Daring Fate: Silver Tip Pack series

by Megan Erickson

  With a silent moan, I came all over his hand and my groin until my body went slack.

  My brain narrowed to one focus and that was to scent my mate. I managed to turn myself in his arms and nuzzle into his chest, rooting around his nipple and armpit, all the areas where his scent was concentrated.

  A hand in my hair wrenched my head back, and my vision swam as Dare stared into my eyes. I don’t know what he saw, but his brow furrowed. “Did this happen last time?”

  I tried to talk, but the words wouldn’t come, only a dry click in my throat. Last time, I’d passed out almost immediately, so this drugging need for him was new. I pulled against his grip, needing his scent. He muttered something and let my head go. I went right back to nuzzling against him. I tried to tell him what I was doing, what I needed, but his scent was all around, infecting me, and the last thing I remembered before I passed out was his hand resting gently yet possessively on the back of my neck.

  Chapter Four

  Dare

  * * *

  Reese slept so deeply that even when an empty plate slipped out of my hand and clattered to the floor, he didn’t stir. Not even a flinch.

  After nuzzling into my chest and my pits with his lips parted and eyes glazed, he’d finally passed out, but I could still feel the phantom moist exhales of his breath, the brushes of his lips, the rhythmic way he inhaled me, like he couldn’t get enough.

  I sat beside the bed watching my mate sleep, Real Accounts of True Mates clutched in my hand. I’d spent the last three hours while Reese slept reading all I could, but I wasn’t much closer to learning about the True Mate bond. I already knew about the Mate Pain, which only affected Weres. Related to the Mate Pain was the fact that if Reese died, so would I. Probably within hours. The physical separation from him while he was still alive was painful, but if he died, then the pain would kill me.

  Reese would be unaffected by this. Of course, if I was challenged by another alpha and killed, Reese would be killed too as my mate. I shuddered thinking about it. I’d do everything in my power to make sure that never happened.

  There were some documented reports of Alphas growing physically strong, as well as their True Mates. And many were able to link their minds so they could communicate silently. But every True Mate partnership was unique. And all the benefits of the bond often took weeks to months to fully develop.

  As interested as I was in learning how bonding with a True Mate would benefit me, I found my concentration drifting during reading. Mostly to watch Reese. And to think about how it’d only been two days since we met and already I was consumed by him.

  I’d had limited interactions with werewolves over the years. A few came by and sought shelter for a little while before moving on, usually to other werewolf packs in the area—often Xan’s. I’d never thought sending them there would most likely lead them to a life of servitude. They were never comfortable here, and wolves made Weres restless. I’d always thought them to be weaker, less intelligent, and naturally submissive, but Reese didn’t fall into those categories. Well, he was weaker physically just based on size, but I was impressed with the strength he did have.

  He wasn’t dumb. He seemed to have a natural curiosity and a craving for answers and understanding. And, while in bed, it felt as though he enjoyed his role, but it was obvious he didn’t enjoy being bossed around elsewhere. While his body listened to me, his eyes told me he was not pleased.

  Sometimes reading Reese was easy. He showed his emotions all over his face. Other times, he threw up a guard, the one I suspected he’d hid behind when under Xan’s rule.

  I ran my hand over my face with a grunt. When I’d first smelled that this werewolf was my True Mate, I had expected to fuck him, absorb the benefits that came with the True Mate bond, and that would’ve been it. I hadn’t expected to be invested in his feelings, wonder what he was thinking or if he was content, or for fuck’s sake, want him to like me.

  Who gave a fuck if Reese liked me?

  I did, apparently, because the idea of him hating his life, of hating me, was intolerable.

  Shit, I had to get out of here, away from his scent, before I woke him and fucked him unconscious again.

  With one last look at him, I left my room, locking the door behind me. I jogged down the stairs, to the fifth level of the Hive, our main building which housed everything from pack member apartments to meeting rooms. I made my way to G’s room. I knocked on the door, and he opened it a crack.

