by Dia Cole
Fear washed down my spine as I tested the restraints. I was immobile with my legs spread open and my bare ass quivering in the air. Never had I felt more vulnerable and exposed and, since I’d been an exotic dancer, that was saying something. I counted my breaths, trying not to let panic overtake me.
“I’m sorry, but it has to look convincing.” Tyberius brought his hand down on my ass.
The hard slap jolted me, scalding my skin. Shock gave way to desire as heat flooded my core. I let out a deep moan. Despite the seriousness of the situation, my body craved the erotic attention.
Tyberius slapped me again.
The impact sent a lightning strike straight to my pussy. “More,” I begged.
Tyberius obliged, spanking me again and again.
Each crack of his hand brought a mixture of pain and pleasure that made me shudder with want. My thighs shook as the ache in my pussy grew. I’d almost lost myself when Tasha strode into the room, a contingent of males behind her. They were all huge, muscular, and unfamiliar except for the gray-haired one I recognized from the resort parking lot.
Tasha caught sight of me on the bench and stopped. Her bright yellow eyes flashed with something that dropped my internal temperature thirty degrees. “Tyberius, explain yourself.”
“What’s to explain? I’m punishing my female.” Tyberius gave me another blistering slap on the ass.
I let out a cry.
Tasha’s gaze narrowed. “She isn’t yours.”
“She’s mine,” Tyberius said so fiercely, I almost believed him. “Never have I craved a female so. I want to mate her until neither of us can move.” He gripped my hip so hard his fingers dug into my skin.
Taking my cue, I moaned, “Fuck me.” I pushed my ass into the air. “Please.”
He grabbed hold of my hair and yanked my head back. “So greedy for my cock, aren’t you?”
“Yes, oh yes!” I cried.
Tasha looked over at the gray-haired male. “And you thought my son was trying to escape, Zayn.” She let out a laugh that crawled across my skin like spiders.
Tyberius pinched my nipples through the shirt.
I swallowed back my shocked moan. “Ty, please.” The nickname slipped from my lips, as if I’d been using it forever.
“I want to hear you scream.” Ty slid his hands between my legs and rubbed my clit.
I shrieked at the intense sensation. “Please, Ty. Stop.” I knew it was a ruse, but being aroused in front of his mother was degrading. Even worse, she watched every touch with that unblinking predatory stare of hers.
Tasha licked her lips. “I can help you punish her.”
“No,” Ty snarled. “She is mine and mine alone. I want privacy while I mate her.”
“So possessive!” She sounded halfway between annoyed and delighted. “Alphas always are when they find their mates.” She rubbed her hands together. “Normally I’d throw you back in the dungeon for compelling my Enforcers, but considering you're finally taking a female, I’ll overlook your disobedience.” She waved her hands at the males behind her. “Wait for them outside the room. When they are… finished, please escort them to his chambers, unless you’d rather she stay in a different room.”
“She stays with me,” Ty roared.
“Then it’s settled.” With those parting words she and her Enforcers left taking their menacing energy with them.
I dropped my head in relief.
Ty cursed. “Yes, I know we’re alive, Nathan. But it doesn’t look like we’re getting out of here anytime soon. Oh, you’ve got a plan now. Care to share?” He looked over at me. “No. I will not ask Havana to do that.”
I lifted my head. “Ask me what?”
“Nathan wants you to claim me because my mother would never allow me to die. Claiming me would keep you alive.”
That made a kind of sick sense. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Ty’s mouth dropped. “You’d be willing to soul bond with me?”
I nodded. “Apart from the it-would-keep-me-alive-thing, you’re incredibly sexy, and I must’ve thought pretty highly of you to date you.” And seduce you. “Don’t you want me to claim you?” Nathan seemed to think Ty was in love with me, but maybe he had the wrong idea.
Ty’s Adam’s apple jumped. “I do.”
“Then I’ll do it, but on one condition.”
