by Marie Harte
Logan pulled out of her. “Ride him. Do it.” The authority in his voice turned Kate on, and Jesse felt it arouse him as well. Normally easygoing, when Logan turned mean, he aroused the hell out of Jesse.
Kate straddled Jesse and settled her hot pussy over him.
“Fuck, Kate. That’s good.” He pulled her close and kissed her, drinking in her scent as well as Logan’s. She felt so slick and greedy around him, drawing him tighter, making him want to give her everything.
“Yes,” she breathed and kissed her way to his ear. “I want everything, Jesse. Everything due your mate. Your cum, your control.” She nipped his ear. “Your love.”
Logan joined them. “Lean over him, baby. And feel me inside you again. It’s going to be tight.”
Logan brushed against his legs and positioned himself over Kate, who lay very still. Jesse could feel Logan’s entry, the thin barrier of Kate’s flesh between them not much to prevent the fullness from impacting him as well. As a Ravager, she could take pain and adjusted to anything sexual with ease, but Logan wasn’t small. And the thought of them both taking her made everything finally right.
“Oh yeah. This is perfect,” he rasped and kissed Kate with everything he had inside him.
Then Logan started to move, and he lost it completely.
Kate’s full tits scraped against his chest like twin streaks of pleasure. Logan drove them, shoving into Kate with less than gentle rocking, but with a powerful jolt that had to burn. And Jesse knew she loved the small pain.
“Yes, yes,” she cried, filling him with feminine need. She was finally full, stuffed with her mates, and she fought the ending, not wanting to come yet.
He held their weight with ease, attuned to his lovers and wanting the ultimate thrill of coming together in Kate.
“Give it to me,” he and Logan said as one, feeling the same, knowing the same. A moment of clarity and joy, when Kate finally clenched tight around them and blew apart, moaning their names.
She squeezed the orgasm out of him, and Jesse swore as he jetted into her, his balls drawn tight, the ache of pleasured pain oh so good.
“That’s it. Yes.” Logan thrust again and stilled, his head thrown back, his eyes closed, as he spilled inside her. “Fuck, yes.”
The awkward positioning soon had Logan withdrawing to lie beside them. Kate draped over Jesse, and Logan rolled closer to them, hugging them into his warmth.
“No more shielding yourself,” Kate slurred. “You hear me, Jesse?”
“Whatever you want, mate.” He sighed, truly content for the first time in his life. With Kate and Logan by his side, he had nothing else he needed in life.
“I want to know how you feel.”
He blinked up into her dark brown eyes, bewitched and bewildered by her sudden anger. A glance next to him showed Logan fighting a smile.
“Just tell her what she wants to hear so I can get that blowjob I’m still aching for,” Logan prodded.
“What, Kate?”
“I love you and Logan. Logan loves me and you. But you apparently only want us for sex.”
“You’re kidding, right?” he growled. “If all I wanted was sex, I could have Logan, Terry or half the males in the compound.”
“Hey.” Logan’s smile faded.
“You’re both major pains in my ass. Logan doesn’t like me protecting him. You want me to spill over into tears, an emotional wreck. Have you seen what an idiot Eric’s become since loving Vicki? The damn woman has him getting her weird food at all hours of the night at the snap of her finger.”
Logan’s chuckle turned into a cough when Kate glared at him. “Sorry. She’s breeding, Jesse. He’s just showing her he cares. You’re telling me you won’t give Kate whatever she wants when she’s carrying?”
“Hell, I’ll give her whatever she wants now. No need for kids for that.”
Kate seemed mollified by the comment, but not completely satisfied. “Then why not just tell me you love me?”
“They’re just words.”
“So lie and make me happy.”
He ground his teeth. “But I don’t want to lie to you.”
Her lips quivered. “You don’t love me?”
“No. I don’t believe in love, period. It’s a human emotion. It’s enough I want to be pack with you, considering the hell I came from. Family is new to me, this belonging.”
“But we were pack before.” Kate didn’t understand, but he thought Logan did.
