2#Stolen by the Alpha Wolf: Shifter Romance (Deliberate Theft)

by Hartnady, Charlene

  “I can concentrate on growing a healthy heir…” She let the words die, she bit her lip and took in a sharp breath. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

  “Don’t be silly, I don’t mind.” She lied, refusing to put a damper on Tanya’s pregnancy.

  “No, I promise to be more careful.”

  “There you go again.” Stephany huffed. “Stop! You can talk about the pregnancy. It’s important to you.”

  Tanya smiled and nodded, her eyes filled with pity.

  “Can you do me a favor though?” If she had any shot of getting Tanya to agree, it was right now.

  “Sure. Anything.” Tanya reached out and touched her arm.

  “Go and rut with your mates. Do it now.”

  Her brow creased. “Why?” Her frown grew. “What is this about?”

  “I’ve been trying to get ahold of Ward.”

  Tanya clasped a hand over her mouth.

  “Look, I doubt I’ll succeed but on the off chance that I do…” Stephany made sure that she locked eyes with Tanya before she continued, “I need him here.” She felt her lip tremble and so she bit down on it.

  Tanya rubbed her arm. “Oh, honey…they already said that he could come.”

  Stephany took ahold of Tanya’s hand. “They’re not to ask anything of him. No terms and conditions, no compensations, no fealty. If I…by some miracle…manage to get the message to him, he will come for me…for the termination and nothing else…Am I clear?”

  Tanya nodded. “Yes, of course. They already said that.”

  “Once it’s over, he must be allowed to walk away.” She squeezed Tanya’s hand. “I need their promise.”

  “Yes, of course. You have my word. I will go and tell them now.” Tanya smiled.

  “First, you must rut them. Remember what I said…”

  Tanya laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I will give them a ride they won’t easily forget”—she winked—“and then I’ll ask. Wait a minute, make that”—she cocked her head—“then I’ll inform them.”

  “Thank you.” A nervous tension inside her eased a tiny fraction.

  “If you need anything, and I mean anything, you let me know.” Tanya held her gaze for a few seconds until Stephany nodded. “Good,” Tanya said.

  “I will let the kings know if Ward is coming. I will make sure I have their permission.”

  Her friend gave Stephany a hug before turning. The human fished a cell phone out of her pocket as she walked to the door.

  “Brant, honey…I’m ready to take care of your blue balls now…”

  There was a low growl on the other end.

  “Oh yeah… dripping wet…” She turned and winked at Stephany as she opened the door. “Please let Zane know.”

  Another growl on the other end.

  “Honey bun…you know my latest favorite saying…two cocks are better than one.” A pause, “What if I told you that you get to go first?” Tanya shut the door. “Or, I could suck you off while Zane ruts me?”

  Sometimes Stephany hated her enhanced hearing.

  “I know you like my little fangs on your dick.” Tanya giggled.

  Oh by the Gods, Stephany wished she could pull out her eardrums. Tanya’s voice faded as she walked away. “One minute, you’ll be here as quick as that? I’ll be waiting…yes naked…” Far enough away now that she could only just make out what the human was saying, “…I’m going to start fingering myself as soon as I’m on the bed, so make sure you don’t miss the party. You know how I cum really easily and…” Stephany let out a pent up sigh. Thank blood her friend was finally far enough away that she couldn’t hear any more of that awful conversation.

  Her phone rang.

  She recognized the number instantly. It had her heart racing so hard that she could hear the rush of her blood in her ears.

  It rang again several times before she finally plucked up enough courage to answer it. “Hello.” She had to force herself to speak up.

  “It’s you.” A female voice. Since there was only one female that she had spoken to while with the wolves, Stephany’s blood ran cold.

  “Luna.” Why was the female wolf using Ward’s phone?

  “What do you want?” The female spat.