His expression shuttered. “What condition?”
I wiggled my ass. “You have to put your cock inside me.” I know Mason told me not to have sex, but the need to mate burned through me with such savage intensity I couldn't think of anything else. Maybe if he just stuck it inside me for a minute, it would ease some of the agonizing pain between my legs.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this, brother?” Ty asked the voice inside his head.
Screw Nathan. “Ty, kick Nathan out of your head and stick your cock inside me now!” My voice cracked as another spasm tore me apart. Every cell of my body begged for what only he could give me.
“I will never let my Starfire suffer.”
I felt warmth at my back, and then his swollen shaft was pressing inside my slick entrance.
My eyes rolled back in my head. “Ah, yes. God, that feels so good. Fuck me a little please. Just a little.”
He fed his cock in with slow pumps that took him deeper and deeper until he was completely buried inside me.
“Blast. You’re so tight,” he growled in my ear. His hands gripped my hips as he plunged out and then back in.
“Yes,” I hissed, fighting the restraints. My core clenched tight, picking up his slow rhythm. “Faster. Please.” Screw Mason and his no sex rule. If Ty didn’t fuck me right now, I was going to internally combust.
He quickened his pace, his downward strokes scraping against that exact spot in my body that made me scream.
Fire consumed me. Unable to stand it, I tossed my head back and forth.
His chest heaved against my back. He thrust faster and faster.
My vision flickered. I made noises I didn’t even recognize. “More. Oh, God. More.”
He gave me everything I craved.
Tied down and spread out on my belly, I was helpless to do anything but succumb to him and the soul-shattering orgasm that exploded inside me.
As I clamped down on him, he came with a shout and blasted me with a hot rush of liquid heat.
For the first time in hours, the raging fire went away. Feeling sated and happy, I sagged against the bench.
“Thank you,” he said, his large body blanketing my back.
“No, thank you,” I panted. “You’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” he said, laying a feather light kiss on my back.
As the soul bond snapped between us, his joy and love flooded me carrying with it all his memories of us.
Tears filled my eyes. “I’ve missed you, Sugar Bear.”
17
Mason
The walls of the dilapidated cabin seemed to be closing in on me. The frustration of not being able to help my mate or my friends was driving me out of my mind. It didn’t help that the lingering scent of Havana’s sensual musk hung in the air.
This might be the last time I’ll smell her. I kicked that thought away before it could drag me into a deep depression.
I rocked faster in the rocking chair, finding the motion soothing. When I felt calm enough to speak, I pressed the talk button on the radio in my hand. “How’s it going at the resort, mates?”
No one responded for a full minute. Finally, Gabriel’s voice came on. “We’re taking out as many reanimated as we can from the window. They’ve surrounded the hotel, but the humans have done a good job barricading themselves inside.”
“How many are left?”
“At least two hundred.”
Bloody hell. They and the humans were in grave peril. “Let me help. If I left now, I could be there within an hour.” Now that I could take hybrid form, I could eliminate the reanimated with no risk of harm to myself. Other than the loss of my r
eason and logic, that is. The one time I’d taken that form, a haze had come over my mind and I’d been ready to tear apart Havana’s other mates. I didn’t welcome the thought of returning to that feral state, but if it would save everyone, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
“We’ve got this,” Gabriel said with way too much arrogance for male facing certain death. “But we have some bad news.”
As if Havana’s capture and a zombie invasion isn’t enough. I sighed. “What is it?”
“You know that annoying human male.”
“Marshall,” Liam called out.
“Yeah, that guy. He injected himself with the last syringe of Havana’s blood.”
Shocked, I stopped rocking. “What happened?”
“Well, let’s just say, we don’t have to listen to him running his mouth any more.”
My stomach dropped. “Havana’s blood killed him?”
“Death by Lykos blood poisoning,” Gabriel confirmed.