“We were in Eric’s pack, but we weren’t his. Eric never claimed me, or you or Logan. It was a safe place to grow up, but not to actually belong. Trust me, I know what a pack is. A place where my fathers were always trying to kill one another when not fucking my mother. You think I want that?”
Logan huffed. “Come on, Jesse. How much of that have you seen here?”
“How many Ravager females are in the clan? Most of the mated ones live in the city, and the few that are in the compound are kind of wild. I don’t know. But I still want to spend the rest of my life with you. Both of you. I’d give my life to make you safe and happy. There’s an instinctive need I have to keep you, forever. What the fuck more do you want from me?”
Logan shared a glance with Kate and turned back to Jesse with a smirk. “That’s love, dumb ass. Human emotion or not. We’re Kate’s now.”
“Hmm, he won’t say it, but he feels it.” Kate smiled. “Good enough for me.”
“But not good enough for me,” Will Lawless interrupted with a snarl.
They jumped to their feet and shifted into their guer, but Jesse saw they were clearly outnumbered. “How many did you need to bring with you to feel safe, you piece of shit?” He counted a dozen outcasts. Probably all that remained of the once-threatening Lawless Clan.
“Enough to take back my female and get rid of you once and for all.”
But before Jesse could take on Will and his buddies, a new threat developed. Masked humans appeared on either side of them in the woods carrying weapons. At least two dozen of them.
“Will Lawless, just who we were looking for,” a masked male with a deep voice announced.
To one side Jesse and his mates had the river, to the other a stretch of large rocks. Yet somehow the humans had advanced on them, and they didn’t carry a scent or make enough warning noise to alert the Lawlesses of their presence. Jesse had a bad feeling he’d just verified the existence of that rumored human group, the Watchers. They hated Voiders, and they seemed particularly interested in Will.
And then all hell broke loose.
Chapter Eight
“What the fuck is this?” Will shrieked and fisted his clawed hands. He’d finally rounded up the men he needed to take back his prize. And what a prize it was. Three horny Ravagers, one fertile female, and they’d been so consumed with their own orgasms they hadn’t sensed him approach. Then again, after the threats their Prime had made about trespassers, it took a certain kind of crazy to violate clan orders.
Will didn’t claim to be that sane at the best of times, but this band of humans surrounding them had to be out of their fucking minds.
He turned from the Savages, unwillingly impressed by how quickly the males had shifted to protect their supposed mate, and how fast Kate had assumed her fighting form, a ferocious female willing to battle.
“You’ve killed one too many of us,” one of the humans decreed and gripped his automatic weapon tight.
Will glared at it. The thing could kill him if he took too many rounds. But he’d rip that gun away before the feeble human could do too much damage. He just had to watch out for the other weapons pointed in his direction.
“You don’t belong here,” Jesse Savage growled at the human. “This is Savage Clan territory. You’re going to start a war you really don’t want, trust me.”
The one who’d spoken nodded. “This is regrettable, but Will Lawless belongs to me.”
“Bullshit,” Logan cursed. “The fucker tried to sell my ass to the Salinas for a murder I didn’
t commit. He’s trying to take my mate. Our mate,” he corrected, nodding at Jesse. “And Ravager business doesn’t concern you.”
“Get out of here.” Even Kate threw in her two cents.
Will was surprised by the warmth that filled him. No matter that he and the Savages had never gotten along. For all their differences, Ravagers stood together against a common threat. It bothered him that he’d forgotten that important fact.
His brethren growled, their hackles raised, and banded closer. The Savages took a step closer to joining them.
“We’re here for Will Lawless and any remaining members of the Lawless Clan. The rest of you need to back away,” the human said softly. “This is between us and the monsters killing innocent women. My sister.” He motioned to another man. “His mother. Her cousin. His best friend.” He pointed out the individuals as he mentioned their losses.
Will couldn’t believe the humans actually thought they could win this little skirmish. “You want a real fight? Drop your masks and your guns and engage.” He held up his clawed fingers, the promise of a lingering death for those who thought to challenge him.
