Fighting Fate (Redwood Pack #7)

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “Are you wet?” he asked.

  “God, Logan. You’re inside me, of course I’m wet. Please, please, harder. I’m going to come.”

  He rolled his hips at the same time that she flicked her finger over her clit, and he watched as her eyes darkened.

  “Logan.” A bare whisper, but so filled with awe and need that he could barely breathe.

  She was still coming down from the aftershocks as he pulled out of her and lay on his back. He pulled her on top of him, and she slid down his length, riding him hard. He knew he wouldn’t last long like this, but damn, he wanted to see her face, have her be in control as he came inside her.

  Cailin arched her back, keeping her gaze on his as she palmed her breasts. He cupped her hands, tangling his fingers with hers as he thrust up one last time, balls rising, coming hard. She slammed down on his dick and smiled, her body slack as she fell on top of him. He ran a hand down her back so he cupped her ass, his fingers spreading her so he could fill her up as much as possible.

  “We have to do that again,” he whispered, close to falling asleep.

  “We will. Don’t worry. We will.”

  He couldn’t wait.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cailin paced the floor, tugging at her hair. Frustration colored her thoughts having become a common occurrence in her everyday life. Her family stood in Kade and Mel’s living room, books scattered around them, the sense of failure lying heavy in the air.

  They’d spent the past four days building up their defenses and strengthening their wards. Two of the Pack members that had stayed behind were witches, mates of wolves in the Pack, and they had done their best to put as much of their energy as they could into the wards. It didn’t mean they could keep the demon out—it seemed almost nothing could—but it did mean they could keep out the other Packs and humans.

  It wasn’t that the Redwoods were afraid other Packs would take advantage, but it was always a possibility. Wolves were secretive creatures, always living in the shadows even when they tried to blend with the humans. Each Pack lived on its own and had its hierarchy and rules. They usually left each other alone—the Centrals being the overwhelming exception to the rule.

  The Redwoods couldn’t be too careful. Especially with the humans. They had been fighting, killing, and at war with the Centrals for so long, it was sometimes easy to forget that they were also in hiding. The wards protected the wolves as a whole from the watching eyes of the humans.

  With the growing surveillance and interest in the supernatural, they were lucky as it was that they hadn’t been found out. Cailin didn’t want to think about what would happen if their existence was ever made public.

  She held back a shudder.

  The end of the war was coming; they all felt it deep in their bones. They needed to ensure their secret was safe from the watching eyes of the people who didn’t understand, who never could understand.

  When her family and the others who had stayed behind, around forty members or so, weren’t working on the wards and other defenses with Adam, they were looking for a way to take down a demon.

  That was what made her feel useless.

  Defeated.

  They’d been looking for years.

  Years.

  Ever since Caym had first shown up on the Central land and had first attacked them along with Hector and Corbin, her family had been looking for a way.

  And they’d still come up short.

  It didn’t make any sense. Somehow, the demon had moved between planes and had come to the human realm, escaping from hell. That meant he could be sent back. There had to be a way. Her family had found other ways to hurt the demon over time, but it had never been enough.

  When Hannah, Josh, and Reed bonded, they’d formed the trinity bond, a special bond between the three of them that had held enough power to hinder the demon somewhat. Caym couldn’t call forth other demons to the human realm to help him defeat the Redwoods, which thwarted his other plans.

  That had been one point in the Redwood’s favor, but there hadn’t been that much more. Over time, each of her brothers and their mates had defeated one aspect of the Central’s regime—Josh killing Hector, North killing Corbin, the others making a mockery of the most gruesome of each of the Central’s plans—but now they were at the end of it all.

  Cailin had to do something, or she wouldn’t be able to face herself in the mirror in the morning. Everyone else had been a part of taking down a piece of the Centrals, yet Cailin had always been in the background. She should be fated to help with this.

  Only she didn’t know what this was.

  Strong arms wrapped around her middle, stalling her movements, and she stiffened. She didn’t want to be comforted right then. She wanted to finish working up to a good mad and then stomp off and find a way to kill a demon. Logan buried his head in her neck and nipped along the mating mark.

  Her knees buckled, but he held her up. Only the fact that her brothers and their mates were in the room held her back from moaning.

  Logan knew exactly what to do to calm her.

  The bastard.

  “Stop looking like you’ve done something wrong, princess,” Logan whispered, his words so low Cailin wasn’t sure her family, even with their keen wolf hearing, would be able to hear them.

  Good.

  She liked having him to herself even in a room full of people.

  Logan’s palm rested on her belly, on the baby in her womb, and her wolf melted. He would make such a good father. If only Cailin was sure that they’d all live long enough to see that come to fruition.

  “Stop worrying,” he barked softly. Only Logan could bark softly at her—a reprimand coated in gentleness.

  “I can’t help it.” She turned in his arms, resting her head on his chest. His arms came around her, caging her into his hold, and she sighed. If only it were this easy to feel better, to ensure that they had a future.

  If only…

  She’d been thinking that a lot lately.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she cursed. “Stupid hormones.”

  “I think I cried like every hour when I was pregnant with Brie,” Willow said from the couch.

