Natural Born Enemies (Cedar River Series)

by Murray, Gemma K.

  I hesitated. “I don’t know, Adam.”

  “Please, Luna, I need you beside me. Your parents and the pack are coming if that helps you feel safer.”

  “What time do you want me there?”

  “Tonight. Gods, Luna, I need to hold you tonight.”

  “Adam,” I began. “Let me pack a bag and I’ll be on my way.”

  “Really?” he asked.

  “Yes, really. I’ll be there in an hour or so.”

  “I’ll be waiting for you. I love you, Luna.”

  “I love you, too. Oh and Adam, call Bowie.”

  “I will,” was response before we hang up.

  I proceeded to pack a bag. Most of the town would shut down for the wakes tomorrow, so I wasn’t worried about the store. I pulled out my black pinstripe suit and white camisole. I dug around in the bottom of my closet for my black high heels and threw them into the bag.

  With all of my stuff, I had three bags to take with me. Good grief, this was an overnight visit, I thought to myself. I ran back inside to hang the “Closed for Pierce Pride Wakes” in the front window and packed up some candy to take to Adam. After the day he’d had, I’m sure he’d be ready for some chocolate.

  The roads were relatively clear as I drove the distance to the pride lands. The full moon glistened off the snow, making Cedar River and its surrounding land look like it was from a fairy tale. The iridescence was mesmerizing.

  When I pulled onto pride land, a ball of fear sat heavy in my stomach. I knew Adam wouldn’t allow anything to happen to me, but it was a long drive from the front gate to the Alpha’s house. I took a deep breath and drove up to the manned gate. Dammit, I am shaman of the McIntyre Pack and the Alpha’s daughter. I should have nothing to fear.

  The security guard stepped out and shined his flashlight in my car. “Can I ask what your business is?” When he saw who I was, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head, “I beg your pardon, Miss.”

  I was more than a little puzzled. I don’t get that kind of reception from the pack, why would I get it from the pride? I’d ask Adam about it.

  The gate opened and the guard motioned me through. Up the long curving drive to the Alpha’s house, I drove. Cottages along the way were dark. I glanced at the clock on my radio. It was after one o’clock in the morning.

  I rounded the last curve and saw the Alpha’s house up ahead. The downstairs lights were burning bright through the darkness. I pulled up next to Adam’s truck and parked. On the porch as shadow appeared and I recognized Adam’s shape. There was something different about him, I thought as I stepped out of my car.

  I pulled my bags from the car and turned around. Adam was directly behind me. I made an “eep” noise before his mouth claimed mine with a hunger I’d never before experienced. My bags slid off my shoulders and onto the ground. The bones in my body turned to mush as his tongue slid in and out of my mouth. I felt as if I were being devoured and it was a pretty amazing feeling.

  When he did pull away, I was breathless. He rested his forehead against mine as he held me tight against him. “I need you, Luna.”

  I smiled, “I know. That’s why I’m here, babe.”

  He released me and simply took my hand as he bent to pick up my bags. Neither of us said a word as he turned off the lights and led me upstairs. We walked into his childhood bedroom and he shut the door quietly behind us.

  He refused to let go of my hand as he set the bags down. “Do I smell chocolate?” he asked with his little boy smile.

  “It’s in the blue bag at the bottom. There are two boxes.”

  His eyes twinkled in the moonlight that shone through the window. He let go of my hand long enough to rummage through my bag for the boxes of candy.

  I looked at the trophies from high school still sat on shelves. Sealed in clear envelopes, a few of his English papers hung on the walls. It was as if we stepped back in time.

  “Aunt Alicia seemed to think she should keep my room as it was when I left,” Adam said around the cherry whip he had popped into his mouth.

  “It’s funny how our moms think this stuff is important, isn’t it?” I said as I felt him step up behind me.

  “Turns out that sometimes it does matter though,” he said as he lowered his mouth to my neck and nibbled along the side of my jaw.

  I leaned back into his hard body as he wrapped one arm around me and cupped one of my full breasts in his hands. “Adam,” I whispered as he caught my ear lobe in his teeth and nipped lightly.