“He killed your sister?” Jesse asked.
The human nodded. “And my brother and his wife as well. Took a bunch of us out at a family picnic. Hell of a thing to come home to after a long day’s work and find half your friends and family wiped out because a Ravager wanted a meal.”
“And a fuck, don’t forget that,” Will added with a sneer. His men laughed and made several obscene gestures.
But the leader didn’t laugh. His entire body tensed and he raised his weapon.
The Savages parted from Will and his men, seeming to align with the humans instead of their own kind.
Will scowled, annoyed as much with their defection as he was with his own disappointment—that he’d wanted them to join him. “Figures we couldn’t count on Savages. Jesse, why don’t you and your pussy boyfriend stay back while the real Ravagers fight your battle. No wonder your prime rejected you and your female refused to claim you. You aren’t worth the sweat it would take to defeat you.”
Jesse and Logan showed their teeth but otherwise didn’t respond. Kate held their arms, more in a show of support than to restrain them, and Will didn’t like that one bit. The bitch looked way too attached for his peace of mind.
“Who said I didn’t claim them? I wanted strength, not some coward who only strikes at those less vulnerable. Where’s the challenge in that?” Kate turned her attention to the human who’d spoken. “Take them. But you’d better never show up on Savage soil again. My prime isn’t going to like knowing humans have invaded our Territory.”
At least Kate wasn’t backing down in the face of danger.
The leader nodded. “So long as Savages refrain from killing humans, you aren’t our problem.”
“Oh, but us killing other Voiders is just fine with you?” Logan asked sarcastically.
A female next to the leader answered, “One less Voider is one less monster we have to watch out for.”
Kate grinned at her. “Well, this monster will skin you alive before you can blink if you fuck with a Savage. Bank on it.”
The leader swore. “Stow this shit. We don’t have time for this. For all we know, the Savages are on their way.”
“En masse,” another of them said. “ETA, ten minutes.” At that moment, a loud howl raised the hairs on Will’s back.
The leader didn’t waste any more time, and neither did Will.
He launched himself at them, taking down two men before the first shot struck his thigh. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jesse and Logan shove Kate to the ground as bullets flew. But none of them were aimed at the Savages.
One by one his Lawless kin dropped, the scent of blood and death saturating the air. Two more rounds hit his back and arm. Then a burst of pain exploded in his gut.
He dropped to the ground and rolled to his side, trying to regain his feet. But the world wouldn’t stop spinning.
Then he noticed the silence.
He blinked into the barrel of a hot automatic.
“This is for Michelle, Brad and Carly.” The leader lowered the gun and shot his dick off. The pain was agonizing. “Have fun in hell.”
Another pop, and then Will Lawless knew no more.
* * * * *
Kate still couldn’t understand how so many humans could make so little noise as they left. Nor could she smell anything but the scent of gunfire and Ravager blood. And that worried her.
“Kate, baby, you okay?” Logan asked as he rolled off her and they all got to their feet.
When the firing had started, he and Jesse had thrown her to the ground and covered her with their large, furry bodies. To her shock, it seemed none of them had been hit.
“Eric is going to kill someone for this,” Jesse murmured. “We don’t have to worry about the Lawless Clan anymore, but I think the Watchers are more than a myth.”
“Great. Humans who think they can police Voiders. Monsters my ass.”
Logan pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “I love you so much. I was worried one of those dicks might hit you with a stray bullet.”
Jesse shook his head and knelt to study the carnage around them. “Nope. Precise shots. No scent, light treads. A quick and easy retrograde. These fuckers have been here before.”
“Hell.” Kate felt a hint of sadness hit her. “Our special place isn’t so special anymore.”
Jesse stood and rounded on her with lightning speed. “It’s ours. And it’ll be ours after this is gone. We’re pack, Kate. Your pack. And nothing’s ever going to change that.”