  Her words reminded Cailin she wasn’t alone with her mate, but in a room full of her family and their watching eyes. She pulled back, wiping her face, and lifted her chin.

  “I’m fine,” she lied.

  Logan raised a brow, but let her go. “We’re all a bit tired,” he excused.

  She bit back a retort. She didn’t want to fight. Not when he was just trying to help. It didn’t matter that it made her feel weak when she couldn’t hold herself together. That was her problem, her insecurity.

  She’d been doing so much better at it, but clearly not well enough.

  Cailin rolled her shoulders, determined to get this demon off her land and back in hell where he belonged. He deserved to roast on the spit of hell’s flame for all eternity. To have Caym die in their realm wouldn’t be enough for her. That’d be too quick, too easy.

  Her wolf growled, liking this side of her.

  Good.

  After picking up one of the books she’d scoured before, sure she might have missed something, she sat down on the floor. Logan picked up one for himself then took his seat right beside her. The heat radiating off of him steadied not only her wolf but the woman within. From the way his shoulders lowered after his nostrils flared, inhaling her scent, she knew her presence did the same to his wolf.

  That’s why they were mates.

  They calmed each other as equals.

  The soft knock at the door brought Cailin’s head up, her hackles rising. It seemed she’d always be on edge from here on out. From the stances of the others in the room, she was not alone in that respect. She inhaled, scenting the elder Emeline on the other side, and calmed. Logan ran a hand down her back, soothing her even more.

  The man’s hands were a work of art and pleasure.

  Jasper opened the door as he’d been the closes
t of them, letting Emeline in. The elder, who looked to be in her twenties though she had to be around five hundred years old, drifted into the room, her eyes wide, slightly…off.

  Emeline had lost her mate, no, her potential mate, as the woman hadn’t had the chance to fully bond with him, over a hundred years ago. The act would have broken some—it had broken her brother Adam in fact before he’d met Bay—but hadn’t broken Emeline fully. Instead, she’d taken refuge within the elder circle, effectively cutting herself off from the others and the world.

  She was just now becoming one of theirs again and was putting all of her effort into saving the Pack.

  As it was, it had been Emeline who had found the ways to take down the demon and the Centrals in the small ways they had.

  And from the way the woman clutched the book in her arms to her chest and the manic way she breathed, Cailin had a feeling she might have something more.

  Oh sweet goddess, she prayed that was the case.

  “What is it, Emeline?” Kade asked, his voice reflecting his new role as Alpha rather than the brother she’d known. Kade had slowly been shifting toward someone of authority, someone her wolf would protect with her life.

  Though the change meant that her father was really gone, she couldn’t help but be proud of her brother.

  She shook her head. There would be time to reflect over what had happened later. Now she needed to focus on Emeline and what could be something far greater for the Pack.

  Emeline blinked at the sound of Kade’s voice, bringing her back to the present. Or at least that’s what Cailin thought the other woman was doing. The elder was an enigma for sure, but was slowly becoming their friend.

  “I think I found something,” she said at last, her voice holding that airy quality that reminded Cailin of fairies and memories.

  They all started talking at once, the noise almost deafening. Cailin couldn’t blame them, as she’d been one of the ones to speak—Logan as well—but she knew this wasn’t helping. They just couldn’t hold back. Not anymore.

  She winced at the sharp sound of Kade’s whistle. Everyone quieted, sheepish expressions on their faces.

  “Take a seat, Emeline,” Kade said. “Tell us what you’ve found.”

  “Do you need something to eat? Drink?” Willow asked then glared at Cailin.

  Apparently Cailin growled at Willow’s interruption.

  Oops.

  “Like I was saying, Emeline, do you need anything? You look like you haven’t slept in far too long, darling. Tell us what we can do for you.”

  Emeline opened her mouth to speak but stopped as the door opened again. Growls from her family cut off as Noah walked into the living room, a covered plate in one hand, a mug in the other.

  “I have food and hot cocoa for Emeline,” her ex and now best friend announced as he set it on the coffee table. He then gently pushed Emeline down into a chair by her shoulders and took the book from her hand. She reached for it, but he shook his head.

  The sight of this twenty-something wolf and doctor caring for Emeline with such a firm hand made Cailin want to smile.

  There might be hope for everyone yet.

  “Eat and drink, woman,” Noah said softly. “I was on my way to your place with food because I know you don’t take care of yourself like you should. I’m your doctor. It’s my job to take care of you.”

  Cailin held back a snort and met Logan’s eyes.

  Yes, her doctor. Sure. That’s why Noah was caring so much.

  She’d let her friend have his privacy.

  For now.

  Emeline narrowed her eyes at the younger wolf. “What I have to say is very important.”

  Noah nodded. “Then say it while you eat. I made finger foods so you can snack at least. You wouldn’t have eaten it if you had to stop and use a fork.” He grinned, and Emeline blinked at him.

  Interesting.

  Noah took the cover off of the plate and gestured. “Eat and talk.”

  Emeline bit her lip, looking between Cailin’s brothers.

