roared his release.
Fated for Mikayla Page 4