by Sydney Addae
“That’s why you’re here. But…”
She met his stern gaze.
“That’s no reason to be afraid. You have a mentor in Jasmine, someone to help. We’re pack, that’s why I helped with Damian, now you need step out of your comfort zone, reach out to him and pull your den together.”
Her heart raced as fear clutched her insides. “What about the chameleon bracelet?”
“I’d rather he not know about that until we’re sure he won’t run to the Liege, and that’s a possibility if you don’t prove to him life’s better outside of captivity.”
She hadn’t thought of that. Suddenly the image of La Patron’s face rose before her. He’d be pissed and Jasmine would be disappointed if Damian left their care. “What do I do?”
“Be his friend, include him in conversations, ask his opinions and take the ones that may work. He’s smart. Trust him until he gives you a reason not to. Most importantly, listen to him so you can learn how he thinks. It’s not the same as how we do. If he’s considering returning to his captors, you’ll need to stop him.”
Asia heard what he didn’t say. Damian could not be allowed to serve their enemies. After a few seconds, she nodded. “Okay.”
He stood and pulled her up. “You’re tough, I know you’ll work through this and come out on top.”
She wished she had his confidence. “You’re right.” Taking a step toward the door, she tamped down the panic threatening to overwhelm her and looked over her shoulder. “I’ll miss you, but hope to see you soon.”
Standing in the middle of the room with his hands stuffed in his pockets, he met her gaze. “His belongings are in your suite. We’ll see each other back home.”
Chapter 7
Hawke searched the first floor for Damian. Angus’ words cut deep and filled him with shame. He’d experienced the pain of neglect and wouldn’t wish it on anyone, least of all his pup. His pup. Those words rolled around his mind a few times and then stopped. He sensed Damian around the corner and walked into the dimmed club.
Seated at the bar with a glass in his hand, the pup listened to some man seated on his right talking. Then he straightened, looked over his shoulder at Hawke, and raised his glass before returning his attention to the human.
“What are you drinking?” Hawke asked to gauge his disposition.
“Beer.”
“Who’s your friend?”
Damian snorted. “Got no friends.”
Hawke took the beer from the bartender and sat on the other side of Damian. Neither acknowledged each other directly. He searched his mind for common ground, something they both cared about to break the ice and came up empty. He contacted Angus.
“What is he interested in?”
To his credit, Angus made no callous remarks and gave a straight answer. “His wolf and how to control it.”
“Thank you. For everything. And safe journey.” Although he hadn’t known Angus long, the man had been an invaluable friend and mentor.
“We’re pack, see all of you soon.”
“I’m up for a run, you?” Hawke asked Damian.
Damian placed his empty glass on the bar and signaled for another. “No.”
Hawke reigned in his impatience, tossed back the contents of his glass and set it down with a snap. Damian looked at the empty glass and then tossed back his drink. Or most of it before choking.
Laughing, Hawke slapped him on the back and handed him a napkin. Damian refused the napkin, stood, and walked out through the side exit. Hawke signed for their drinks and prepared to follow his pup. After telling Asia they’d eat downstairs, he hoped that would be enough time to make some headway before returning to their suite.
Damian sat in one of the pool chairs near the water. He held another bottle of beer in his hand. Hawke stared at him for a moment before taking a seat next to him. “Did you ever see Sarita at the lab?” The question had been at the back of his mind since he’d spoken to the child weeks ago.
“Sarita?” Damian frowned, looking at him.
“Gordon told you about her, I wondered if the two of you were in the same place.”
Damian shrugged. “Could’ve been. There were lots of kids there in different groups, though. Based on age and abilities. It’s possible I saw her in passing.”
Hawke thought of his responsibilities to his pups, really gave the matter serious thought, something he hadn’t done before. “She’s with La Patron’s pups waiting for us to arrive.”
Damian took a sip of beer but remained silent.
Hawke continued. “I have no idea what I’m going to do or how to handle someone that young.”
“Seems like you don’t know how to deal with kids, period,” Damian said in a low tone. “What I don’t understand is why you are trying to be something you’re not. You had sex with random bitches. If they hadn’t messed around with you, we wouldn’t be here. So we’re really not your problem.”
The anger from those words buffeted Hawke, surprising him that he hadn’t realized the depth of the problem before now. For a smart man, he felt totally inept to handle what had landed on his plate.
“You and Sarita are not a problem… period. Doesn’t matter how you came about, bottom line is you’re my pups. I haven’t been free of the Liege that long, so I’m slow on the learning curve about dens. But we’ll learn, together.”
Damian took another pull from the bottle and continued looking ahead as if Hawke weren’t there. “Some days I wish I never left the labs. If I hadn’t left, Gordon would still be alive. He died because he came looking for me, to protect me.” His agonized whisper burned Hawke.
“Don’t throw away his sacrifice,” Hawke said, meeting Damian’s glassy-eyed stare. “You had no choice in the matter. Lancaster made sure of that. Gordon followed to keep you safe, he knew you were worth it.”