  “You need to take care of yourself, Emeline,” Kade admonished. “I’m sorry for not keeping a better eye on your welfare.”

  The elder took a bite of a stuffed mushroom and swallowed before she began. “As I was saying when I walked in here, I think I found something. I don’t know if it will work, but it’s better than anything else we’ve had in the past.”

  “What did you find?” Cailin asked, unable to hold herself back.

  “I was thinking on what you all told me before. How Caym was brought forth through death, so maybe life would be the one way end him for good.”

  “Life?” Kade asked. “You want us to create life?”

  Cailin froze, Logan doing the same beside her. Her hand slowly went to her belly, to the newly created life resting peacefully in her womb.

  The elder met her gaze and nodded, forcing the air out of Cailin’s chest.

  “No, no.” She shook her head, her wolf raging. “I’m not sacrificing my baby. I…I can’t.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I can’t. Not for the Pack. I’m sorry. No.”

  Logan growled beside her, his arms going around her side, crushing her to him. “Never.”

  Her brothers and their mates started talking all at once, their voices rising at each passing moment. From what she could tell, they were on her side, lashing out at Emeline.

  At first, the elder shrank into herself, looking like the Jamensons had collectively kicked a puppy. Then Noah put his hand on her shoulder, and she raised her chin.

  “Shut up. All of you.”

  At the sound of the usually soft-spoken Emeline giving them an order, they all quieted—even their Alpha.

  “That is not what I meant. If you would actually let me finish, or in this case start, you wouldn’t be so quick to judge.” She let out a shuddering breath. “To think you’d believe I’d actually so willingly give up an innocent…I don’t think I like your opinion of me.”

  “I know I don’t like it,” Noah growled, surprising Cailin at his strength.

  Kade let out a breath. “We’re sorry. We’re all a little on edge…and the thought of hurting our sister? Yeah, we handled that badly. Tell us.”

  Emeline gave the Alpha a small nod. “Cailin and Logan have created new life. As far as I know, they are the only ones having a child of the royal blood.” The others nodded, letting her know that they weren’t expecting any children in the near future. “It isn’t just the fact that you have a baby, Cailin. It’s much more than that. You are the sole Redwood Princess. The sole daughter of seven children. Your blood is important. Logan is the sole son of the royal line that dates as far back as the original wolf. He is the Anderson wolf. Parker is as well, but because he hasn’t reached majority yet, he is not the wolf in question.”

  Her brothers looked confused, but they didn’t say anything right away. They knew Emeline had a stronger connection to the moon goddess than most and some of the Pack thought the woman could hear the goddess herself. There might be many Andersons out there, but if Emeline spoke of the connection, it was truth.

  “I don’t understand,” Reed put in.

  “The Andersons come from the line of the original wolf. They come from a great heritage, even if they don’t live up to that station in life now.”

  Everyone looked toward Lexi and Logan but didn’t say anything. They would discuss that later. They had to.

  “What of our blood? What does our baby have to do with it?” Logan asked, voicing Cailin’s thoughts.

  Emeline nodded. “You need to show the demon life. Not death. To send him back to hell, you must create a binding with your blood. An actual blood sacrifice that is something as small as a prick of a finger as we collect the blood together. Very archaic, but very useful. The blood of the dark wolf of the moon goddess and the princess of the strongest of the Pack. Together, your blood sacrifice will open the portal, and the glory and wonder of the life within your womb will send him back to hell.”


  Emeline let out a breath.

  “It’s a little more complicated than that, and there’s a spell that must be woven. It will take some time and most of my strength, but I can do it. I know I can. But I can’t do it alone.”

  She met Cailin’s gaze, and Cailin sucked in a breath.

  It seemed her prayers had been answered.

  She’d be the one to send the demon back.

  Fate had spoken.

  Only now, she wasn’t sure she had the strength.

  ****

  “It’s always been us, hasn’t it?” Logan asked later when they were back at their place. The meeting had ended soon after Emeline’s announcement. Not much more needed to be said until the idea of what they had to do settled in.

  He wasn’t sure it would ever be truly settled.

  It didn’t make any sense to him, but he’d do whatever it took to protect Cailin and their unborn child. He might be the enforcer of the Alpha, but right then, he was a mate first.

  Something that brought everything into focus.

  “I think so,” Cailin whispered then raised her chin. “Can we talk about it in the morning? We’re doing everything then anyway. I need…I need tonight just to be about us and not the future or goddess knows what else. Please? I need you, Logan. I need you inside of me.”

  He couldn’t deny her, not even for their own peace of mind.

  Logan nodded then cupped her face, brushing his lips against hers. She relaxed against him, giving him control. That alone told him how scared she was.

  Slowly, he backed her to the wall, her wolf brushing against his along the bond.

  “Mine,” he whispered.

  “Yours.”

  He cupped her pussy though her jeans and patted her. “Soft or hard?”

  “Both. Everything. Just love me, Logan.”

  He kissed her softly then undid the button of her jeans, sliding her zipper down so he could reach her better. He took both of her wrists in one hand, pinning them to the wall in a grip she could easily get out of if she wanted to.