“That’s a lot of talk, but not a lot of action.” She licked her lips then went to her knees. “Maybe I should show you just exactly what I’m talking about.” With that, she pulled him out of his sweats and pumped him hard.
He groaned, tangling his fingers in her hair. “Have I told you I love your mouth? You know exactly what to do with your tongue. I could fuck your mouth all day.”
She hummed along his length and rolled his balls in her palm. He let his head fall back as he slowly worked in and out of her mouth. She savored him as if she couldn’t get enough. When his balls tightened, he pulled out then lifted her up into his arms.
“I wasn’t done,” she said on a laugh as he stripped her down to her skin.
“I don’t want to come in your mouth first. I want to fill up that beautiful pink cunt of yours and mate. Does that sound like a plan? You ready for my cock in your pussy, little witch?”
He smacked her ass as she went silent, as if she were thinking. When she moaned, he smacked it again, rubbing the sting as her legs melted underneath her, even in his arms. She kissed his chin and he lowered his face, taking her mouth. They kissed softly, slowing increasing the fervor as their passion ignited. Together, they laid on the carpet, the thickness soft and sensual against their skin.
He kissed up and down her body, licking at her nipples, suckling as she moaned underneath him. When he parted her thighs to check her readiness, he let out a growl of his own.
“You’re so wet for me, little witch. Did you like my cock in your mouth? Did that turn you on?”
“I loved your cock in my mouth,” she teased. “But I’m going to love to have your cock in my cunt even more.”
He growled at her dirty words and moved so he hovered over her, his cock at her entrance. “Do you know what comes next?” She winked at him, and he laughed. He never thought to mate with another, and he damn sure didn’t think he’d laugh and have fun with his mate during their mating bond. Leah was perfect for him, and he’d kick himself until the end of days for taking so long. “I meant the mating, little witch.”
She nodded and arched up against him, her nipples pressing into his chest. “Yes. You’ll fill me and come, connecting our human halves. Then you’ll bite my shoulder, marking me as yours for all to see and mating your wolf to my witch.”
He kissed her softly. “Perfect, darling.”
“Can I bite you, too?” She sounded almost shy.
He growled again and reached down to hold the base of his cock so he wouldn’t come at her words. “You can bite me all you want. I will proudly wear your mark.”
She licked her lips and met his gaze. As she sucked in a breath, he slowly, oh so slowly, entered her. His hands roamed her breasts and arms as hers did the same to his back. He worked in and out of her, loving the way her pussy clenched around him when he reached a certain spot. Their tongues tangled as they kissed, their bodies sweat-slick as they made love.
When his fangs elongated, Leah tilted her head, baring her neck for him. His wolf howled as he slowly bit into the meaty part of her shoulder where it met her neck. He’d heard from others that it wasn’t a painful bite, but he was still as gentle as he could possibly be. This was his mate, and he didn’t want to hurt her in any way.
As soon as he slid his teeth in fully and bit, he felt the first part of the bond slide into place. Leah gasped, and he moved his mouth from her shoulder, licking the wound. His wolf prowled inside him, eager to complete the bond yet almost at peace with what had happened. She was a warm part of him for eternity now, and he couldn’t wait to finish the bond.
He tilted his head to the side, and she kissed his neck. Though he kept moving in and out of her, he tried not to move too quickly and startle what was happening between them. When she bit down on his shoulder he shuddered, his wolf pressing into him in bliss.
“Fuck, little witch. You’re mine,” he bit out.
She kissed up his neck then took his mouth. “And you’re mine. Now fuck me, my wolf. Make me yours in truth.”
He pressed a hard kiss to her mouth then lifted her ass slightly as he angled his thrusts, pumping in and out of her until her breasts bounced and his body ached. She pinched her nipples and licked her lips, smiling as he reached up and cupped her breasts. He couldn’t stop touching her, couldn’t stop needing her.
When his balls tightened, he lowered himself and kissed her again, not losing his rhythm. “Come for me, little witch. Come around my cock.”
He angled his hips just right and her pussy clenched around him. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and he grinned as she came. When she looked back at him, he pumped hard once more then came.
The mating bond between then clamped shut, a warm burst of lightning and tingles down his spine. He felt her soul. Felt her magic within him. The water in the glass on the counter near them floated into the air and swirled around them, mixing with the magic of the bond between them. The spirits quieted for the first time in longer than he could remember, and he fell to the carpet, rolling and bringing her with him, his cock still deeply inside of her.
“Holy goddess,” Ryder whispered.
“That…that was…yeah.”
No words, he thought. There were no words. He had his mate in his arms and in his soul. The mating bond flared between them, a pulse of love, passion, and connection he’d never thought possible.
The goddess had blessed him with a woman who not only fought back but also fought for him. Now that he’d given in to the temptation of a future, he knew he’d do whatever it took to keep it.
Leah was his mate, his heart.
And now he’d prove it to her, to him, to everyone.
For eternity.
Chapter Thirteen
Once again, Leah found herself standing in front of the Coven, yet this time, she felt no true fear, only anticipation laced with worry. The man that had tried to take her life after giving it to her in the first place lived no longer. The gnawing ache that had once come with the presence of Luis and Darynda was no more.
