“What?”
He closed his eyes, as if getting some emotion under control. “Your father’s security men. One of them look familiar…” He shook his head. “The man who called earlier. That was Josh. My boss. He's worried because there are some people after us in Vegas. They found out that I'm here and are coming after me. Since we’ve been seen together, they may come after you as well. It's no longer safe.”
She grasped his hand and pulled it away from her face. “I can't go with you, Zach.”
His jaw hardened. “You have to come. I can't stay here.”
She shook her head. He wasn't going to listen to her, and she was too tired to fight right now. “Please. Tell me what happened back there.”
He removed his hand from her grasp and ran his fingers over her arm. “Are you hurt?”
He scraped over one of her cuts, making her whine.
“You are hurt.” His nostrils flared, and his eyes glowed. “You're right; I never should have taken you. It's too dangerous.”
“It's nothing, Zach. I'll live.”
He shook his head. “I've gone too far now to go back. You have to come with me, where it's safe.”
Chloe blinked as the yellow color in his eyes deepened.
“What's happening to you?”
“I told you that I'm not normal, Chloe. When that wolf attacked me in the forest, I was left for dead. Why he didn't kill me, I don't know. All I know is that I was found by others like me and saved. The wolf's blood mixed with my own, making me this”—he waved his hand over his body—“monster. It wars with me every day. With the beast comes the rage. Most of the time I can control it, but there are only two times when the wolf can gain the upper hand. The first is the full moon. For three nights my body rages uncontrollably, unless I subdue it with sex.”
“Did you…?” Chloe swallowed unable to think about Zach with another woman.
He looked away, hiding his changing eyes. “I couldn't do it. Not knowing you were still out here. Every month I had Josh chain me up until the raging passed. That way I wouldn't hurt anyone—or break anything.”
“Can I see it? Your wolf, I mean.”
Zach shook his head and returned to her gaze. His eyes had changed from yellow to a light green. “No. I can't risk it. When I'm in full wolf form I can't control my emotions—or my actions. I don't remember half of what I do. I won't put you in needless danger. Besides, every time I change, it becomes harder to change back.”
“I'm so sorry.” Chloe reached out and ran her fingers along the angular jaw. With most of the rage from the party gone, his features were more human now. More Zach.
Zach caught her hand and kissed the inside of her palm. “It was worth it, Chloe. I couldn't have sex with another woman—not even to tame my inner wolf. Even though the beast had my body, my heart still belonged to you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and Chloe blinked them back. “What's the other time?”
Zach stopped rubbing his cheek in her palm. “Other time?”
She nodded. “You said there are two times when the beast has become uncontrollable. The first was the full moon, and the second…”
He sighed and let her hand fall to her lap. “The second began as a rumor in one of the casinos.”
“Casinos?”
“Pack casinos. Josh Kyron owns them.”
“Kyron Casinos?” They were some of the most popular—and most infamous—casinos in Vegas.
Zach nodded. “They're sanctuaries of sorts for my kind. There's a casino in front and a haven in back where we can…let our wolf sides run free. Josh has his pack run the casinos. I do most of the computer work.”
Chloe smiled. “I never would have picked you as a computer geek.”
He shrugged. “It's something to focus on. Each month the rages will get worse until we can no longer break free from their grip. We become rabid and volatile. Death becomes welcome.”
“No, there must be some way to resist the change when the moon is full.”
“There is. If a wolf finds their life-mate, it can give strength to the beast. The rages become harder to control, and our emotions more intense. If the wolf then chooses to leave the mate, his inner beast will be harder to control, and he will slip more quickly into insanity. If the mate allows the wolf to mark them, however, then the beast is subdued. The pull of the moon becomes weaker each cycle, and over time, the anger goes away.”
A warm heat washed over her body. “How do you leave your…mark?”
“You've seen me change. You know how long my teeth get. Mating requires our kind to bite our partner during sex. Something about the sharing of blood subdues the beast. There is a price, though. Life-mates are forever joined. Where one goes, the other must go too. If one dies, then the other will follow them to the grave.”
“I had no idea.”
He shifted his gaze away from her. “I believe you're my mate.”
Chloe opened her mouth, but no sound came out. His mate? But that was impossible.
“The full moon has passed, yet the wolf remains uncontrolled. It's the only explanation. I need you, Chloe. Come back to Vegas.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. “I have obligations here, Zach; I can't just walk away from them.” Her protests sounded halfhearted even to her ears. She knew that if she stayed behind in Texas, she’d be miserable, just like her father. Didn’t she deserve a chance at happiness?
But things were happening so fast… Could she really trust Zach? Was he telling her the truth?
Zach laced his fingers with hers. “You have to. I'm…I'm afraid I won't be able to control the beast otherwise.”
It sure was tempting, but she couldn't just up and leave, could she? Everything she had ever known was here. She shook her head. “I have too many people depending on me.”
Yellow fire burned in his eyes. “Like who? Karl? Your father? They don't care about you, Chloe. They don't need you. Not like I do.” He brushed a stray hair from her face. “You have to come with me.” His gaze flicked to her mouth, sending a shiver up and down her spine. She moistened her lips in anticipation.
