by Anya Nowlan
“Caught you,” he said, and Rose’s throat went dry. A small tingle ran down her spine and the young shifter had a hard time gathering her thoughts.
“What was that for?” she asked, his insolence and victory forgotten completely. Her gaze strayed briefly down his body, taking in the sight of the powerful bow of his wide shoulders and the steady rise and fall of his chest. The man was a force of nature and it was hard to keep her senses when she was so close to him.
“Condolence prize,” he said, winking at her.
CHAPTER THREE
Rose huffed, the knot of a frown returning to her brows. He grinned wider as her pout returned, her delicate features overcome by a storm of petulance. “Oh, don’t get like that, Rose. Or I’ll have to kiss you again.” Daren’s hands slid around her waist and held her close to him. The girl wasn’t sure whether she wanted to struggle or remain perfectly still from fear of him stopping whatever he was doing. Her teeth grazed her plush lowed lip and he caught the tiny moment of insecurity.
“You know, I’ve been keeping my eye on you for a long time, Rose.” Daren dipped his face closer to her, his breath on her cheek. His gaze roamed freely across her body and she knew that he must have noticed her arousal. She kept her eyes transfixed over his shoulder, trying to keep control of her urges. Last thing she wanted to do was to get swept away in the moment any more than she already had. Her head buzzed with questions and thoughts, confusion clogging her logic.
Why?
“Because you’re beautiful,” he said, as if hearing the quiet yelp in her mind. “And you’re fast, willful, strong. Nothing like the pack princesses.” Daren’s tone was almost velvety, one hand slipping up along her side and brushing across her breast on its path up. He curled his fingers around her luscious red locks. Her eyes went big as she listened to his words, the son of an alpha confessing his feelings for an outcast runt. Rose’s heart began beating as if she was still racing, struggling towards the finish. The man had annoyed and excited her with equal measure ever since she had joined the community, his playful tone and keen eye for her confusing her. She had taken it as a sign of his arrogance and it shattered her world to understand that she couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I like a little rebellion in a woman,” he said, grinning his sly smile. Rose looked back at him, the man so close and his touch setting her ablaze. He didn’t need anything else. His lips sought out hers again and this time, she answered back. The man’s body came alive as she let him closer, his hand gripping her by the neck and taking her mouth with the passion of a man who had been keeping it hidden himself for a long time. A soft moan pierced her lips as his tongue dipped into her mouth, tasting her and urging her to respond. She curled against him, his strong hands pulling her in tight.
Rose’s hands rested on his shoulders, feeling his skin under her fingertips. Slowly, they trailed down his arms, the girl gaining confidence as their kiss continued, almost impossible to untangle. Heat blazed in her body, each nerve suddenly on edge. His muscles were taut and like strings under her touch, the body of a man and beast that had been ready for anything all his life. His power held surprising gentleness, though. Daren pulled her onto his lap, Rose straddling his strong thighs. She gasped as his hard cock pressed against her soft belly, the smooth tip of the head pushing against her pale skin.
He was thick and big and it just made Rose burn hotter for him. Each touch was like adding on to a flood, inhibitions disappearing and a carnal need taking over. Her hands discovered him with less and less shyness. She felt his rod throb as she shoved her body against his, every bit of her yearning for him. It hit her with a force that she couldn’t have imagined just a few scant moments before, but it felt so right now. The culmination of a yearning she had been struggling with for a long time. His hands pushed her back a bit, his lips pulling away from hers. Their eyes met, a smile creeping on Rose’s lips. She had no doubts. The alpha’s son was irresistible and he felt the same way about the strong-willed outcast.
Daren’s lips slid down her neck and chest, leaving a heated trail of kisses behind. Her back arched and her fingers grabbed at his soft hair, twisting around them. Her mouth parted in a groan as his tongue lapped over her breast and then around her nipple, making it harden into a small peak. She inhaled sharply as he sucked it into his mouth, teasing the redhead. Rose gripped his hair harder. He took his time, sparing no effort in tasting and exploring her lithe body. She was putty in his hands, but she was sure that he was just as sunken into the moment as she.
Daren raised her by her hips a bit until the tip of his cock rubbed against her wetness. A groan tumbled in her throat, almost a growl, the wolf clawing at the surface but not being allowed out. This was all for Rose, not to be shared with the pure wildness in her. Her juices coated his thick rod, the girl trembling with each touch. Daren’s hands gripped her hips and he pushed her down, the head of his cock bursting into her soft heat. She moaned deeply, mixing with his tormented growl. Her slick tightness yielded to his desire, parting slowly but surely around him. Rose sunk on top of him and her spine was hit by one jolt after the next, passion engulfing her.
She started grinding against him, first slowly but the need driving her forth. Daren held her by her hips, his hands sometimes wandering over her firm ass and kneading her buttocks. His lips dipped against her chest and suckled on her nipples, making them form into tight nubs under his talented tongue. Their bodies fell into rhythm against one another, the warm sunlight licking at their skin. Her mind was filled with nothing but him, all her senses trained on the pleasure she was giving and receiving.