Ryder hadn’t wanted her to come to the Coven meeting with him and the other wolves, though he hadn’t voiced as much. She’d felt it through the mating bond. She still couldn’t believe they’d mated. It had once seemed like a dream, or at least something so farfetched it would never happen, but now it was reality.
While she understood why Ryder had pushed her away for so long, she also knew it would take longer than an evening of pure passion for her to get over the idea of being left behind because of it. He might not have known what to do with his powers or how they would affect her in the long run, but he hadn’t given her a choice in the matter.
She’d forgiven him for it all because she loved him, but she wouldn’t forget what had happened anytime soon. If she were to do so, she might forget how hard she’d worked to get where she was, and forget what it had taken to make that happen.
The bond between them flared, and she held back a gasp. She looked to her left at her mate, her mate, and gave him a slight nod. When he reached out and gripped her fingers, she squeezed his hand back. Before, showing any form of attachment would have only painted a target on his back. Now that wasn’t the case. The dangers weren’t gone completely, not even close, but the main one she had worried about all her life was. Now the idea of a mate, someone who would have her back and cherish her wasn’t a burden, but something to be celebrated. She wouldn’t have to protect him from her past, but rather, they would protect each other in their future.
Together they were stronger than they ever had been before.
Ryder gave her a slight smile, and the bond pulsated once again. She knew they were in the middle of the mating heat, and if they hadn’t needed to meet with the Coven to deal with the Humans First problem, they’d be in bed—or on the floor—right now.
She couldn’t wait to get Ryder home and strip him down so she could lick up every inch of him. And boy how many inches that man had in certain places.
Brandon let ou
t a small cough, and Leah blushed. She’d forgotten the Omega stood to her right. The Omega who could not only scent her arousal but feel her emotions.
As Ryder’s mate, she was Pack. She was officially a Talon. She’d been so enraptured with the mating bond and Ryder’s body inside hers, she’d completely missed the snap of the Pack bond going into place. When she’d woken from her sex-hazed fog, she’d felt the first stirrings of the Pack bond, as well as those of being the Heir’s mate. It would take a while to get used to, but she would. Eventually.
However, that meant she needed to focus on the here and now and focus on whatever the hell was going on between the Pack and the Coven instead of giving Brandon a show with her emotions.
That morning, after a wonderful post-mating shower that had including another bout of mating because, dear goddess, she couldn’t keep her hands off of him, Brandon had called to let them know the Coven had requested their presence.
Or rather, what was left of the Coven. As it hadn’t been a summons like the previous time the witches had wanted to speak with them, Leah was a little more hopeful on the outcome of this meeting.
The Talons had brought Ryder, Brandon, and herself. The Redwoods had Finn, Drake, Charlotte, and Bram. Charlotte had requested to be there for Leah’s sake, and Leah was grateful. Bram, Leah figured, was there for Charlotte. Not that the two looked ready to talk about what the hell was going on with them yet.
And that was how they found themselves, once again, in an older building on neutral ground. They weren’t meeting in the previous one, as it had been compromised thanks to Luis. The Coven’s numbers had grown since the last time they’d been there, as well, and that was something Leah needed to know more about.
Not all witches were evil, power-hungry, elitist snobs, far from it, but Luis and Darynda hadn’t shown that to the Packs.
“Thank you for coming,” the pregnant witch finally said. “I’m Amelia, an air witch and the new leader of the Coven.” She gave them a self-deprecating smile. “We’re in limbo at this point with our leadership.”
Ryder tilted his head, looking so much like a wolf she had to hold back a smile of her own. “We’re here because the problem hasn’t gone away. Humans First, the government, and countless others don’t understand our people, and the lack of knowledge leads to dangerous times.”
Amelia nodded and looked around at her fellow witches before landing her gaze on Leah. “The Coven has made mistakes. Not all of them were made with the knowledge of the Coven, but we allowed Luis and Darynda to rule us for far too long.”
“They threatened our families,” another witch said from Amelia’s side. He was younger than Luis had been, as were many of the current members in front of Leah.
Amelia’s jaw tightened. “We will not allow that to happen again. We are a peaceful people. Do no harm. That is the first rule of being a witch, and yet, some of the former members of the Coven didn’t seem to understand that. We might be in the middle of a transition within our own borders, but we know there is more at stake than who rules a coven and what happens within our people.”
Ryder nodded. Leah knew the Talons understood this better than anyone. Their change might have happened over a decade ago, but they were still feeling the aftermath of that hierarchy shift. That was what happened when one lived hundreds of years.
“We need to define the narrative,” Amelia continued.
“We can try,” Leah put in. “But people are so scared right now, they don’t know what to listen to. It doesn’t help that Washington has been oddly quiet except for that one speech.”
Ryder let out a small growl. “To me, that means they’re planning something. Or more than one something.”
“Agreed,” Amelia said, her voice solemn.