Christ. I’d thought for sure Havana’s blood would be the Z-virus cure for both humans and latent Lykos, but it appeared it was only effective on our kind. Although that was a boon for young Lykos who hadn’t yet transitioned, it wasn’t the savior for humanity I was hoping it might be.
I drummed my fingers on the rocking chair armrest. Perhaps cellular modifications to Havana’s blood would allow humans to tolerate—
Nathan’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “Mason, I’ve just heard from Ty. He’s inside Sanctuary and he’s getting Havana out through an underground tunnel. I’ll need you to meet them and bring them somewhere safe. Ty doesn’t sound like he’s at full strength and we don’t know what condition Havana is in.”
Relief and excitement shot through me. This is the opportunity we’ve been hoping for. “Where is the tunnel?”
As soon as Nathan gave me the location, I bolted out the door. Following his directions, I hiked through the snow to a small cave-like opening in the base of a mountain a couple miles away. The opening was only three feet in diameter, but Havana shouldn’t have any problem crawling out of it. I didn’t see or scent her anywhere. Where are they?
“I’m in position, but I don’t see them,” I said into the radio.
“There’s been a complication. The access to the tunnel has been walled off on their end. Can you try to break through it?”
“You want me to go inside?” I’d been claustrophobic all my life and no part of me wanted to be crawling through miles of underground tunnels in the dark. “Is there another way to get them out?” Any other way.
“No. Go through the tunnel.”
I eyed the tunnel opening with no amount of eagerness. “Perhaps I could infiltrate Sanctuary from the east side. There are only four Enforcers guarding that portion of the compound. I could take my hybrid form and—”
“For fate’s sake climb your ass in there, Mason. Havana needs you.”
She needs me. My chest swelled with purpose. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my mate. Sucking in a deep breath, I got on my hands and knees and crawled through the hole. The musty smell of decay and frozen earth choked me as I ducked past gnarled roots and inched over jagged rocks.
Nearly twenty meters in, the passage narrowed. The fit was tight and I struggled to push my newly expanded body through. At one point, I was forced to army crawl on my stomach for nearly a mile. Then, I got stuck between two large rocks.
Some bloody hero I am. I couldn’t even reach the radio to call for help, not that the others were in any position to assist me.
I’m trapped.
Immediately, my old boyhood fears locked my muscles in place. The earth seemed to tighten around me, preparing to swallow me whole.
Bloody hell. I'll die down here. I’d never find the cure for the Z-virus. I’d never discover the truth about my biological family. And I’d never get a chance to tell Havana goodbye.
That last one hurt more than all the others. Havana’s beautiful face appeared in my mind.
I’m so sorry, my love.
All at once I sensed her. She’s close! Our mental channel was still dark, but just knowing she was in proximity filled me with renewed determination. I have to save her. I shoved myself through, not caring that one of the jagged rocks lacerated my side. Ignoring the bleeding, I crawled for another mile and then blessedly the tunnel opened up to the point I could stand. Three meters away there was a junction.
The main passage continued, but above my head was a large opening in the top of the tunnel. Dangling from inside the opening was a frayed rope as thick as my wrist.
I sensed the rope would bring me to my mate, but I needed to be sure. I radioed Nathan. “Hey, mate. I’ve come to a rope —”
“Climb the rope,” he said in a strained voice. “That will take you to the area just outside the playroom.”
“The what?”
I could hear deafening explosions in the background.
“Just climb the rope,” Nathan said before ending the transmission.
I grabbed the rope and climbed the not insignificant distance upward. At the top was a cavernous space littered with masonry materials and debris. The back of the space dead-ended into a brick wall.
The overwhelming sense that Havana was close drew me toward the wall. I rested my hands against the bricks. My mate was just on the other side. I’d bet my soul on it. But how to get through?
I picked up a dusty triangular-shaped trowel and tried stabbing the wall with the pointed end. When that didn’t work, I tried hammering the wall with the large wooden end of the trowel. It snapped off. Bollocks.