“I need you, Chloe.”
Pleasure exploded around her as his mouth brushed against hers. After everything that had happened, Chloe knew she should pull away. She should go home and never look back. Zach was dangerous, and she had a responsibility to her family…
Yet she couldn't do it. For the past five years she had hoped he would come back to her. Now Zach was here, and she didn't want to let him go. Ever.
And if he was right, and she could help him…
With a sigh, Chloe relaxed and opened herself up to the kiss. Zach growled and deepened the kiss, but this time his touch was gentler, more in control.
Excitement rippled through her. Karl was never this exciting—or this passionate. She could feel the feral animal in Zach letting go. He roamed his hands over her body, sliding over her clothes and tugging at her shirt. Once it was free, he slid his hands underneath and ran them over her skin. Chloe arched her back, eager for his touch.
“Stay with me, Chloe. I need you. It's like a drug…”
Chloe moaned and drove her fingers into his thick locks. She didn't want to hear him talk; her body pulsed with need and desire. Raising her legs, she wrapped them around his hips and pulled him closer.
A dam had been broken, and Zach opened her shirt. She moaned as he ran his long fingers over her bra. She grabbed his hand, pushing it into her breast.
“I need you too, Zach.”
He kissed her again, and Chloe's spirit soared. Freeing her breast, Zach stroked and teased it until her nipple formed a sharp peak in his hands. Chloe's thoughts scattered. She kissed a trail down his neck and shoulder while her fingers worked with the buttons of his shirt. She wanted to touch him, feel his skin under her palms. When the material finally gave way, she sighed and ran her fingers over the muscles of his chest, tangling them in his fine hairs. But it wasn't enough.
As their tongu
es danced, she trailed her fingers down the ripples of his abdomen and let them hover where the fine hairs thickened just above the top of his pants. He hissed as she tugged at his jeans. He nipped her lip, sending tingles over her skin. Chloe ran her tongue over his sharp teeth, reveling in their feral power. She briefly wondered what it would be like to be bitten by him, to be connected so intimately. She wanted that from him; more than anything else, she wanted to share that intimate bond with Zach.
She could help him.
But her parents…would mating with Zach condemn her father to a life of solitude?
No, she’d work things out with her father and Zach. She had to.
Zach pulled away from her mouth and moved to her chest. As he took her nipple in his lips, she lost herself in the sensation. Her thoughts dissolved, and her will weakened. She left his pants and dug her fingers into his hair, enjoying the feel of his mouth on her breast. Her back arched as she moaned her pleasure as he lowered her to the ground. He kissed the underside of her breast, and Chloe shivered as she felt his teeth scrape against her skin. Down and down he moved, kissing a trail over her abdomen.
Within moments he removed her skirt and his jeans and tossed them aside. Then he was on top of her again. Chloe enjoyed the feel of his weight on top of her. His lips brushed against hers, and Chloe clung to him desperately. Raising her legs, she locked them behind his back. He moved his hips, positioning himself against her opening.
“I won't hurt you, Chloe. I promise.”
He had changed. His eyes had turned a deep yellow, and his muscles bulged from strain. The wolf was just below the surface. It was dangerous to be around him like this, but it only made Chloe more excited. “I know.”
He pushed inside her, and Chloe muffled a cry as her body stretched to accommodate him. Inch by torturous inch, he filled her until he was sheathed completely. Then he buried his forehead against her shoulder. Chloe moaned as heat roared through her body. She ran her fingers up and down his back, enjoying the feel of his enlarged muscles under her fingers.
He groaned and lifted his head. “I'll try to be gentle, Chloe. I promise I won't bite you.”
He started moving before Chloe could refute him. She wanted him to bite her; she needed the connection as much as he did. But when the sweet friction started, she felt the heat burn between her thighs and failed to form the words. Her mind blanked as pleasure coursed through her body. His thrusts quickened, and she whispered his name. Despite the cool air, she felt warm and energized.
Zach balanced his weight on his hands, positioning himself at a better angle. Chloe cried out as he thrust, bringing them both closer and closer to the edge. Her heartbeat quickened, her soul stretched. Every nerve inside her body felt like it was on fire.
Then it happened. Her orgasm roared through her, causing her to arch her back and cry out his name. She shuddered, the force of it rolling over her body and leaving her boneless. She felt him stiffen, his thrusts deepen. Soon his cry echoed around her as he followed her over the edge.
When it was finished, he scooped her up and rolled over onto his back. They lay there for a moment and waited for their breathing to return to normal.
Everything seemed peaceful, quiet. Chloe wished she could stay like this forever.
Then a weird noise sounded from the bushes.
Chapter 9
Zach groaned at the familiar cell phone ring. “You've got to be kidding me.”
“Leave it,” Chloe said.
“I can't. It's Josh.” He had selected a special ring for his boss so he would know to answer the call. The tune of “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N' Roses seemed somehow very appropriate for the older pack leader who found Zach and introduced him to his new family.
