Luna tentatively steps forward to meet her, and my sister stills. The dog slowly stretches her nose out toward Lyric with one paw raised in uncertainty. After a good long sniff, the husky's tail finally starts wagging when she recognizes Lyric. Then a lean and much larger cream-colored wolf with bright golden eyes approaches next. Luna yips happily and eagerly greets my brother, Beck, her tail wagging furiously now as her body wriggles with happiness.
Next, three darker colored wolves step closer to us. One is chocolate brown and about my size with amber eyes and dark points on his face, ears, tail, and feet. It's my best friend Cooper. The other two are black wolves with gold eyes like Beck's, one smaller and willowy, the other imposingly huge and muscular. They're my oldest twin siblings, Harmony and Wyatt.
Luna greets them with just as much enthusiasm, fearlessly jumping up to lick at their muzzles and hopping around madly between all the newcomers in excitement. Eventually, Wyatt finally lets out a deep rumbling growl of irritation at her antics and gives her a hard forbidding stare. She instantly drops to the ground and rolls onto her back in submission, and lies there until he snorts in satisfaction and looks away. Then she jumps up and rushes over to Raven and me with a happy canine grin, unfazed by brother's stern reprimand. Silly ridiculous dog.
Raven approaches them next, her balance still a little wobbly from her first shift as she totters forward. What follows is wonderful chaos. Everyone converges on my mate to mill around her in excitement as they welcome her into the pack with lots of licking and nudging. Even my normally more stoic brother Wyatt joins in the enthusiastic greetings. After a moment, Raven begins to look wide-eyed and overwhelmed. I'm just about to step in to help her when a commanding growl arrests all out attention to the opposite end of the clearing.
My father, our Alpha, stalks toward us with a rigid posture and his hard and disapproving silver eyes shooting glares at Cooper and my siblings. Though he's close to sixty, and the dark-gray fur of his muzzle and paws are mottled with white, there is nothing weak about my father. His larger than life presence and natural leadership qualities inspire deference and obedience. He's a hard, but fair Alpha, who would lay down his life for his family and his pack. He's the glue that holds the Wolcott pack together, and we all adore and respect him.
Everyone instantly moves away from Raven with low submissive postures, heads and tails down as they clear a path for the Alpha. He walks stiff-legged toward Raven, his tail and head held high, an obvious air of authority radiating from him. Raven instinctively responds, dropping her gaze and lowering to the ground with her ears back and her tail down in obeisance to her leader, just like the rest of us. His eyes soften as he stops in front of her, reminding me that we're all still part human. The beast inside each of us doesn't rule us completely, not like those demonborn abominations lost their humanity. We are better than that, an extraordinary and cohesive union of the best parts of man and wolf. It makes us more than either could ever be alone.
Dad tenderly noses Raven's head and gives her a reassuring lick as she rises. Then he moves up beside her and lays his massive head over her shoulder in a dominant posture that somehow also holds the gentle and warm feel of a hug. He looks toward me over her back and meets my gaze for a brief moment with a very human warmth and happiness glowing in his silver wolf's eyes. I beam inside. My father's approval of my mate means so much to me.
After a moment, he steps away from Raven and levels a long look around the clearing at each of us. I see pride and happiness in every line of his body. Then he lifts his head and raises a jubilant and rallying howl to the sky. We all join in, our cries twisting and weaving together as we celebrate our newest pack mate and our eagerness for the coming hunt. Though we usually hunt at night, our Alpha is making an exception to welcome Raven officially into the pack.
When our howls fade, my father takes off through the trees at a ground eating trot with the rest of us following in his wake, including little Luna. I stay next to Raven as we bring up the rear of the pack, the length of our bodies touching as we move with fluid grace together. It feels so right, being with her this way. The bond between us feels even stronger now, both parts of ourselves just meshing with one another, human and wolf. I can't hear her actual thoughts, but her emotions are so crystal clear to me now that it's damn close. I can feel her anxiety, her fear of somehow failing and letting me and the rest of the pack down.
I can't talk to her in my wolf form, but I do what I can. I let her feel my confidence in her, and my excitement to share this experience with my mate. It doesn't banish her doubts, but it manages to ease them somewhat. I feel her love and gratitude as she gives my face a quick lick while still pacing next to me. My love for her swells in my chest with a glorious ache that I know she can feel too.