I gritted my teeth in frustration, but stopped short of radioing Nathan again. The Alpha had his hands full and it was obvious what I’d need to do next. After checking that the ceiling was a safe distance up, I stepped out of my loafers, shucked my clothes, and focused on transforming into the hybrid.
After a moment, my muscles and tendons lengthened and my bones and cartilage snapped. Once I’d assumed the beastly shape, a haze fell over me as if my mind were being hijacked by something primitive and feral. A rumbling growl shook my chest. I needed my mate and that wall was in the way.
I stomped over to the bricks and slammed my fist through them. They crumbled like Styrofoam. I tore the wall down angered to find yet another barrier in the way. It looked like the back of a bed. I shoved it hard. The bed flew across the floor, landing a meter from the dark-skinned male who was screwing a restrained female.
The male let out a shout of surprise and I glimpsed the ebony hair of the female hogged-tied down underneath him.
Havana.
This fucker was raping my mate. Rage like nothing I’d ever felt in my life gripped me. I barreled through the hole in the wall and charged the male who dared hurt her.
“Mason?” Havana cried.
The male withdrew from my mate and raised his hands in front of him. The male appeared underfed and weak. He’s no match for me.
Havana fought her restraints. “Mason, stop!”
I’d free her once I’d dealt with her abuser. I grabbed the male by the throat and flung him into the bars of a metal prison. His body made a satisfying crunch, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to pay.
As I stalked over to him, he struggled to stand. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and one of his legs gave out. “W-who are you? What are you?” His scent of fear and confusion only fueled my anger.
I bared my teeth in a show of aggressive dominance. “I’m the last face you’ll see before you die!”
“Stop now!” the male shouted, infusing his voice with power.
His attempts at compulsion only further enraged me. I raised my fist over his head.
“Mason, don’t hurt him! He’s my mate!” Havana screamed.
Her words permeated my frenzied mind. I realized this was Tasha’s Alpha male son, Tyberius. Nathan said he’s helping Havana escape. I looked back at my mate.
Havana’s eyes were frantic and she yanked against the restraints. Forgettin
g about the male, I stomped over to her and shredded the straps binding her to the leather bench with my claws. Then I snapped the silver band wrapped around her head.
Immediately she sat up and flung her arms around my waist. “Mason! Thank God.” Her relief and happiness poured into me as our mental connection came back online.
I sank into my human form and dragged her against my chest. “Are you okay, love?”
She nodded. A spasm wracked her body and she let out a soft moan.
I pulled away to look at her? “Are you injured?”
“She’s in heat,” Tyberius gasped, before throwing back his head and changing into a dark wolf.
“That’s impossible.” And yet, the musky scent of her pheromones fogged my brain making me want to lay her back on that bloody bench and take her again and again.
Havana licked her lips. “It’s true. It’s why I’ve been so frisky lately.”
How can she ovulate in her condition? “But you’re—”
Havana interrupted me. “Tasha said it happens sometimes and twins are the result.”
I’d never heard of hyper ovulation occurring among Lykos, but then again reproduction wasn’t my specialty.
She squeezed my hand as Tyberius shifted back into human form and walked over. “Mason, this is Tyberius, my newest mate.”
Tyberius leaned against the black bondage bench or whatever the bloody hell it was and gave me an appraising look. “How does an Original Alpha male escape my mother’s notice?”
“Because I’m not an Original,” I said, feeling defensive.
“Did you inject yourself with my blood?” Havana glanced at Tyberius. “It seems to turn everyone into an Alpha.”
“Gabriel injected me,” I said with a frown. I owed the bastard a good ass kicking for forcing such a life altering decision on me.
“Are he and the others coming too?” Havana said, looking back at the hole in the wall.
“No, they’re still in the clinic.”
“That’s why I can’t reach them,” she said in a breathless voice. She rubbed herself against my thigh.
Her pheromones fogged my brain, making it hard to focus. “We need to go.”