  “I want a meet,” I said.

  He nodded, and left the door open as he retreated to stuff his feet into his boots. Jude sat on the bed with a pad of paper and a pencil. He was too thin like Reese, and he had the same pale skin, dark hair, and vibrant blue eyes. He glanced up, and when he saw I was at the door, his eyes widened as he clambered off the bed and ran toward me. “Is Reese with you?”

  The hope in his voice tightened my chest. I shook my head.

  Jude came to a halt in front of me, and his face fell. “Oh.” He nibbled his lip and glanced at G, who was watching him silently. “Is my brother okay?”

  “He’s fine.” My answer was curt, but I didn’t like being questioned about my mate by anyone. Jude’s expression darkened, and he opened his mouth.

  “Jude.” G’s voice was a sharp crack of warning.

  Jude immediately bent his head, and his bony shoulders heaved. Without a word, he shuffled back to the bed and picked up his pad of paper, avoiding eye contact with either of us.

  Shit.

  G met me at the door. “I’ll be back soon,” he said to the boy.

  Jude ignored him.

  “Jude,” I said.

  He ignored me too.

  “The Alpha is speaking to you,” G said, his voice softer this time.

  Jude pressed his lips together, his fingers curling into his palms. Finally, his gaze met mine.

  “I’ll bring Reese by to see you soon.”

  Jude swallowed, and despite his eyes telling me he wanted to claw my face, his voice was even. “Okay.”

  Right, that was more than I owed anyone. I led G out of the room, and waited as he locked the door behind him. We made our way to the end of the hallway, into a spare apartment I often used for meetings. When the door was locked behind me, I turned to G. “How is he?”

  My guard captain pulled an apple out of his pocket and bit into it. “He listens to me.”

  “I see that.”

  “He’s hungry a lot, and sleeps.” A muscle in his jaw jumped. “And he has scars on his back, like he was beaten with something.”

  I blinked. As far as I knew, wolves didn’t scar. Reese’s back was smooth. The only way to scar would be if they cut him with something silver. “For fuck’s sake.”

  G didn’t respond as he polished off his apple. He tossed it in the trash can in the far corner. “Bay’s been handling everything fine.”

  I smiled. My brother was not an alpha, but everyone loved him. “Yeah I visited him yesterday.” Was it yesterday? Time was running together.

  "You want to round up the guard and meet?”

  I shook my head. “I gotta get back to my mate. I’m not ready to make an appearance to the pack yet. And Reese definitely isn’t ready.”

  G didn’t have to ask. I knew by his one raised eyebrow what he wanted to know. Not that I had to tell him, but I told G everything. “He’s fine, but this is an adjustment for us both.” I huffed out a breath. “Who told us wolves were the submissive, weaker species?”

  G barked out a laugh. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

  “Are these wolves defective?” I grinned.

  “I don’t know, but Jude is the same. He’s smart. I have to watch him closely and, even now, I don’t want to be gone long.”

  “You think he’ll escape?”

  “I don’t think he’ll leave the compound, but he wants to see his brother.”

  “Yeah, okay.” I shook my head. My joints were starting to ache, as the separation from my mate stre
tched on. “I should get back to Reese. When I left, he was sleeping.” With a jerk of my chin, I was out the door, intent on getting food for my mate, then back to him as soon as possible.

  Reese

  * * *

  I came awake slowly, my head still a little foggy from sex. Would it be like this every time? Because fuck, I was useless.

  I rubbed my eyes and rolled onto my back, sniffing the air. I didn’t smell my mate and with a groan, I raised my upper body to look for him.

  Nope, no Dare.

  I rolled out of bed, took a piss, and then checked the door. Locked. Figured.

  I tested the bars on the windows, but even if I could squeeze between them, I’d never survive the six-floor jump to the ground. And where would I go even if I managed to get out of this room?