Then I let my wolf come to the fore, the man in me fading into the background as my animal instincts take over. Raven feels it and follows suit. Her she-wolf rises up, eager for the coming hunt, the thrill of the chase, and the rush of the kill. We both embrace the wild and untamed parts of ourselves together. It banishes everything else beyond the here and now, including the last of Raven's very human anxiety and doubt.
Within a mile, we find a small herd of feeding whitetail and the chase is on. My sisters take the lead, their lighter bodies more adept at herding the deer along. They speed back and forth in front of the now panicked animals, keeping them disoriented and barring any chance of escape. After a few moments of watching, my mate surges forward to join them. She's fast and agile on her feet, catching on quickly and holding her own next to the more experienced she-wolves as they harry the herd onward.
My pride in her warms my chest as the rest of us follow behind, watching for any weakness that will indicate our target. It quickly becomes apparent that it's the large buck. Whether sick or aging, he begins lagging behind the does he must have been attempting to breed with since it's their rutting season.
In short order, the nimble she-wolves successfully cut him off from the herd. Then the rest of us barrel forward,. We take turns biting and nipping at the deer's hindquarters to keep him moving and tire him out that much sooner.
Eventually, we drive the animal onto a dry riverbed, where his hooves have him at a disadvantage. He starts across the expanse of large round stones and begins to stumble, giving us the perfect opportunity we've been waiting for. We easily catch up with the animal, and he stops and whirls around to face us for his final stand.
We converge on the animal, and begin taking turns slashing and biting at his hindquarters and sides. We feint and dodge to avoid his huge slashing antlers and sharp flying hooves. Soon injury, blood loss, and sheer exhaustion catches up with the buck, slowing his reactions and hampering his movements. He turns to make one final attempt at escape, but flounders yet again on the loose rock of the riverbed. It's just the opportunity we've waited for, and we move in for the kill.
Unlike true wolves, who tend to take their time with a kill, our alpha insists on quick merciful ones whenever we can manage it. With that in mind, we mob the deer en masse from all sides, and overwhelm the exhausted buck with rapid-fire attack after attack. When the perfect opening finally presents itself, my brother, Wyatt, takes it. He throws his massive body weight into the animal's shoulder, and the force of it slams it to the ground with a hard bone-jarring thud. Then he sinks his sharp fangs deep into the buck's throat and clamps down tight, making swift work of ending its life with as little suffering as possible.
When the hunt is over, it isn't the alpha who initiates the howl to celebrate our success, but my beautiful and glorious mate who raises a cry to the heavens. My heart swells with pride and love as I sidle up next to her, then join in with the others in a wild and soul-lifting song. I feel like this is how the rest of my life is meant to be, shared in every way with my mate, the wolf and the man. I feel whole. I feel complete. And as the last chorus of our song echos out through the trees, my first feast of a new and wondrous future begins.
29
I'm standing in my bedroom staring at my peacefully sleeping mate like a creeper for the umpteenth time today when my phone rings downstairs. I spin and hurry down the steps to the first level, then snatch it up off the coffee table. I note Cooper's name on the screen as I answer it.
"Yeah," I greet him quietly as I glance upstairs, hoping the noise didn't wake Raven.
After her first shift and hunt this morning she's been out cold in my bed with Luna curled up next to her. I want her to get all the rest she needs after such an exhausting day. It's already dark out, and I won't be surprised if she sleeps until morning at this point.
"Hey," he replies as I step outside into the cool night air, not wanting to disturb Raven. "How's she doing?"
"She's still asleep," I answer as I walk across the wood decking of the balcony that stretches along the front of my small cabin and overlooks my driveway.
"Can't say as I blame her," he says. "I think I slept for damn near a week straight after my first shift."
I skirt the small sitting area I have set up on one end and go to the corner of the railing. "Well, not all of us are pussies like you, Coop," I tell him with humor in my voice as I look up at the swathe of twinkling stars across the sky that frame the half moon shining above me. It's a beautiful early October night.
He snorts out a laugh. "You're such a dick."