  “I need to speak with Ward. It’s”—she chewed on her lip for a beat—“it’s…” She was going to say an emergency. How could she though? Ward had clearly moved on and rightly so. She had known he would. The selfish part of her hoped that it was out of obligation and not because he wanted to. The truly selfish part of her had hoped that he wouldn’t be able to. It hurt.

  Closing her eyes, she cleared her throat before continuing. “It’s nothing.” She finally managed to squeeze out. “Forget I called.”

  “Leave us alone.” Luna growled and then the phone went dead.

  Stephany must not have realized how hard she was holding the device, because next thing she knew it was crumpled in her hand. The circuit boards cracked, the screen broken, rendering it useless. Better that way. She had been tempted to call Luna right back, to beg the female to get Ward to contact her, which would just complicate things further. It wasn’t fair that she’d called Ward in the first place. The jealous hurt that she felt was even more unfair. A part of her felt anger towards the alpha. Yet he was only doing his duty towards his pack. She was still convinced that he had felt just as strongly for her. She knew it deep down inside. Stephany would force herself to remember how it had been between them. How right, how beautiful. She wouldn’t allow this moment to erase that.

  There was a familiar vibration, a thudding noise. As planned, Tanya was rutting her kings. Granting her a favor that Stephany would never need.

  Chapter 5

  Stephany was startled awake as a hand closed over her mouth. She tried to bite but could not find purchase. Another hand closed over her hip, holding her in place. A hot, hard, very naked body pushed up against her back.

  “Shhhh.” Stephany relaxed as Ward’s musky scent enveloped her. As hard as she tried though, she couldn’t get her muscles to relax.

  “I’m going to let you go. Keep very quiet. The kings won’t take it lightly that a wolf has breached their castle.”

  She nodded against his hand and Ward released her. Turning, she threw herself into his arms appalled at a desperate sounding whimper that escaped her. Keeping her bracketed in his strong arms, he pulled her with him into a sitting position.

  “I know I shouldn’t say this, but I’ve missed you so much.” He nuzzled into the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. His body tensed, this time when he sniffed her it was more deliberate. “Stephany, I scent”—another hard sniff—“You’re with child, my child.”

  Wolves obviously had a better sense of smell than vampires did. Nodding, she pulled away. The alpha kept his hands on her hips, not allowing her to move too far.

  Ward looked confused. “How is this possible? I thought you were infertile.” Before she could answer, he threw her a toothy grin. “You’re pregnant with my pup.”

  “Shhh. This is no happy matter. I told you I couldn’t birth young, not that I was infertile.”

  His hands tightened around her. “A pup.” His eyes shone and his grin widened. “I am very happy. This means that you have to mate me. Your kings will have to understand.” His hand slid to her belly, cupping the slight curve. “My heir. You are mine, Stephany. Mine.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.

  Oh, how she wished it were true.

  Her heart sang even though it was still splintered in a thousand prickling shards. Ward had wanted her before the baby. Still wanted her now. Yet, nothing had changed. Just because Ward wanted this baby just as much as she did, didn’t mean that they got to keep it.

  “Luna must have told you…wait a minute, are you two not mated?”

  He growled a negative response. “You have ruined me for any other female.”

  “Be serious, Ward.” She tried to throw him a dirty look.

  He moved further away, folding his arms across his che
st. “I couldn’t be more serious, Stephany. Members of my pack take turns checking coms, they also sometimes go for needed supplies. The female was a part of the group today. Luna told me about your calls, about your conversation.” He sighed, taking her hands in his. “I knew it had to be serious even though you claimed it wasn’t. I tried to call you back, but your phone kept going to voicemail. I had to see you. Thank fur I came.”

  “Luna told you?” She heard the disbelief in her voice.

  He nodded. “She is not a bad female. We are not meant to be together but she cares about me. She knows what you mean to me even though she does not feel that a vampire should be permitted to join our pack. I have been like a wolf with a sore tooth ever since you left. I told you, I am ruined for all others.” His green eyes smoldered. “I meant it when I said that. I am glad you called. So happy you carry my child.”

