by Bonnie Vanak
“Sorry, Dar,” he said, meaning it.
Darius shrugged and tipped his hat back. “It is what it is. Maybe I’ll go on one of those new computer mating services.”
“Werewolf Match?” Arianna asked.
“Better than test riding a bevy of willing females. I’m running out of energy.” Darius winked, back to his old, arrogant self. “You two had better hustle. Aiden’s expecting you.”
A few minutes later, they sat in Aiden’s study before his large, polished desk. Kyle relayed what happened to them in the cave and cautioned Aiden to be on guard against dark, powerful magick.
The pack alpha looked thoughtful as he tapped a gold pen against the desktop. “I have something I need to ask now that you’re mated.”
Worry shadowed Arianna’s big blue eyes. Kyle leaned forward. “I warn you, if it’s anything that hurts Ari, no fucking way. If you want me off your turf, say so now and I’ll leave. But she’s coming with me.”
She stared at him. “You mean it?”
He nodded. “Can’t guarantee what kind of life we’ll have, and you’ve yet to wear my mark on your skin, but damnit, I can’t leave you, Ari. I won’t leave you. I love you.”
Picking up his hand, she kissed his knuckles. “Me too.”
Surprise flared in the alpha’s eyes. “Leave? You two are the most valuable resource this pack has. Kyle, I can’t think of anyone else who can hunt like you, except for Arianna here. If you even had it in mind to leave, I’d beg you to stay.”
The unexpected praise warmed him, but he grew suspicious. Aiden always had a purpose. “What do you want?”
A distant look entered the alpha’s dark eyes. “I know you have yet to put the mating mark on Arianna, but after you do, I want you to conceive a baby for the pack. We need more young as soon as possible.”
Whoa.
“A small request?” She stared at Aiden. “I’d hate to think what constitutes a large one.”
“You’re in heat, Arianna. I can tell. Tonight is the perfect time.”
Kyle’s nostrils flared and a low growl rumbled in his throat. Aiden held up his hands. “Back off. I’m stating the obvious. She’s all yours. And the choice is yours as well. I’m only asking for the sake of our people.”
He liked the idea. Liked the idea of making her pregnant, sealing the bond between them with a baby. He loved the vision of her with a big belly, his child snugly inside her.
He could be a father at last. A male who would never, ever, abandon his young or his true mate, and would stay with them always. But here, among the pack? Could he find acceptance?
“Having young with Kyle’s strong bloodlines will increase the pack’s strength. And it will assure our people that mixed breedings are acceptable. Kyle is a role model.”
“You’re worried about the single males,” she said suddenly.
“They’re getting more and more out of control.” Aiden’s expression grew troubled. “I’m trying to pair them up much as possible, but there’s not enough available female Lupines.”
“Lexie’s family, the Blakemore pack, is mostly female,” she pointed out.
Aiden’s gaze narrowed. “Nikita is firm on not allowing outsiders to mate with her females. I’m working on changing her little rule. In the meantime, I want our males to know I approve of them selecting hybrids as mates.”
She looked at Kyle.
“You okay with this? It’s your body, sweetheart. Your decision. Not going to force you into anything, especially me.” He kept his voice tender and husky, howling inside at the idea of making love to her until she conceived.
She nodded. “This will ensure your place in the pack.”
For a moment, he remained speechless. A huge lump knotted his throat. No one had ever stuck up for him, had ever defended him before. Except this lovely Lupine who was willing to bear his child, willing to make a statement to keep him at her side and give him a permanent home after years of wandering.
Kyle touched her cheek, marveling at her loyalty. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Arianna brought his palm to her cheek and rested upon it. “I never tire of hearing it. And never will.”
Glancing at the pack alpha, he saw Aiden staring out the window at the darkening sky. “Full moon tonight.”
The moon’s pull pulsed and throbbed in his blood to shift into wolf. His skin felt too tight, too restrictive. He too, felt the moon’s call.
As they walked down the hallway toward the staircase, they passed the open door to Darius’s smaller office. The beta was at his desk, staring at a computer screen. Jaw slackened, he looked as if someone had slapped him.
They walked into the office. “What’s wrong? Are they that ugly on Werewolf Match?” Arianna teased.
Gaze unfocused, Darius glanced up. Sweat beaded his forehead. Then he crooked a finger at them.
They rounded the desk and looked at the photo on the computer screen. The female was young, pretty, but had a vulnerable look.
“A possible match?” Arianna asked.
“Definitely. She’s my mate,” Darius said slowly. He looked stricken. “Her mother said she was dead. She’s not. She’s alive.”
Arianna gasped. Kyle’s jaw dropped. He wasn’t the only one whose life had been filled with lies. “I’m sorry, Dar. What next?”
A cold, almost cruel look shaded Darius’ expression. “I’m going to answer her ad for a mate.”
“Good luck,” Kyle murmured.
In the hallway, Arianna shook her head. “Why would someone do that? It’s so cruel.”
He touched her cheek. “Lupines can be cruel. They think their reasons are justified, but they’re not. Don’t worry. If anyone can handle a situation like that, it’s Darius.”
A wash of pale moonlight lit their way back to his cabin. The moon’s pull made Kyle restless and edgy, thickening his blood with the urge to mate.
Inside the cabin, Kyle swung Arianna into his arms and carried her upstairs to his bedroom. As he stripped naked, Arianna tore off her own clothing, her gaze sultry and hot.
A naked Satyr statue stood in the corner, muscled body gleaming, lust darkening his gaze. A thick penis jutted upward from his groin, covered by a cowboy hat.
He watched Arianna prance over and lift the Stetson. Her eyes widened at the sight of the statue’s enormous penis.