Animal moans escaped them, filling the air around them. His scent was intoxicating, the sweat and sex mingling together to form an irresistible smell that she wanted to be covered in. Her lids fell shut and Rose threw back her head, bouncing up and down on him with growing desire. Daren led her further, grabbing her by the hips and pulling her up before she could sink down again, the girl taking his erect cock fully with each stroke. Her teeth bit into her lip, the heartbeat in her ears almost deafening. Everything was drowned out by his presence and the moment they were sharing, the world lost to Rose completely. She could only feel and experience him and that was all she wished for.
Daren bit her nipple softly and then sucked on the soft, supple skin of her breasts. His tongue made lazy, alluring circles across the dappled skin, the porcelain smoothness as if gliding under his touch. Everywhere he touched or kissed her, a hot mark was left behind, a permanent reminder of his presence. Rose’s fingers tangled in his hair and raked down his back, leaving narrow red scrapes as she lost control of her senses. Passion filled her and it drove the fire in her to blaze hotter and higher, threatening to consume her fully, and she did not want to fight. Her wolf prowled beneath the surface, yearning to take over, but this experience was just for Rose. It was not to be shared with the beast, whether it demanded it or not.
Daren’s strong hands suddenly jerked her off of him, bringing the young maiden out of her revelry. Her mouth formed a surprise o-shape, which Daren laid a quick kiss on. He spun her around and pushed her on her hands and knees. The grass was soft and warm beneath her, errant leaves licking at her limbs. She yelped as he pulled her head back by her fiery hair, but her objections were hushed by his soft lips. Daren’s cock pressed between her buttocks, the man leaning over her to steal a kiss before he claimed her once more. No words passed between the two, the lust and desire leaving no time for idle chatter. Anything could be resolved later for there was only time for physical pleasures now.
He guided the silken head of his rod to her wet folds and thrust forward sharply, filling the girl with one motion. She gasped, inhaling deeply. Instinctively, she backed into him, the curve of her ass mushing against his tight abs. He was more than enough, but her hunger grew as he fed it. The man grinned, beads of sweat on his back and chest. Rose was every bit the exotic, spirited being he had expected her to be and he was lost in her allure. She couldn’t be denied - h
er soul and strength were captivating. It was enough to make the son of an Alpha forget all about his regal standing and get swept away in what threatened to be love.
One hand slid softly up her back, the girl shuddering as his fingertips reached higher. Daren drilled into her, each stroke making the girl moan and writhe. His fingertips danced over the nape of her neck and Rose peeked over her shoulder at the man. His green eyes were eyeing her with a kind of affection that she had only seen pass between her brother and his mate. It made her heart stop for a second and tears brim in her eyes. She had never questioned that she was worthy of love and appreciation to that high of a level, but being in the presence of it was deeply emotionally satisfying and the intensity surprised the little outcast.
“You’re magnificent, Rose,” he whispered, awe in his voice. His thrusts became faster and harder, the man close to the brim of his restraint. She groaned as Daren urged her on, the twisting desire coming to a boil inside of her. It was as if every nerve had come to life, every tiny piece of her realizing its capacity to feel the glow of passion. Rose shuddered, her muscles starting to jerk without her consent. The wind was knocked out of her as her orgasm washed over her. Wave after wave of pure pleasure took her and held onto her tight, rocking her back and forth. It was nothing like she had ever experienced before.
Daren couldn’t control himself after her release, her hot tunnel milking his throbbing cock hungrily. He let out a growl that had more than a little hint of his wolf, the beast struggling to come forth and the man keeping it at bay with difficulty. Thick ropes of cum flew into her, filling her with his potent seed. The Alpha’s son, a future Alpha himself, couldn’t resist the little outcast girl and both of them collapsed in a heaving pile of arms and legs, grasping for each other. Endorphins rushed through their veins, pumping the sensation of release and happiness through their bodies. Daren’s hands clutched Rose, pressing her tightly against him. It was as if he had decided at that very moment to never let go of her.
The sun shone on them through the thick leaves of the surrounding trees, bathing them in the warmth of the morning. Rose could feel her body relaxing against his, inches from falling asleep in his protective embrace. For a tiny bit of time, the race was driven from her mind and the victor was given the right to conquer her fully. She knew that they were partners, equals. Rose was no blushing damsel. Her strength and drive had brought him to her and her soul and spirit had tied him to her.
His fingertips made lazy circles over her hip and stomach, tracing aimless patterns across her skin. Daren laid a kiss on her shoulder and then another and another until he nibbled at her ear, the girl giggling in response. She twisted her neck to face him and he stole a kiss from her, a devilish grin on his lips.
“So, what happens now?” she asked, the afterglow still giving a blush to her cheeks. He seemed to ponder her question for a moment before he cocked his head to the side and gave her a look that was as boyishly mischievous as it was competitive.
“Now we get to race again, of course.”
