“Do you really think you can win?” Corrigan raised his brow. “You must be very foolish.”
Luke smiled. “And you’re not very wise if you think I would walk into a fight without being armed to the teeth. You brought your army.” Luke gestured towards the area surrounding them. “I brought my allies.”
Snarling wolves emerged from the trees, their eyes vicious and primed for battle.
Chapter 14
Corrigan’s face twisted in a mask of fury when he realized that he was going to have to go up against wolves.
A man emerged from within the wolves, walking calmly towards Luke. He nodded at him. “Claw.”
“Wolf.”
The silver-haired man seemed almost amused at Luke’s blatant dislike.
The Tikaanis were a new wolf pack who had entered the region and were busy trying to befriend neighboring packs. However, wolves did not have the best reputation and, like Luke had been considering doing, many had rejected their offer. However, Luke was anything but stupid and realized that he needed the most vicious of allies if he wanted to take on Corrigan.
“Partnering with wolves, are you?”
Luke just bared his teeth in a smile.
Fergus Adoff was the alpha of the Tikaanis, and his arctic blue eyes nearly pierced into Cassie. He gave a slow smile and said, “So this is the woman you are protecting.”
Cassie growled. “I don’t need protection.”
Fergus’s smile widened. “I never said you did, darling.”
Luke put a possessive hand over Cassie’s waist, and Cassie’s eyes widened at the jealousy that coursed through their bond.
“Luke?”
Her mate’s cheeks were red, and he looked annoyed as he muttered, “Shut up.”
No matter how serious the situation was, Cassie found his reaction funny.
However, she did not have long to enjoy that moment because it was then that Corrigan’s men attacked.
The wolves and Luke’s people attacked at the same time. In the midst stood Fergus, Luke, and Cassie.
Fergus gave a mischievous smile and a two-fingered salute to Cassie, before winking and lopping off into the fight, flipping over a large bear in the process in a move so swift that Cassie’s eyes could not even follow.
Luke’s eyes were grim. “Can you fight?”
Cassie smiled, a feral look in her eyes. “Oh, yes. And I already have a target.” Her eyes were focused on Fiona who hid in the trees nearby.
She turned around and gave Luke a smacking kiss on the mouth before running off. Luke’s eyes followed her until she disappeared from his sight, and then he cracked his knuckles and punched a bear who came his way.
He saw Corrigan making his way towards where Cassie had disappeared to and blocked his path. “Going somewhere?”
Corrigan showed his teeth. “That’s my daughter. I have first rights to her.”
Luke gave a cold laugh. “She certainly doesn’t think so.” And he shifted.
Both bears met in a ferocious battle, all claws and teeth. Corrigan may have had the experience, but Luke had been rogue for such a long time that he played dirty. Along with that, he was fast on his feet. He quickly had Corrigan on his back but was pushed aside by another shifted bear.
Falling onto the ground, he rolled a few times before jumping back to his feet. He quickly looked up and realized that Corrigan had disappeared.
He felt both anger and fear.
The feelings transmitted through his mating bond as he ran to where his mate was. He could feel her pull just like he had when she had run away. Ducking to avoid a flying wolf who had been tossed by a large bear, he shifted and slashed at the bear’s eyes, leaving it roaring in pain.
He turned to go after his mate and saw Fergus grinning as he fought two bears at the same time. The alpha still hadn’t shifted, showing Luke how powerful he must be. His smile was real but those blue eyes were soulless and devoid of any happiness.
Any other time and Luke would have wondered what had happened to the wolf to make him look like that. But this was not any other time, and his mate needed him.
****
Cassie stalked Fiona into the trees and watched her shriek in shock.
“Your child is dead.”
Cassie said nothing.
Seeing the murderous intent in Cassie’s eyes, Fiona stepped back. “Luke lied.”
However, she wasn’t getting a word out of Cassie.
Cassie noticed how Fiona kept glancing over her shoulder.