“His wood is, uh, wood.” Arianna squinted. “Not lifelike. Too small.”
“Small?”
“Compared to the real thing.” She sauntered over to the bed and pushed him backward, onto his back. His own penis saluted the air, a fleshy exclamation mark.
Plopping the hat on his head, she smiled. “Save a horse, ride a Satyr.”
And then she kissed his shaft, running her tongue along the underside. Hissing with the pleasure, he gripped her hips, but let her move at her own pace. Arianna was all that mattered. Tonight, he knew it would happen. The loss of all the control he possessed, and his mating mark at last upon her silky skin.
Groaning with pleasure, he lay back as she took his penis into her mouth, swirling her tongue. Suddenly he could stand it no longer and pushed her away. Surprise flared on her face.
“I know you want me as much as I want you. I can smell it on you, Ari, smell your arousal. You’re wet between your legs. Hot and wet and ripe.” He paused and kissed her sweet mouth.
“You ready?” he asked thickly.
“I’ve been ready all my life. Just didn’t realize I was ready only for you.”
The savage animal inside him suddenly surged, blood rushing to his engorged shaft. “Turn over,” he growled.
She did as he asked, her plump ass cushioning him.
“I will not let any of them claim what’s mine. You.” Kyle brushed aside her long, blond hair, fangs exploding in his mouth. “It’ll hurt, sweetheart, but only for a minute.”
And then he sank his fangs deep into her neck. Sealing his mark upon her, sealing her as exclusively his own.
The shocking,
erotic sting made her cry out, the aching between her legs intensifying. Arianna had never felt this sensually aware. The full moon had caused his testosterone to surge, releasing the primitive male who now marked her exclusively.
Sizzling heat speared her as his warm tongue flicked over the bite. Kyle flipped her onto her back and slid a hand between her legs. He stroked a long finger across her drenched cleft. Intense pleasure seared her, thickening the tension riding low in her groin. She gasped, pushing her hips upward in a nameless pleading for more.
Deftly he slipped a finger inside her passage as his thumb circled her engorged clit.
The agonized pleasure between her legs exploded as he caressed her. She arched upward and climaxed hard, her body convulsing.
Arianna lay on the mattress, shuddering in little ripples of pleasure. A beam of silver moonlight washed into the bedroom. Kyle reared back and snarled, tossing the hat to the floor.
And began to change into his Satyr form. Unafraid, she watched, then beckoned to him, her arms held wide in welcome.
Eyes glowing amber as if lit from behind, he placed his hands on her knees, spread her legs wide and stared at her glistening sex. His nostrils flared, and she knew the scent of her arousal cranked up his need. Dropping her gaze, she studied his penis, now as thick around as her wrist, the purple head dripping with pre-cum.
“I love you,” she told him softly, sliding her palms over his.
Moisture glistened in those amber pupils. Kyle placed a single, sweet kiss on her mouth, his beard tickling her skin. Then he growled. “Turn over.”
She did, rising on all fours. He was in full mating frenzy. Biting her lip, she surrendered to the fevered animal passion. She opened her legs wide in the traditional mating position and braced herself.
His heavy body settled atop her, the edge of his cock nudging her soaked slit as he wrapped muscled arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck, and then dragged his tongue over her sensitive skin. Kyle kissed and caressed her until she felt ready and open. Wriggling her rump, she spread her legs open wider.
“Now,” he murmured.
He pushed his thick shaft deep. Her howl of pleasure was silenced under the penetrating thrust of his tongue as he turned her head toward him and kissed her. She felt melded to him and wanted more. Her feminine tissues clung to his cock as he hammered deep inside her, their wet flesh slapping together.
Arianna dropped her head, tension riding in her loins as he squeezed and kneaded her hips, riding her hard. Then Kyle fisted a hand in her long hair and slammed into her even harder, making the bed shake and pound against the wall.
As he arched back and shouted, she let go, the pleasure bursting deep inside her loins as he penetrated deep. Tendons and sinew on his thick biceps tightened. His neck chorded as he threw back his head and howled, his powerful body bucking and shuddering. She felt the warm spurt of his seed, each ejaculation causing new ripples of pleasure that stroked into small orgasms, sending waves of fresh pleasure inside her cunt.
Finally he eased out. Arianna turned over and saw he’d resumed his normal Skin form. Kyle pulled her into his arms, the sweat from their bodies sealing them together.
For a long few minutes, they simply lay together, the sound of their ragged breathing filling the room. Arianna’s heartbeat finally slowed and she could think straight.
She buried her head against the crook of his shoulder, trembling deep inside.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he whispered. “Did I scare you?”
Moisture blurred her vision as she lifted her head and smiled at him. Her male. Her mate for life.
“No. Everything’s all right. I just realized something. I’m never going to be scared again. You’ve taught me how to be strong, and let love push aside fear. All those memories that terrified me, they’re nothing but ghosts. I’m only remembering the good ones, like my memories of my parents.”
Tenderly, he thumbed away a stray tear, his expression filled with tenderness. “I never imagined I could create a memory I never wanted to erase, not until you came into my life. Because of you, I’ll never feel alone again.”
He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her, his mouth warm and firm. Whatever they faced in the coming days, she knew they would face it together.
Their days would be filled with fresh hope, each memory created never forgotten, but cherished always in their hearts.
Author’s note: If you enjoyed this book, look for The Mating Seduction, Jackson and Lexie’s story, coming soon. Stay updated with previews of more Werewolves of Montana books by visiting my website, www.bonnievanak.com and signing up for my newsletter. Or visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bonnievanakauthor