OUTCAST’S MATE
SMUTTY SHIFTER SHORTS
BOOK 5
BY
ANYA NOWLAN
CHAPTER ONE
Rose’s breath came in quick bursts as she ran through the forest, the track a barely noticeably line beneath her paws. Her ears were perked up, though the wind kept whipping them back. Every movement was driven by a need to succeed, a desire to win and prove herself to the world, to the other wolves. She didn’t have time to worry about how the others were doing as all she could do was make sure she had the best run of her young life. Her maw was twisted in a silent snarl, gasping in breath with each leap she took.
The sound of her heartbeat was almost deafening in her ears, though she tried to concentrate on her surroundings the best that she could. It was dark, only the full moon lighting her path through the thick underbrush. Nothing like the preliminary races, where they were all let on the track together and expected to settle their quarrels with their teeth and their claws, knowing exactly where they were going. This time, every single competitor got a different starting point and their shared goal was to reach the finish line at the end. They had to use their sense of smell and direction as none of them knew where they were released from, but that was just a small obstacle to overcome. Rose preferred it this way. She’d gotten a few painful cuts and bruises when tussling with the other wolves during the earlier races and her small size was not a big bonus in fights between two or more werewolves.
No, she was much better off alone. She wasn’t like some of the other young wolves – clueless as to where they were or where they were supposed to go. Her sense of direction was true and solid and she knew exactly where she was trying to go. It was as if a golden path was lighted in front of her through the trees and bushes, showing her the road to victory in bright lights. All she had to do was follow it. Her muscles were aching, demanding for rest and relief, but she kept pushing. There was too much on the line to go soft now. If losing to Daren Kadin had taught her anything, then it was that when you felt most secure was when you were the most vulnerable.
She pushed the memory of Daren below, letting it bubble somewhere deep within her. Any time the broad-shouldered son of the Kadin pack alpha came to her thoughts, she found herself less capable than usual. There was something about him that just took over her senses and made her turn from a capable, strong-willed young woman into a doe-eyed waif that just wanted to sink into his arms and drink from his lips until both of them could take no more. Ever since their surprising rendezvous in the forest after the first race, Rose had kept meeting up with him. It was all despite better judgment, but he was like a drug that she couldn’t get enough of. If she hadn’t seen him in a while, her sleep would be restless and her dreams would be filled with his burning green eyes staring at her with the kind of hunger that burned in her for him as well. By all accounts, she was not alone in her newfound passion for the man. The passion was shared, though Rose found herself naturally suspicious.
She was the daughter of an outcast, a wolf without a place in the world. Her brother Jonah’s marriage to Melia, a pack princess, had made her life easier, but it was a far cry from being accepted as a member somewhere. She lived in some kind of a limbo, stuck between two worlds that both called to her, yet wouldn’t accept her. To her understanding, her only true hope was to stand out during the spring races. If she could win the last one then any pack that turned her down as a member would be foolish at best, criminally negligent at the worst. It was the prime place for young warrior wolves to prove their capabilities and Rose was more than sure that she was going to be the best of them all. She had to be. There was no other way.
So it made it all the more difficult to stomach when she saw the familiar form of a large, dark wolf jump out a few dozen feet in front of her. His strong haunches and thick coat had become a more than a familiar sight for Rose.
Daren, she growled silently, her pupils constricting as she focused on her target. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, making her forget all about the pain and tiredness that seemed to go down to the bone. They had been playing a game of one-upmanship with Daren since the first race, stealing victories from each other by the slightest sliver of a margin. It had made the races a popular spectator sport, but it made Rose’s blood boil with rage every time she had to suffer the indignation of losing to him. Of course, he would kiss it away the next day when they met and she would do the same when she won, but their peculiar rivalry was scantly changed by their tender, hidden moments.
Not this time, she thought, gaining on him with each leap.
The square came into sight in the distance, lit by street lamps. Crowds were lining the last stretch of the track and Rose could hear them bursting into cheer as they saw her and Daren coming in almost neck and neck. Each step took her closer to the end and she drew up to Daren’s shoulder by the time the square and the finish line were just a few hundred yards away. Her wolf snarled at him and he respon
ded in kind, though they barely shared a glance between one another as they barreled towards the end. They could hash it out later. There was no place for love in war. The last stretch of her strength took her right next to him, her smaller form and lighter coat a stark contrast next to his towering dark body. Her vision blurred at the edges when they both tumbled across the finish line, exactly at the same time.
She skidded to a stop a few feet from Daren and he turned to look at her, amber eyes shining with that predatory gleam she knew and admired. Rose knew that he must have seen the exact same determination in her gaze as she did in his. Reluctantly, they broke their contact and bowed at each other, the pack members cheering around them. It was a rare sight that the reserved werewolves formed such an excited crowd, but their race had been quite a sight to behold. Later arrivals started coming across the finish line and Rose padded over to the tall form of her brother, who was waiting for her with the usual fur-lined cape to drape around her shoulders when she shifted.
Rose shifted and Jonah’s strong hands wrapped around her immediately, pulling her into a tight bear hug. She thought she would collapse right then and there, but her pride kept her standing, despite the screaming tiredness of her muscles and joints. Jonah beamed at her, pushing a red lock from her face and laying a quick kiss on her forehead.