  “Hmmm,” was his response as he tugged the hem of my t-shirt over my head.

  I wrapped my arm around his neck and turned to face him. His shirt joined mine on the floor and I attempted to untie the string on his sweatpants. He stopped me and re-tied the string.

  He slid my yoga pants down my legs and my pink underwear followed them. He slid the chair from his desk across the floor and urged me to sit down in it.

  Positioning one leg over each arm, Adam knelt in front of me, kissing me from my lips to my pussy. His tongue made circles around my aureoles as his fingers slid in and out of me. Just when I thought I was coming unglued, he would stop and focus his attention on my mouth again. The feeling of urgency would subside and he’d pick up where he left off.

  This teasing went on for quite a while, until I thought I couldn’t take it anymore. I was sobbing and begging for some release. I caught his smile as he buried his head between my legs, lapping at the cream that was there. His tongue circled my clit and I couldn’t control the growl of release that escaped me. I dug my fingernails into his scalp as he continued to lick at me.

  He looked up at me, wiped his face on his t-shirt, and grinned. He set my feet back on the floor and the blood raced back into my legs. When he stood his desire was quite prominent. He untied his sweatpants and let them fall to the floor. My mouth watered at the sight of him. I leaned forward to take him into my mouth. I licked at his saltiness and sucked him deep into my throat.

  He grasped a handful of hair and tugged lightly. Slowly and carefully, I moved him in and out of my mouth. He was whispering things to me that I’d never heard come out of Adam’s mouth before…and I liked it. He pulled away from me and held out his hand.

  I was on my hands and knees at the edge of the bed when Adam caught my feet and slid me backwards. My calves and ankles hung off the bed as he stepped between my legs and eased himself inside me from behind. He traced my spine with his hands as he began to move. Sensations burned through my body as he thrust deeper and faster.

  “Oh gods, Adam!” I cried out.

  My hips were grasped in his hands as he worked hard to reach his completion. His cock hit my sweet spot with each stroke and I had to bury my face in the comforter to avoid waking the entire pride.

  With a final thrust, Adam emptied himself into me.

  He left me long enough to retrieve a wet washcloth from the bathroom. “Lay on your back, sweetheart, and let me clean you up.”

  I felt bruised and battered but in a very good way. The warmth of the soft cloth felt good against my skin.

  Adam returned the washcloth to the bathroom and crawled into bed beside me.

  “What on earth was that?” I asked, curled up against his chest.

  “Are you going to complain?” he said with a throaty chuckle.

  “No, sir. I’m just wondering if this is going to be an everyday occurrence. I may need to start taking vitamins if this is going to be the case.”

  “I’m going to want you every day, but I cannot guarantee it will always be like this.”

  I smiled as I snuggled close to him and fell asleep.

  ***

  The sun was shining bright overhead when I finally crawled out of bed. I took a shower and dressed in my suit before heading downstairs.

  The house was quiet so I looked around. I’d only been here once in my life. I was looking at the stunning family portrait that hung over the mantle in the living room when I heard Alicia Pierce come in to the room.

&nb
sp; Her eyes were red and swollen, but her hair was perfect and she was dressed in a beautiful suit.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I’m here,” I said.

  She stepped toward me and opened her arms, “Adam is Alpha now, but you are as welcome here as you are in your pack. This is your family, too. After all, you are the Alpha’s mate.”

  Until this very moment, I hadn’t even thought about the ramifications of Adam’s actions. I mean, sure they made him Alpha, but that only affected him, right? I had never once considered the fact by him claiming the Alpha position, I would be the Alpha’s mate.

  Alicia stood next to me and looked at the picture over the mantle. Connor couldn’t have been more than seven years old in that picture. His blue eyes were almost crystalline they were so blue. Adam was probably seventeen and looking simply defiant. His black hair hung long and his tie was askew. I smiled because in all the years I had known him, I’d never seen him in suit.

  “Those are my men, Luna. All I have left is Adam and I know haven’t done right by him through the years.”