Zach reached over Chloe and retrieved the phone from his pants. Chloe made a face as he flipped it open.
“Yeah.”
“Where are you?”
Zach stared at the sky and tried to suppress his anger. “I told you, I was busy.”
Josh was silent for a moment before he responded. “You showed your wolf in public, didn't you?”
It wasn't a question, and Zach knew it was useless to deny it. “Yeah, but it was rather chaotic. I don't think anyone got a good look at me.”
Josh whispered a curse. “Okay. I'm sending a team over for damage control. You need to get your ass back here. My sources told me Lydia put out a call to rally somewhere just outside of Vegas. We aren't sure where yet. To make matters worse, Eric's private plane was discovered leaving Atlantic City in route to Vegas.”
Zach swore under his breath. If Lydia and her brother got together, then there’d be enough muscle to run Josh and the rest of their pack out of town. Chloe raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He turned away and lowered his voice. “There are packs all over the country. Why us? Why now?”
“He's always hated me. As to why now… He knows something we don't, that's for sure. I don't know how they found out you were in Houston. It feels like they're constantly one step ahead of us.”
“Is the psychic telling him our movements?”
Josh ignored his question. “Possibly, if there even is a psychic. We haven’t been able to confirm that. Look, things have gotten out of control here. That’s why I'm pulling everyone back except Tony and Nico. They’re going to get to the bottom of this psychic rumor.”
Zach frowned. “I'll check the flights and call you once I'm in the air.” Zach sighed and closed his cell.
Chloe rested her chin on his chest. “What's going on?”
Sweet, innocent Chloe. Zach knew the risks of pursuing her but did it anyway. He didn't want to bring her into his dangerous world, but now it was too late. His wolf side had tasted her and recognized her as its mate. His scent was all over her. Even if they parted, the rival pack might sense the connection and use her against him. It was too risky.
“Remember I told you about the woman who wants to destroy what we are doing in Vegas?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Well, she discovered the file, and now she is threatening Josh with it.”
“What does she want?”
“Money. Power… What they all want.”
Chloe thought for a moment. “Josh can't handle it himself?”
“I have to go. I owe Josh so much. Since you now carry my scent, it's not safe for you here either.”
“But I'm human. I can't live with your pack.”
He shrugged. “Human have stayed with us before. As long as you wear my mark, no one will touch you. They know I'd kill them.”
Chloe pushed her lips together in thought.
“You'd be completely safe.” He kissed the top of her head. “Besides, you'd be with me.”
It did all sound good. Chloe knew in her heart that she'd already made up her mind. She was so tired of this life and eager to leave it. There was just one thing holding her back. “I have to say good-bye to my parents.”
He tightened his grip for a moment, then let her go. “I understand. We'll go back to the house so you can pack a few things. We have to leave tonight, though. This can't wait.”
She nodded.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I think this is something I have to do myself.” She looked at her watch. “The party probably broke up by now.”
Zach sighed and picked up her clothes. “Here you go.” He handed them to her. “I don't feel right leaving you alone with them.”
She pulled on her skirt. “But they're my parents.”
“I know. I just don't like how your father's using you.”
She smiled and kissed him on the forehead. “He and I have both been manipulated by Karl. I’m sure once he understands that Karl is more interested in the family business than me, he’ll see things our way.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I'll be fine. Give me twenty minutes to throw some things in a bag.”
“You could get some new clothes in Vegas.”
; She frowned. “Zach…”
“I know I know.” He waved his hands in the air. “Come on.”
They returned to the house and decided to enter through her bedroom window so she could pack before confronting her family. Chloe got to see Zach's superior strength as he took her up the tree to the roof.
“Is that how you got up there that first night?”
“Of course.”
“What made you come up here?”
He paused from his examination of her bedroom window and raised his brow.
Chloe played with her hands as she spoke. “You could have contacted me years ago. Why now?”
He shrugged. “Something drew me here.”
As if that explained everything.
Zach opened the window and motioned her inside. “Hurry, I'll be right out here if you need me.”
She shimmied into her bedroom. Zach grabbed her elbow as she began to walk away. “Don't tell your parents anything about why we are going to Vegas—or about Josh and my pack.”
“Why not?”
“Please, Chloe,” he whispered. “Lives depend on your secrecy.”
She pulled her arm from his grasp. “Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.” This would make things difficult to explain, but she would respect his wishes.
It took only moments for Chloe to pack a bag. She was never really a vain woman, and she knew Zach was right—she'd be able to buy some more clothes in Vegas. That wasn't the real reason why she was here.
Once packed, she peeked out her bedroom door. The clinking of glass could be heard from downstairs. The staff must be picking up from the party. If memory served, her mother used to like to retire to her room, claiming such events wore her out. Chloe would try there.
She sneaked down the hallway to her parents' bedchamber and put her ear to the door. Hearing nothing, she opened it a crack and peeked in.
“Come in, Chloe.”
Chloe froze.
Her father stood from the chair and faced her. “I've been waiting for you.”
“Where's Mom?”
He shrugged. “Out with her lover.”
Alphas for the Holidays Page 185