  She shook her head sadly. “Listen to me, Ward. Please.”

  His face turned serious and he nodded once. Taking her hand, he threaded his fingers through hers.

  “I told you that I can’t birth young. My pelvis is too narrow, this child would never survive. There is a good chance that I would not make it either. I cannot go through with the pregnancy.” Her voice grew gravelly, even hitching as she said the final part.

  Clasping her hands tightly in his, his brow furrowed. “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.” She answered without having to think on it.

  “Come with me. Pack a bag.” As he talked, his face lit up with excitement.

  “I can’t, Ward.” She shook her head. “That’s crazy talk. My termination is tomorrow, I need you at my side. That’s why I called. I can’t face this alone.”

  His green eyes turned dark and stormy. “No,” he growled.

  “Shhh.” She touched a hand to his jaw.

  Ward pursed his lips for a few long seconds. “Don’t, Steph. No termination. Come with me.” He sounded desperate.

  “Didn’t you hear a thing I just said? The child won’t make it.” A tear tracked down her cheek.

  Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped it away. “Trust me. Please, Steph.”

  “I trust you, Ward. It’s just that going with you won’t change anything. It’ll delay the inevitable, will only make things so much worse.”

  Clearly frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. “Come with me, give me a chance to explain, to show you…if you want to come back after that…to terminate.” His throat worked, “I will support you.”

  His eyes narrowed in on hers. Hope was such a dangerous thing, yet, it unfurled inside of her. Stephany nodded. “Okay.” If there was even the slightest chance then she was taking it.

  Ward closed his eyes as the tension eased from his large frame. When he opened them, they held a feral gleam. “You are mine, Stephany, and I will have you now. By all that is furry, I have missed you.”

  Her core clenched with a deep seated need. Her nipples tightened under her sleeping shirt as his eyes tracked down her body.

  Shaking her head, Stephany said, “It would be best if your scent wasn’t all over me when we went to address the kings. I need to call and ask permission for you to be here. We need to do things the right way. I don’t want trouble for you.”

  Ward gave a soft chuckle. “Sorry to tell you this, sweetheart, but my scent is already all over you. I told you that you are mine now.”

  She shook her head. “My species cannot scent that I am with child. Your sense of smell must be better than ours.”

  “Do the kings know of the pregnancy?”

  She nodded. “They were understanding”—she paused—“considering. I had to tell them to be granted permission to terminate.”

  His eyes turned stormy. “No termination. You are my mate. It’s only a matter of time now before it is made official.”

  Her breathing hitched. “We’re still polar opposites, Ward. There is something I need to tell you. It will most likely cause you to change your mind. Besides, your pack would never accept me.” She had to tell him about Lance. It was on the tip of her tongue. Stephany could never be Ward’s mate. As much as they both might want it.

  “As for my pack, I am their alpha and they will do as I say. I will convince your kings, even if I have to swear fealty to them, I don’t care what I have to do to make it happen. There is nothing you could tell me that would make me change my mind.” His voice had become so deep that she could almost feel the vibrations move through her.

  She traced his jaw with her fingers, watching how he moved towards her touch. “No, Ward. I wanted you to swear fealty but not like this, not for me.”

  His face softened. “I would do anything for you, Stephany. You need to know that.” His arms tightened around her. “I will take you now because I burn for you, because I’ve missed you so much, because I will put more of my scent on you to ensure that all know who you belong to.”

  Surely she was the most selfish female that had ever walked this planet. Stephany mirrored each one of his desires. Once Ward learned of Lance, he would change his mind about her. Right now she needed to be close to him. To feel him inside her. Possibly for the last time. She would tell him about Lance. After. Hopefully he would understand and still take her with him.

  “You are mine.” He growled, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that caused her toes to curl and her eyes to squeeze shut. Oh, how she wished it were true.

  Chapter 6

  “Yes.” His female acknowledged as he broke the kiss. Ward pulled her shirt over her head. Her admission was like vision to a blind man or food to the starving. That one little word was like a colorful rainbow at the end of a storm. It meant everything to him.