Cassie was many things, but she was not stupid. Her instincts were on high alert, and she shifted when she felt the air move behind her. Her bear form twisted and defended itself as she felt claws rake her arms.
Corrigan stood there in his shifted form. He walked around her, looking for a weakness. His eyes were on her belly and for a few seconds, Cassie did not realize why. Then it hit her. He must think she was still carrying her baby. The slice of pain in her heart was hot enough to sting. But she was made of sterner stuff, and there was a whole future waiting for her with her mate – a future she wasn’t willing to risk.
She snarled, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Fiona shift and move in to attack. However, she knew something that both Corrigan and Fiona didn’t – that she wasn’t alone.
Out jumped Fergus and Luke from two different directions, each taking on an opponent. Fergus’s eyes widened at her shifted form before he jumped over Fiona and landed on Cassie’s back.
“If you were a wolf, darling, you and I would have been very–”
He slid off her when Luke snarled and swiped his claw at him, annoyed.
Fiona charged at Fergus, but he side stepped her, let off a feral smile, and shifted.
His shifted form was jaw dropping. The silver fur and deep blue eyes made Cassie freeze as she watched him in action; his wolf form was just as lethal as his human form.
A screech of pain directed her attention to her own mate. He had his jaw around her father’s neck. Cassie watched dispassionately. Was it strange that she didn’t even feel satisfaction at what Luke was about to do?
They were animals at their core, and her mate was about to execute her father.
But Luke did not get the chance.
“That’s enough, Luke.”
Samuel walked into the small clearing. His face was grim. Gone was the wise old man. Samuel stood up straight, his eyes clear and distant. Luke took one look at him and stepped back, releasing Corrigan. Bewildered, Cassie glanced over her shoulder to see Fergus moving away from Fiona, looking annoyed at having his prey taken away from him. Abigail stood over Fiona.
The two individuals emitted power.
Samuel stared down at the injured Corrigan in his bear form.
“Shift.”
The Black Eye alpha snarled in defiance.
Samuel did not move an inch.
“Shift!” This time, his voice was infused with the same power that poured out of him.
To Cassie’s shock, she saw the bear shift into a man, unwillingly.
Samuel leaned by the angry man and clasped a band over his neck. “You said the council did not exist.” His eyes glowed. “I’m afraid we do exist, boy. We’re just very good at hiding in the shadows. We sit back, we watch, and when we feel that out intervention is needed, we come forth to change the course of history.”
Abigail dragged Fiona to where Corrigan sat. Both shifters sat still, their instincts quivering, knowing they were in the presence of greater predators. Abigail eyed the two of them. “The outlawing of pack breeders was passed by us. You broke that law.”
Samuel smiled, and his smile was scary enough to send a spike of fear through Cassie’s heart. “So now you will pay for your sins.”
Luke watched the proceedings. To say he was stunned was an understatement. He had known Samuel and Abigail since he had been a child. Like everyone around him, he, too, had heard stories of the mythical council, some at Abigail’s knee. But to think these two were a part of t
he council itself shook his whole world.
What did that mean for the pack? Would Samuel and Abigail leave them?
“Luke, take Cassie and go. You, too, wolf.”
Luke led Cassie away and then paused for a second to ask hesitantly. “Will you be back for dinner?”
He heard the chuckle. “And miss Kayla’s cooking? We wouldn’t dare.”
They were the same. It eased a part of him to know that two of the most important people in his life were not going to abandon his pack. He needed them there.
Fergus followed them out, wide eyed. “Whoa. That was intense. You okay there, darling?”
Luke froze for a second and then whirled around, punching the wolf in the face, “Stop flirting with my mate. And you, stop smiling at him.” Luke growled at Cassie, annoyed. “He’s a mangy mutt.”
Fergus rubbed his jaw, wincing. “I wouldn’t say that. Both my parents were purebreds. Besides, your mate is just too pretty not to–”
He jumped out of the way just in time to avoid Luke’s claws.