His ferocity startled her then soothed her. “Oh Jesse.” She accepted his kiss and sat in their group hug until Eric and the others arrived.
Her prime had brought at least fifty Ravagers with him, all shifted into their guer and frothing at the mouth for war.
“What the fuck happened here?” Eric growled as he sniffed the air. “And what do I smell that’s missing?”
Jesse snapped his fingers. “That’s what’s been bothering me. The humans have covered their scent with emptiness. It’s weird, but if we know what to look for, it’s detectable.”
Malcolm, Prime’s packmate and the head of security in the compound, roared his displeasure. “Humans in Clan woods? Jesse, Logan, Kate, one of you needs to tell us what happened. Now.”
* * * * *
The next day, Kate sat at home with her mates, uneasy about what had occurred the day before. She felt off, as if something wasn’t right inside her, and she didn’t know whether to worry her mates or just ignore it.
Logan hugged her from behind and sat them both on the porch swing overlooking the back woods. More sentries stood watch, now armed with weapons. Claws and fangs didn’t work as well against long-range targets. And now that the humans felt they could stop by at any time, the compound was in an uproar to provide their prime and queen safety.
“Don’t worry, Kate. I overheard Malcolm and Dom talking about Eric’s meeting with Chen. Apparently this threat isn’t just to us, but to all Voiders. We’re going to stop it before it really gets started.”
“Good Lord. If we’re making friends with Tommy Chen, the shit really has hit the fan.”
Logan chuckled. “Well, the good thing is that it’s brought all of us closer together. Jesse’s in charge of building onto the compound. With the arrival of over a hundred city Ravagers moving in, we’re going to get stronger and tighter before long.”
She didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Ravagers tended to keep to themselves anyway, but some had found a place among the humans and Voiders in Cross Step. Would this segregation make them stronger, or put them in more harm from those who would see them as an even bigger threat?
She sighed.
“What’s wrong? I can feel you, and you’re guer isn’t right.”
Jesse pushed through the backdoor to join them, looking frantic.
“Jesse?” Logan tri
ed to stand but Jesse shoved him back on his ass. “Hey!”
“Tell me it’s not true.” Jesse stared down at Kate looking wild around the eyes. He closed his eyes, inhaled and stunned them all by sinking to the ground in horror. “Shit, Kate. I’m not ready for this.”
“What’s wrong, Jesse?” She knelt by his side, seriously worried. “Logan and I are fine.”
“But you won’t be in six months,” he growled.
She didn’t know what that meant at first, until Logan howled with joy.
“Are you shitting me? That’s why I’ve been so confused by her scent?”
“What’s wrong with the way I smell?” She still didn’t understand. Jesse was on the verge of passing out, and Logan seemed ready to burst.
“Nothing at all.” Logan laughed and joined them both on the ground. He kissed Jesse hard, ignoring his groan. “We’re going to be proud parents in a few more months, Kate.” His eyes shone. “Thank you so much, baby. Man, I love you!”
Kate felt weak. “Wait—what? Baby?” She placed her hand over her belly and felt the tug at her guer.
“This is all Vicki’s fault,” Jesse grumbled.
“You don’t want the baby?” Kate asked, still unable to wrap her mind around it all.
“I do, but it’s going to tear us apart. And I can’t handle that.” Jesse covered his eyes with his forearm.
Logan looked at him with compassion. He reached for Kate’s hand and rested their palms on Jesse’s chest. “We aren’t the same as your birth pack, Jesse. Kate’s not psycho. I’m not a killer. Remember, man, I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
Jesse’s lips quirked. A good sign.
Kate frowned. “I know your upbringing wasn’t the best. But I can tell you right now, no one is fucking with my young,” she rumbled. “He’ll be loved and cherished.”
“Yes, he will,” Logan said tenderly and stroked her cheek.
“And protected,” Jesse added on a long, drawn-out sigh. “I must love you, Kate, because I haven’t bolted yet. And I’ve sensed your change ever since we joined yesterday. It happened at our special place.”