  His eyes dropped to her breasts which were fuller than he remembered. Her belly was slightly rounded. The thought of his unborn son growing inside her drove him insane with need. The need to claim, to brand, to make her his.

  His gums itched as his teeth sharpened. Ward put a sharp rein on the beast inside. This needed to happen in stages. When he finally got to mate this exquisite female, it would be with her full consent. As far as he was concerned, they were already mated. His heart had beat for her that first day that he had sunk himself into her. The mating would only become official though when he announced it to his pack, and more importantly when she acknowledged him as her mate. He couldn’t wait.

  Right now, rutting with her would need to be enough. Ward had to suppress a growl as he closed his mouth over one of her distended nipples. Swirling his tongue around her areola, he nipped softly at her tender flesh. Her breathing hitched and her hands tightened on his shoulders.

  “I want to taste you, but you have to keep quiet,” he whispered.

  She nodded, swallowing hard as she leaned back on her elbows. Ward pushed her legs open, his eyes zoning in on the feast nestled between her thighs. “Shhhh,” he whispered as his fingers trailed over her soft mound.

  Hairless. Pink. Glistening. So beautiful. So his.

  Ward felt his nostrils flare as he inhaled her delicious citrus, vanilla scent. She whimpered softly as he closed his mouth over her clit. Stephany threw her head back, her mouth a thin white line. Her back bowed off the bed as he gave her throbbing nub a suck.

  A low moan filled the quiet space as he laved over her sensitive knot of nerves. Alternating between sucking, nipping softly and licking, it wasn’t long before she clawed at the sheets, panting heavily.

  Stephany’s hips rocked in time with his thrusting tongue, so responsive, so sensitive. Ward inserted a single finger into her tight, wet sheath. His female moaned, thrashing her head from side to side.

  “Shhhh.” He smiled while moving over her, careful to ensure that his weight was distributed on his arms, which he anchored on either side of her face. “Put your legs around me, sweetheart.” She did as he said, locking her ankles at his back. Ward nudged into her welcoming pussy, swallowing her cry with his mouth.

  She was just as tight as he remembered, although not as vicelike as their fir
st time together. He waited a few beats before sliding a little further into her wet heat. Ward closed his eyes, feeling sweat bead on his brow. He waited until she grew accustomed to his girth, until she squirmed beneath him. Pulling out, he eased back sliding in a little further each time until his hips finally met hers. She whimpered into his mouth, her fingers dug into his back. Stephany pulled her legs up higher. Ward groaned as his cock slid deeper into her tight sheath. Already, he could feel his balls pulling up in anticipation.

  Using slow easy strokes, he moved within her. Loving the way they fit so perfectly together. Ward cupped her chin, deepening their kiss. She rocked her hips in time with him. He could sense that his female was close by the way she clawed at his back. By how he felt her quiver beneath him with each thrust. Ward pulled back, her eyes were squeezed shut and she bit down on her lip as they broke the kiss.

  “Look at me.” He whispered, his voice thick and gravelly.

  Stephany opened her eyes. They were as blue as a winter sky, only more beautiful.

  “You are mine, just as I am yours.” He took back her mouth, keeping his eyes locked with hers. Her sheath tightened around him. Ward thrust deeper, picking up the pace as she shuddered beneath him, her pussy clamping down hard, sucking on him greedily. He was forced to break the kiss so that he could grit his teeth as he felt himself cum. Stephany buried her face into his neck. When she bit him, he came harder. When she sucked, he just about saw stars, his movements turning jerky. His dick swelled, making it harder to move. Intense pleasure flooded through him. On a low growl, Ward clamped down on her shoulder trying hard not to break her skin, but failing as the taste of iron hit his tongue. His female moaned, taking another long draw that had his balls pulling higher into his body. He released her neck as he continued to grind into her tight heat. His body shook with the need to roar.