  I needed more time to feel Dare out, more time to get to know the way his pack operated. There was a possibility I could trust him enough to tell him about Selene. But as an alpha, his own pack would be his first priority, and the likelihood I’d have to escape and go it alone was high.

  I walked laps around the room restlessly. A couple of times, I swore I saw the doorknob turn, and the excitement that bloomed in my chest each time worried me.

  Why was I so eager to see him?

  This was routine apparently—fuck, sleep, eat. Repeat. Any other time, I would have been cool with this. Who wouldn’t want a mate who could use his dick as well as Dare? But my sister’s life was on a knife edge. Fuck my life.

  I shifted, dropping down to four paws and shaking out my fur. I found an old chicken bone under the bed and lay with it pressed between my paws so I could gnaw on it. I was so into the bone, that I almost missed Dare’s return.

  I smelled him a split second before he entered the room. He held a couple of plates in his hands, and stared down at me with what looked to be amusement. “You’re awake.”

  I shifted back to human quickly, then grabbed a plate he handed me. “What did you bring me?”

  “Chicken sandwiches.”

  I sat down on the end of the bed and poked at the bread. “Oh damn, it’s still warm.” When I bit into it, my eyes rolled back in my head. Fuck, I could get used to this. I was halfway through my sandwich when I glanced up to see him still staring at me. “You going to eat?”

  “Already ate.”

  “Oh.” I polished off the rest of the sandwich, then started in on the carrots. “So how is everything…out there?”

  “Fine.” He answered so quickly that I wasn’t sure all was fine. “And I saw your brother.”

  I stood up. “Yeah? Is he okay?”

  “He’s eating well, and he and G seem to be getting along.”

  “What do you mean by getting along?”

  “Jude listens to G, and does what G asks.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “My brother is following orders?”

  “Apparently.”

  My brother listened to me, and that was about it. He only listened to people he respected or…that he was scared of. Him obeying G didn’t sit well. “You sure G is treating him well?”

  “I’m positive.” His tone was final.

  Fucker. I slumped back down on the bed and ran my fingers over the crumbs on my plate, then stuck my fingers in my mouth. He was keeping me from my brother, locking me in this room so he could fuck me whenever he wanted, and the worst part was that I’d offered zero resistance and even now kinda wanted to get on all fours for him. Stupid fated instincts.

  “Do you need another sandwich?”

  I refused to look at him. “No.”

  “Reese, look at me.”

  I gave him my back by crawling onto the bed and lying on my stomach. I pillowed my arms on my hands, my gaze on the wall. I was anything but relaxed, my body tense as I waited to see what he’d do now that I’d blatantly disobeyed him.

  There was no sound, not even a sigh. My heart pounded in my ears, and I curled my hands into fists.

  Of course, he could just take out my punishment on Jude. That’s what Xan had done.

  That thought shot a jolt of pure terror through me and had me bolting upright. “I’m sorry!” I held a hand out. Dare hadn’t moved from his spot, and he stared at me with widened eyes. “Don’t punish Jude. I’m sorry. I’ll listen and obey.” I crawled off the bed, every movement against my nature as I knelt at his feet. I hadn’t ever prostrated myself before Xan, and he’d taken it out on Jude. These were Weres we were dealing with, and who knew what they’d do to him. Fuck pride. I raised my head and did exactly what he’d asked of me—I looked at him.

  His chest rose and fell, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. “Stand up.”

  I did that, quickly, but kept my head bowed. Hands gripped my chin roughly and jerked my face up, his gaze meeting mine. His irises were swirling, and I swallowed, hoping he didn’t sense my trembling too much. Five sharp points dug into my skin as his claws unsheathed. I was panting in terror. “I’ll be good,” I whispered.

  His eyes fell closed, and he heaved a deep breath. He shook his head and let go of me with a shove. I fell back onto the bed as he turned around, picked up his chair beside the bed, and hurled it at the far wall.