  I put my arm around her. “Probably not, but Adam is Adam. Whoever he was before he came to you has changed. You and Roman raised him to be the man he is.”

  Alicia laid her cheek against the top of my head, “I just wish he knew how proud Roman and I are of him.”

  “You could always tell him. I mean, Roman handed over the Alpha position to him, Adam has to know.”

  Alicia sniffled a bit and excused herself to finish getting ready for the wakes.

  I felt so bad for her. Losing one of your family members can be hard, but two in the same day? I still had no idea exactly what happened, but I assumed this was one of the many things Adam and I would discuss later on.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight- Adam

  I was sitting in the community center. I’d pulled up a chair next to Uncle Roman’s coffin and sat there pondering what the hell I had been thinking. Being Alpha was not what I’d wanted. I was going to have to quit the sheriff’s department. I loved that damn job and the people of Cedar River. I sure as hell didn’t want to take over the construction company. I hated working construction. It was too many long hour days.

  Then, there was Luna. I rested my head against the edge of the coffin. I had to talk to her about this. If I didn’t want to be Alpha, was she going to want to be my mate? Essentially, she would become a part of the Pierce Pride. It was unheard of for a wolf to become part of the pride.

  I loved her. I had fallen for her the first time I saw her smile at me through Samson’s diner window. Our souls were connected. I had claimed her as my mate. Now, this could all fall apart. I don’t think there had ever been a single Alpha in the history of the pride, but I was prepared to be the first.

  Benson Pierce, Roman’s brother, came in. “Adam, everyone is waiting outside.”

  I lifted my head and cleared my throat, “I’m sorry, of course, let’s get this started. I’m going to walk up to the house and get Aunt Alicia and Luna.”

  Benson opened the doors and people began to file inside. I left through the side door and began the walk to the house.

  Bowie, Ana, and the rest of the Goldens were waiting on the porch. I felt the tears beginning to well up. Dammit, I’m Alpha now, there could be no tears.

  Rock and Madeline McIntyre were just arriving. Luna and Aunt Alicia walked out of the house, arm in arm. Aunt Alicia smiled sadly and waved to me. I lifted my hand and thought how beautiful Luna looked. Her eyes were yellow-green today I saw as she lifted them to look at me. There was a very thoughtful expression on her face, but I knew there were many things she was just beginning to realize.

  Rock met me at the porch step and shook my hand. “Adam,” was all he said. Madeline held out her arms to embrace me. I walked into her arms and allowed her to comfort me. Rock turned his attention to Alicia. “On behalf of the McIntyre pack, I want to express our condolences on the loss of your men.”

  Alicia lifted her brown eyes to hold Rock’s stare. “Thank you for being here. It means a lot.” Madeline stepped up to Alicia and they both began to cry. The fear of losing a mate was one most of the mated pairs shared.

  Luna hugged her parents and reached for my hand. I took that as a very good sign. With my other hand in Aunt Alicia’s, we walked to the community center, which looked like it was overflowing with people.

  I took Aunt Alicia to her seat and people began to come forward to pay their respects. Bowie stood next to me.

  “Did the entire town close down for the day?” I whispered to him.

  The damn dragon grinned. “Roman Pierce could be a dick, but he was part of this community. Everybody loves Alicia and you, Adam, so they showed up to pay their respects.”

  I glanced toward where the caskets stood, open. Everyone filed by Uncle Roman’s casket and made some gesture over the body. Most didn’t even pay Connor a glance. I did notice Ana standing there with sadness in her eyes. I nudged Bowie who merely glanced at his wife.

  “Is she gonna be okay?” I asked.

  “Yeah, but this really tore her up. She and Connor dated when they were in high school. It was Connor’s car I pulled her out of when she was a senior.”

  I smiled. I remembered that. Bowie had sent me a letter about how pissed off he was at her and the slimeball cousin of mine she was with.

  I watched as another young woman stepped up to Connor’s casket. She was trembling as she grasped the edge of the coffin. Ana stepped aside so the girl could get closer. Their heads were bowed together as Ana put her arm around her. I looked questionably at Bowie. He shrugged and made his way across the room to get his wife. Ana hugged him tight as they walked away, leaving this other woman to sob uncontrollably over my cousin’s body.