“No, I’m not. I’m just …”
“My son,” Hawke finished with determination. “Not perfect, but then again your father’s not either. But we’ll be okay taking it one day at a time.” He leaned over and put his hand on Damian’s shoulder. “I promise to watch your back and not let anything happen to you. You can count on me.”
Damian turned and met the promise in his gaze. They stared at each other for a few moments before Damian nodded and looked away. A boulder-sized knot unfurled in Hawke’s belly. He patted Damian on the shoulder. “I’m hungry, let’s eat.”
Damian stood and looked around. “Where’s Timber? He eating with us?”
Hawke hated they hadn’t yet opened up to Damian about Asia and the chameleon, but it wasn’t his call. “He’s going over all the information we found out today so that we can plan our next move.”
They left the patio and headed for the restaurant. “I got a message from Miriam,” Damian said after they placed orders for two large medium rare steaks with all the trimmings.
Hawke frowned, trying to place the name. “Miriam? Who’s that?”
Damian looked around and spoke through their link. “The princess.”
Hawke’s brow rose. “Really?”
Damian nodded. “She wants to come over tonight. For sex.”
Hawke was fairly sure Lancaster had tried to breed the pup, but asked just in case he hadn’t. “Have you ever been with a woman?”
Damian’s eyes widened. “Of course, since I turned fifteen.” He paused. “But not a man.”
“Of course not,” Hawke said and caught himself. As far as Damian could see, his sire mated a male. Damn disguises. “When you’re mated, it doesn’t matter.” He hoped that smoothed over his inappropriate outburst.
Damian nodded but remained silent.
When the quiet drug out too long, Hawke asked. “Is she coming over?”
“No, Angus moved me into your suite. Plus, he advised me not to get involved with her in that manner in case there was a …child. I don’t like the idea of her raising my pup without me, it can… confuse and cause problems for the child later.” He didn’t look at Hawke when he
spoke, but Hawke got the message. They ate in silence as Hawke retraced their short history in his mind.
Discovering he had pups had been a surprise. The entire time of his captivity with the Liege, he’d been told his seed never took root in any of the bitches they’d sent to him. He’d allowed more and more experiments to change that situation.
“Damian, I don’t know what else I can say other than I’m sorry we’re strangers, and that I wasn’t the one who taught you to hunt or shift or run with the pack. I didn’t teach you your heritage, or keep you warm in our den. I failed. On a lot of levels, I failed.”
“Not –”
Hawke waved down his interruption. “Yes, and one day, you and I will sit, discuss and compare notes of our time in the Liege’s labs. I’m sure there are similarities. But I have to believe the Goddess allowed you and Sarita to come into me and my mate’s life at this time, for a reason.”
Damian groaned.
“That’s why I know we, our den, and our family will work through this phase and become solid. You’re my son, Sarita’s my daughter, both of you are my pups. My mate and I are doubly blessed by the Goddess.”
“Timber’s not happy I’m around.”
Hawke frowned. “So you read minds now?” He refused to tolerate criticism of his mate.
“Don’t have to. I can tell, he barely looks at me, let alone talk. That’s okay, you guys are new mates, totally into each other.” He shrugged but Hawke saw through the charade.
“We are new mates, glad you understand.” Hawke laughed when Damian frowned.
They finished the meal in lighter spirits. “Asia?”
“How’s it going?”
“Some rough patches, but we’ll make it.” He paused. “Angus was right, we need to prepare for our den.” Neither of them had counted on an instant den when they mated, but life threw curves.
“I know. Chacal arrived early and they left a few minutes ago. I just finished dinner and want to shower.”
“Can you wait a bit, maybe the three of us can sit, talk about what we learned, and make plans?”
“Sure, but we’ve had a long day, you on your way up?”
Hawke took the bill from the waiter, signed it to their room, and stood. “Headed there now.”
Asia wanted a shower and bed in that order. But she needed to pull her weight with this den thing. She placed the tray with the dishes from room service out in the hall and sat on the sofa with her feet up, looking at the laptop monitor. For the past hour she’d been going over their next move in her mind. No way around it, they’d needed to visit her sire and that meant going to Greece. How long would that take? A day if he’s in town, make an appointment? Just barge in, mention her mam’s name? What would be the best approach without revealing herself, she wondered.
Hawke and Damian entered the room. She moved over in case Hawke wanted to sit next to her. Having the suite to herself had been nice, they’d have to do that more often.
“You come up with anything yet?” Hawke asked after sitting next to her. Damian sat in the chair facing them.
“We need to talk to Barticus.” She looked at him and then at Damian, who seemed surprised by the attention.
Hawke recapped some of the information they’d learned that day for Damian’s benefit and drew the same conclusion Asia did.
“Sounds good to me,” Damian said, looking around. “I sleep in here?”
Asia bit back a caustic remark and stood. “Yes, do you want to shower first or in the morning?”
“I showered in the other room.” He pointed across the hall.
“Okay, thanks for all your help, Damian. See you in the morning.” She left the two of them and headed to the bathroom. Her skin itched to be clean and she ached to be filled by her mate. First things first. In the bathroom she stripped out of her clothes, stepped into the shower, and as the water ran over her flesh she changed into her natural form. She hadn’t been bathing long before sexually charged images filled her mind. Fire raced through her veins as Hawke stoked her arousal through their link.