For the next few hours, they discussed their plans to protect not only their people but also their future. It wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t happen overnight. The Talons and Redwoods didn’t speak for the entire world of wolves, nor did the Coven for all witches. But they were the main voices in this fight because of where things were percolating. Leah knew there was one wolf, a Redwood named Parker, who was out in the world, meeting with other Packs, and keeping things up-to-date. Technology only went so far. Things were starting to move faster toward a confrontation, and at least a new knowing. Leah would be by Ryder’s side for all of it. She refused to stand back and allow the world to change without her. She’d hidden for far too long as it was.
Roland was gone, but his legacy, the idea of a life not on the run, would not fade. She would live that for him because he never had the chance. She would fight for her people, witches and wolves.
She’d been given this gift and she wouldn’t lose it.
Once the meeting ended, the tired group of wolves headed out to their vehicles. They’d made plans for speeches, and how they would continue to try and define their narrative, but in reality, it was only the first step. If the government or Humans First came at them, they would have to be prepared to fight. They’d done their best to not kill anyone who tried to hurt them outside of their circles, but soon that might have to change.
They could only protect their families so much without resorting to a result that would end in blood and tears. That result could hurt their images, but as of now, their image was murky anyway.
Politics and media streams hurt her head, and she wanted to go back to the Pack and worry about something a little more insular than the end of the world as she knew it.
Ryder’s arm went around her shoulders as they made their way to their SUV. She leaned in to his hold and inhaled his scent. She couldn’t use her nose the way wolves could, but she still loved the smell of him. He settled her in a way she hadn’t thought possible before.
Brandon moved past them and shook his head. “Next time I’m bringing Kameron and Mitchell. You two and your mating heat are just about killing me.”
Leah bit her lip to keep from laughing, but Ryder had no qualms about chuckling. “You’d rather deal with their icy emotions than our mating?”
Brandon met Ryder’s eyes, and Leah had to hold her breath. “Their pain and ice soothes the heat at times.” With that, the Omega got into the back of the SUV, and Leah leaned in to her mate.
“Maybe we can tone it down for him.”
Ryder kissed her softly then moved back. “Maybe. It’s all so new, though, that I don’t even realize I’m doing it.” He looked over her shoulder and frowned. “Did I give you my tablet?”
She checked her bag and shook her head. “No. Did you leave it in the room?”
Ryder cursed. “Yeah. Fuck. Okay, I’ll be right back. Stay in the car.” He kissed her once more and jogged back to the building.
Leah let out a breath and got into the passenger seat of the SUV, her eyes on the building.
“You don’t have to keep your emotions tamped down around me,” Brandon said from behind her. “I’m the Omega, I feel everything. My brother deserves this happiness far more than I can even contemplate. I’d known something was wrong with him, or rather that something was hurting him for years, but I couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t help. The fact that your bond seems to have settled him just a little bit makes any oddness I feel worth it and more.”
Leah turned in her seat to look at Brandon. She didn’t know what she would do if she had to feel every single emotion of the Pack. She could feel the souls of the Pack in her heart as it was, but it was almost muted, as if the goddess were giving her time to figure out how she would help the Talons in the future. However, Brandon, and Gideon for that matter, seemed to have it at full force.
“You’re not to blame for Ryder keeping his gift a secret.” Ryder had told his family that morning what he’d been hiding all those years. They weren’t happy with him, but they’d banded together to make sure he was cared for. For that matter, Leah didn’t know how she would help him if the spirits got to be too much, but she’d damn well try. He wasn’t alone anymore, and neither was she.
&n
bsp; “I wish he’d have told us earlier, but I understand he thought we all needed to have one good memory about our uncles. As well as the fact that he hadn’t wanted to bother anyone with his pain. We’re all idiots when it comes to protecting one another from our faults.” Brandon snorted then stared off into the distance.
She didn’t know his secrets, and it wasn’t her place to ask him about them, but she’d learn one day what it meant to be part of a family. She was a Talon now—a far greater network than merely her mother and brother.
Brandon stiffened then jumped out of the SUV. She followed him, her body on alert.
“What is it?” she asked quietly.
“I thought I heard a crash.” He met Leah’s gaze. “And Ryder should have been back by now.”
She tripped over a rock and righted herself. Goddess, no. She tried to feel the bond and came up short. She still didn’t know how to work with it. It was still so new that sometimes she couldn’t find it. It was there, she knew that at least because she hadn’t felt it break, but she couldn’t find him.
She ran after Brandon, the Redwoods on their tails since they hadn’t left yet. If the witches had hurt her mate…she balled her hands into fists, trying to keep her magic under control. They ran into the conference room and came up short.
“He’s not here,” she whispered.
Ryder’s tablet lay on the table, untouched. No one else was in the room; the witches had left the room the same time the wolves had.
“I don’t scent anyone,” Brandon growled out.
“I don’t either,” Finn added. “Fuck. Who the hell took Ryder?”
Her body shook and she reached out to grab the tablet. The metal was cold. No one had touched it since they’d left.
“Where is he?” she whispered. Her magic slid through her, ready to fight. But without knowing who to fight, she came up short.
“Finn? Can you come over here?” Charlotte knelt on the floor next to the side door, a frown on her face. “Everyone else keep your distance. I think I scent something, but I don’t want to mix it with others.”
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