Cassie laughed, “Come on, Luke. You’re the only alpha I want. Let’s get going.”
“Heartbreaker!” Fergus called out after her, as she dragged her jealous mate away.
“Come on. I think the fight has stopped. I can’t hear anything,” she said.
Chapter 15
The council was harsh in its laws. It was not just the alpha of Black Claw who was punished. The whole pack was destroyed. The weak were released, as were the innocent, but every male and female who held a trace of darkness in their hearts were taken away by the council.
Samuel refused to reveal any details and simply said it was council business, while Abigail tossed a knife at Luke for badgering her insistently. She was exceedingly kind towards Cassie and pampered the girl like a mother. However, Luke bore the brunt of her knives.
“I don’t understand why.” Luke complained, as he took off his shirt. “I was always the favorite until you came along. Now even that damn wolf keeps hanging around here.”
“I think Fergus likes you.”
Luke turned around to face his mate who sat cross legged on the bed in just a t-shirt and panties. “I don’t trust him.”
Cassie’s eyes were fixed on her mate’s very visible package as she murmured, “And yet, you went out on a run with him yesterday.”
Luke didn’t notice where his mate’s attention lay. “That’s because the mutt kept badgering me.”
“Mhm.”
It was then that a spicy scent infiltrated the air, catching Luke’s attention.
His eyes narrowed, “Cassie.”
However, his mate was not listening. She was staring at his covered area in unconcealed interest. They hadn’t had sex since their first encounter, but right now Cassie wanted nothing but him.
She leaned forward and crawled over to the edge of the bed where Luke stood in only his boxers. Her mate watched her with a hot look in his eyes.
She reached out and lowered the front of his boxers enough to make his large cock spring out. Cassie smiled, lowered herself to her hands and knees, and began to suck the peak.
Luke groaned as his mate’s hot little mouth sucked at the blunt edge of his manhood with surprising force. However, Cassie was far from done. She licked along his thick veins, and in his pleasure-filled haze, Luke wondered what had come over her. She was never this aggressive.
After the battle, she had changed. Not only was she more receptive to his advances, but she initiated quite a few toe-curling kisses. One even in front of the grumpy alpha wolf.
He watched her move her mouth up and down as if she worshipped him with each lick. He moved his hands to her head and groaned, “Slowly, sweetheart.”
But Cassie had other ideas. Her mouth worked harder as Luke proclaimed, “I don’t want to cum just yet, Cassie!”
But his little mate was beyond reasoning with. Luke pulled away from her and threw her on the bed. Seeing her sprawled back like that, he couldn’t help but feel a deep satisfaction as the bear inside him eyed his woman possessively. Crawling on the bed, he stalked her until his face was right in front of her most intimate area. The scent emitting from her was making him heady. He looked up at Cassie who was leaning back on her elbows, her cheeks flushed and her eyes dark with excitement and anticipation. He pushed aside her panties and smirked when he discovered how wet and primed she was.
His smile was slow. “We have a kinky side, do we?”
Cassie leaned over and kissed his sweaty neck. Luke had originally come in from a run expecting to hit the shower. But those thoughts were long gone.
He pushed her back onto the bed, his bear getting aggressive. It had been so long since he had touched Cassie. Suppressing his urges had taken its toll on him, and right now he wanted her screaming his name until her voice became hoarse.
He slowly pushed two fingers inside of her, causing her to throw her head back and moan. Luke smirked and then inserted a third finger, slowly stretching her out.
Cassie writhed under him as he pumped his fingers in and out teasingly. His pace was slow enough to keep her from coming, but fast enough that she was starting to drip on his fingers.
His other hand pushed up her shirt as he helped her take it off. Her breasts looked ripe for the plucking, and he meant to do just that. His mouth found its way to her pretty pink nipple, and his fingers pinched and pulled the other. He used his teeth enough to make her cry out in pain. The thrust of his fingers inside her pussy made her cry change into one of unabashed pleasure.