Her fingertips trailed down her flat belly, causing bumps to rise in their path despite the hot water flowing down her skin. The other hand rested on her breast and pulled at her nipple. Her breath came in gasps as her fingers played between her legs.
A cool breeze grazed her back. Hard hands cupped her breasts, pulling her against his hard form.
“Hawke,” she said on a shaky breath, needing him to take her over the edge.
“You started without me?” He bit the corner of her ear and tugged on her nipples.
“Oh,” she cried as sparks of pleasure shot to her core.
“After I waited for you all week?” His hand settled on top of hers between her legs and he moved it back and forth, deepening her pleasure.
“Hawke,” she whispered as she reached behind and grabbed his hard length. “Now,” she demanded, widening her stance and leaning forward.
He smacked each of her cheeks. The sting turned to pleasure, causing her to push back for more. He lined her up and pushed forward. Her beast purred as he took her hard and fast, giving her what she and her animal needed. Her heart raced as they spiraled higher, higher, until they crested and rode waves of pleasure together. Shaking, she leaned against the wall for support.
“I missed you,” he said, lifting and taking her out the shower. He wrapped a towel around her waist and another around her hair. Gently he laid her on the bed and returned to finish his shower. He hoped she would be ready for round two by the time he joined her.
Chapter 8
High in the snow-covered hills, deep in a secluded valley in the northeast mountains in the Ukraine, she awakened from the midst of a deep dream. Her breath caught. “Asia.” Rolling to the side of her bed she stilled as her racing blood warmed. It couldn’t be. Her mind had played tricks on her before. Gave her false hope and left her world shattered and desolate. But this time was different. Her wolf agreed, Asia was somewhere nearby, certainly within the country and she needed to find her.
Despite those seeking her to claim the bounty, from the temple, on her head, she’d never rest unless she went to discover the truth burning in her chest. It had been decades, she shook her head clearing away the last remnants of sleep, no a century since she had sensed her young with such certainty. Strengthened with purpose and a sense of urgency, she reveled in the connection and prayed for the safety of her pup. Questions with no answers flooded her mind about the child she had lost. What of the High Priest? Did he also search for Asia? Her heart wrenched in her chest at the thought of her precious bundle being hunted for those fanatics.
A mental checklist ran through her mind what she needed to accomplish first to begin her journey. Transportation, proper clothing to mingle with humans, and money to grease a few palms. Should she contact him? No, not yet. She had been wrong so many times before, best to be sure first. Inhaling, her body buzzed with the connection. “Asia?” she called hoping they were linked.
No response. That doesn’t matter she told herself, forcing back disappointment. Turning she stared at the ceiling in her room. The Alpha’s room.
What of her pack? In the past when she left to continue the search for her child she sensed they supported her endeavors. But with the bounty increasing they feared she’d leave and not return leaving them without a leader again. They were the last of the White Wolf Clan, her legacy.
“Sleep escapes you, Alpha?” Midrei, her beta, asked from the outer room. Always sensitive to the emotions of others and wise in the way of herbs and healing, Midrei skills came in handy when they went to the marketplace to sell their creams and lotions for supplies. The beta had come to her as an orphan from another pack many decades past when they were starting over. The young bitch had a gift for learning and a strong arm for fighting. She rose quickly to become beta and would make an excellent replacement as Alpha, if only she would agree.
“No. But there is something… different that calls me.” She couldn�
�t explain how she sensed her child, and with her altered physiology, didn’t try. There were times when she simply knew things, it had saved her life and that of her pack on too many occasions to question it now.
“Shall I wake the others?” Midrei was up and on the move before a response had been uttered.
“No. I will go alone.” Calmness settled on her shoulders, this was the right path.
“Alpha?” She heard the panic in Midrei’s voice and sought to ease it.
“This is something I must handle alone, I am not sure why, but I must see it through.” Too many false alarms and traps in the past made her cautious.
“As you wish, Alpha.”
She refused to place her pack in danger over a personal quest. They were still small compared to other, more powerful packs in the area. Comprised of mostly women and younger pups, she kept them sheltered until she could walk freely, no longer hunted like an animal.
But if it were true… she tamped down the excitement coiling around her and wondered what brought the child back home. Would she listen to an explanation why she’d been left with trusted friends, or did she bear a grudge? Answers to her questions robbed her rest. Joy and fear filled her bosom. So many years had passed, would the Goddess finally grant her heartfelt desire to see her child again?
Moving with the aid of the moon, she dressed, gathered supplies, and packed light for her journey. Her hand hovered over her medicinal pack, in the end she stuffed it in her bag just in case. Looking around her room, she spoke to Midrei.
“I will return as soon as I complete this task and will seal the valley when I leave. Or I will call you to me. Remain here with the pack, make sure everyone continues their assigned chores. No slacking while I’m away.” She smiled, knowing in her absence a few of the younger pups would play.
Midrei nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”
She clasped her trusted friend on the shoulder and prayed they would see each other again.