  I couldn’t take any more so I walked over to the young woman. When she looked up at me with those huge brown eyes, I recognized her as Mindy Peterman. She was part of the MacIntosh pack and she had dated Connor off and on for the last couple of years.

  “I wondered who you were. I didn’t recognize you, Mindy,” I said.

  “I need to talk to you. After, I mean,” she said.

  “Of course,” I said as I led her to sit beside Aunt Alicia. It seemed like an appropriate place for her to be.

  I turned to face the room. There were people standing along the walls because there weren’t enough seats. I saw every familiar face from my town sitting there. Some sat in their seats with tears in their eyes, others stood simply stoic in their support. I was in awe at the faces I saw staring back at me. The McIntyres sat behind Aunt Alicia and Mindy Peterman. Roman had his arm around his daughter and Luna had laid her head on her father’s shoulder. Something in the vicinity of my heart jerked, hard.

  As Alpha, I was my job to say words over the bodies that lay in front of the room. I took a deep breath and began my speech.

  “Good afternoon. As Alpha of the Pierce Pride, I want to extend my thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to join with my family as we lay two members of our pride to rest today.”

  Looks of shock rolled across the room as I declared my position of Alpha to the room. Rock McIntyre sat with a smug grin on his face as everybody else seemed taken aback by the announcement.

  “I came to Cedar River at the age of sixteen. I was a pain in Uncle Roman and Aunt Alicia’s asses. Aunt Alicia won’t admit it, but Uncle Roman would. It took a lot of tough love, but if it hadn’t been done, I wouldn’t be standing here before you today. Uncle Roman was always ready to put me in my place. Until today, I thought he had absolutely despised me. Now I realize he was simply teaching me.” I fought back the tears as I continued on.

  “Uncle Roman tended to push people around. What I’ve figured out is that he pushed me because he wanted me to push back. He wanted me to be tough and gentle. He wanted me to the man who could take over the Alpha position when he was unable to continue.”

  Luna’s yellow eyes were filled with tears as she watched me. Her eyes followed me as I paced bac
k and forth in front of the crowd.

  “I am the man I am today because Uncle Roman and Aunt Alicia gave a damn about me.” I turned to look at the photos of Connor that hung on a board next to his coffin.

  “I remember meeting Connor the day I arrived in Cedar River. He was playing football with some of the other boys in the pride. He walked up to me and hugged me tight. His first words to me were, ‘Mama says you’re gonna be my big brother.’ I have older brothers and I was determined to be the type of big brother this seven-year-old kid could look up to.” I hung my head and wiped my tears away.

  My voice broke as I said out loud the words I meant to keep in my mind, “I’m sorry for failing you, buddy. I let you down.”

  I kissed his cold forehead and a sob escaped my lips. I thought I had shed my tears this morning in private. I felt an arm slide around my waist and automatically reached for her. Luna stood at my side. Hand-in-hand, we walked back to our seats. Roman moved Luna’s chair so it was beside mine. At that point, I knew she’d stand with me and for me. It just may take her some time to come around to the idea.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine- Luna

  One by one, members of the pride and community at large came forward to share their memories or say some kind words about Roman and Connor Pierce. I smiled as Connor’s friends remembered the boy he had been instead of the man he had become.

  My dad got up and I thought, Oh no, here we go.

  Instead, he talked about being friends with Roman when they’d been in school together. I never knew they’d been best friends. Seeing as they were so upset about Adam and me, I thought they’d always been nasty to one another.

  The older members of the crowd laughed as Dad talked about the trouble he and Roman had gotten into. They were quite the hell-raisers in their day. Their antics put some of Ana’s to shame.

  Adam looked at me and squeezed my hand. I could only shrug my shoulders as Dad talked about flirting with Alicia Thomas when she and her sister had moved to town in ninth grade. He told everyone how it had pissed Roman off so badly Roman began his own pursuit of Alicia. I had never heard this story before.