  As the chair shattered and pieces of wood rained down onto the floor, I scooted backward on the bed until I reached the wall, curling into myself, trying to be as small as possible. My heart was racing, my palms sweaty. I hadn’t been smart. Blinded by the sex and the True Mate scent, I’d let my mouth run and my pride show, and now Dare was pissed. I heaved in a breath, prepared to do anything, anything to get back onto his good side.

  He stood with his back to me for a long moment. When he turned to face me, his eyes were back to green, and he didn’t look angry anymore. Instead he looked…disappointed.

  I still held my breath, unsure what the hell he was thinking. He paced back and forth a couple of times before stopping. “Are you scared of me?”

  “Yes,” I answered quickly. “I’d be a fucking moron not to be scared of you.”

  He braced his hands on his hips. “Tell me why you thought I’d punish Jude.”

  Be smart, Reese. “Because you told me to look at you, and I didn’t look at you.”

  “But why would I punish Jude for something you did?”

  “Because that’s what Xan did,” I said. “One time I refused to work, he beat Jude with a silver-spiked cane.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” Dare gritted out.

  I remained silent.

  He ran his tongue over his top teeth. “And you thought I’d do that?”

  I shrugged.

  “What have I done to make you think I’d do that?”

  He had a point. But. “What have you done to make me think you wouldn’t? I’m locked up here, and I’m not even sure how many days it’s been. While I don’t deny I love what you do to me with your cock, I have no idea what my role is in this pack. I don’t know how disposable I am. I don’t know you, Dare.”

  His nostrils flared, and he glanced at the shattered remains of his chair. He walked toward me, and, although I was still wary, his expression didn’t terrify me. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me into his lap. I came willingly, because, despite my brain shouting out words of warning, my body felt safe in the arms of my mate.

  He smoothed his hand down my back, then with his thumb at my chin, lifted my gaze to meet his.

  “You’re right, you don’t know me. So maybe my promise won’t mean much to you. But I’ll say it anyway. I promise to protect Jude as I would my own brother. I would never hurt him to punish you.” He nudged my nose with his, in a gesture of affection I hadn’t thought he was capable of.

  Whether I knew him or not, an alpha promise was golden, and Dare’s voice dripped with sincerity. He meant what he said, and my heart beat double-time. I kissed him, a soft press of my lips to his, a display of gratitude that I couldn’t put into words. What started as a simple, hesitant kiss from me quickly morphed into Dare ravaging my mouth.

  Kissin
g him was better than air, than any plate of food he could deliver to me. Kissing Dare was life.

  The thought settled in my stomach like a cocktail of elation and dread. My heart was being tugged in too many directions. I pulled out of the kiss and ducked my head, hoping to hide the swirl of emotions.

  Dare’s hand sifted through my hair, then he tucked my face under his chin. I breathed him in, feeling his hardness rub against mine, but neither of us was in a hurry to deal with it.

  I gripped his arms, squeezing the hard flesh. “Thank you for that promise.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “I thought I knew what your role was, and now I’m not so sure.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re not what I expected. From a wolf and from a mate. If you’re patient with me while we figure this out, then I’ll be patient with you.”

  “That’s fair,” I said softly.

  He sighed. “I need a new chair.”

  I glanced over at the broken pieces. “Uh, yeah, how’re you going to explain that one?”

  “I’m going to tell them I’ve been feeding you too much, because you sat on it and broke it.”

  I pulled back and punched him in the shoulder. “Ha-ha. Look who has jokes.”

  He was smiling. Had I seen him smile yet? Not sure, but this smile was effortless—wide grin, big teeth. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and without thinking, I reached out and ran my finger over the creases.

  His smile faded, but that look of affection didn’t. In a soft voice, he said. “I think I like you, mate.”

  I dropped my hands into my lap. “I think I like you too.”

  As he clutched me to his chest, I closed my eyes. This truce between us felt tentative and a little weak, but he’d earned another kernel of my trust. I’d give it a little more time, but soon, I was going to have to make a decision. Trust Dare? Or escape?

  Chapter Five