“How long are you going to torture me for?”
Luke couldn’t help but smirk at his mate’s frustrated wail. He was quite enjoying himself as he got her all hot and bothered for him. Her face was flushed, and her chest was heaving up and down.
“Tired already, Cassie?” he taunted.
She snapped her teeth at him, annoyed at his arrogance. “You just think that because you’re the male, you can…Ooh.” Her words ended in a drawn-out moan as Luke thrust himself into her.
Her mate knew that he was now in full control of their position. He could see the animal in Cassie’s eyes, and her need to submit to him was showing through. His bear wanted to ravage her until she forgot her own name, but the human side of him pulled back. He smirked through the effort of controlling himself.
He was going to drive her insane slowly and steadily until every inch of his cock and body were imprinted on her.
He slowly pulled out, making sure she felt every inch of it.
Cassie cried out a garbled version of his name, and Luke felt pleased.
“You were saying?” he asked.
As she glared at him and opened her mouth to let out a witty reply, he thrust in again. Her face contorted in pleasure, and Luke grinned. He loved having this sort of power over her.
Flipping her over, she let out a sensual scream as he lowered her onto his hardness.
A sob slipped out of her, the pleasure so intense. Luke leaned back and crossed his arms under his head. “Your turn to work.”
Cassie glared at him. “Once we’re done,” she said, ignoring his laughter, “I’m going to make you pay for this.”
Hands on his chest, she carefully pulled up and sank into him again, biting her lower lip in concentration. Her body trembled as the pleasure hit her again. Her movements became faster, causing beads of sweat to drip off Luke’s brow as his heartbeat fastened.
He didn’t know what turned him on more – the fact that she was using him to get what she wanted, or the way her muscles squeezed his cock so deliciously. He watched her breasts bounce as her movement increased, and he raised himself up to suck on her nipples.
Both their animals were trying to break free, and it showed in the aggressiveness of their movements. Luke bit down on that little treat in his mouth, and Cassie threw her head back, still riding him. He could feel her inner muscles clench.
He sat up and Cassie’s eyes widened with startled pleasure.
�
��L-Luke. Please!”
What she was begging for even she didn’t even know. The haze of pleasure was too much for her, and all she could see or think or feel was him.
He could hear the begging in her voice and the contraction in her muscles. He thrust faster and faster until he could no longer contain it and finished inside her.
Their breathing was harsh as they collapsed.
“I don’t know what came over you,” Luke breathed out, “but you’re more than welcome to attack me any time.”
Cassie was too exhausted to retort and smacked her hand on his chest before curling into him and letting him hold her.
“No sex?” Luke said with a grin.
She bit his hand, making him howl in laughter.
****
When they left their room later in the day, Luke found that a lot of the packmates weren’t meeting his eyes. Some of the men, however, whistled when he entered the common room.
Heather walked past him and smacked him on the head. “Keep your door closed, you stupid boy.”
Door?
Then it hit him. He knew exactly what she meant. Oh, Cassie was going to kill him. If he was being harassed, then she was sure to be as well.
“Hey, stupid boy,” Fergus said, strolling into the common room.
The wolf was so sneaky about getting in and out of the den that Shadow Claw’s members weren’t even surprised to see him anymore. They all remembered that he had fought with them, and for them that was good enough.
“How do you keep getting in?” Luke growled annoyingly.
Fergus helped himself to a piece of pie that Luke had been eyeing for a while now. “Ted let me in.”
It seemed that he would have to have a talk with the sentinel about being able to distinguish between a bear and a wolf.
“What do you want?”
Fergus raised his fork which had a piece of the pie attached to it. “For now? Pie. By the way,” he said, chewing slowly, “I met your gorgeous mate on my way in, and boy, she did not look happy.”
When Luke grimaced, Fergus smiled slyly, “All well in the bed?”
Saved by Alpha Bear (Paranormal Shifter Romance) (Shadow Claw Book 1) Page 9