"I am a dick," I say soberly with a sudden frown. "I've barely seen you or talked to you for the last couple weeks," I add, my tone apologetic. We've been best friends our entire lives, and I'm pretty positive this is the longest we've gone without spending any significant time together.
"No worries, Em," he says with sincerity. "I understand. She's your mate. But it is going to be tough finding a new wingman to go to Rowdy's with me."
"I can still go with you," I tell him. "My girl is going to be working there, remember? I bet I can score you free food and beer."
"You better not be making promises you can't keep," he says in a threatening tone edged with amusement. "Especially when food and beer are involved."
"Never," I respond with a grin, relieved that Coop and I are still okay.
"Then I'm gonna hold you to it," Cooper says as the front door of the cabin opens behind me.
I turn and find Raven walking slowly and provocatively toward me in nothing but my T-shirt, her eyes flashing cobalt fire in the darkness. She instantly rivets my attention, making my heart stutter in my chest and my mouth go dry as I stare at her like an imbecile. Her ebony hair is a sexy sleep-tussled mess around her gorgeous face with her flawless ivory skin glowing in the moonlight and those full pink lips just begging to be kissed. The soft cotton shirt merely hints at the shape of her pert little breasts, and the hem skims the tops of her long and shapely pale legs. Goddamn, she's the sexiest thing I've ever seen, and my dick perks up and takes immediate notice. I haven't been inside her in days.
"Dare I ask why you're suddenly breathing so heavily?" Cooper asks from the phone that I briefly forgot was even in my hand.
"Uh...what?" I ask stupidly, my tone husky with desire as Raven moves closer, weaving around the outdoor furniture to get to me. Her hungry and ravenous eyes trail up and down my body like she wants to eat me alive. I really fucking like it.
Cooper chuckled. "Let me guess," he says. "Raven's awake now?"
"Very, very awake," I confirm as the wind shifts and my mate's honey sweet scent reaches my keen nose. It's missing the wild edge it had in her wolf form, but with a few more shifts, it will become a permanent part of her scent. Either way, it's irresistible to me, and I unintentionally let out a deep appreciative groan. "I gotta go," I rasp out in a strained voice.
"Of course, you do," Coop says in a droll tone. "Talk to you tomorrow?"
"Yeah," I answer absently as Raven stops a foot or so away from me. Her close proximity sends all my brain capacity down to my now fully erect cock.
Cooper laughs, then says, "Later," before ending the call. I slip my phone into the pocket of the athletic shorts I'm wearing, so I can give Raven my full attention.
She leans closer to my bare upper body, agonizingly not touching me, and takes in a long deep breath. "Emmett," she murmurs breathily with her eyes closed. "Mine."
"Always," I whisper raggedly, my entire body already yearning and aching for her.
She looks up at me as her eyes flame cobalt again, then finally reaches out to run her warm palms slowly over my bare chest. I moan as I'm suddenly hit by a wild and riotous storm of lust and need like I've never felt from her before, fed by the she-wolf I can feel moving just beneath the surface. Sweet Lord, it's intoxicating and has my own wolf stirring to life inside me. I tremble as she moves her hands down and over my taut belly to the waistband of my shorts. My cock throbs demandingly, but I don't touch her, happily letting her take the lead for now. I'm curious to see what she's going to do next.
Her lips find my skin, skimming soft kisses across my chest as her fingertips slip under the edge of my shorts. I hum in appreciation as she starts pushing them off, trailing hot kisses down my belly as she lowers herself to her knees at my feet. When my cock springs free, she leans in to nuzzle my groin and inhales slowly. Then she helps me step out of my shorts, and tosses them aside, before her shining wolf's eyes rise to meet mine.
"Want you in my mouth," she says in a husky and sexy as fuck tone.
Oh, hell yeah to that idea.
Her tongue snakes out to flick the head of my dick before I can reply. A deep groan comes out of me instead of the words of encouragement I intended. She wraps a warm hand around the base of my turgid shaft as she parts those sweet pink lips of hers, then envelopes me in her hot wet mouth.
"Oh, fuck," I moan as my eyes drift closed in bliss, her pleasure and arousal only heightening mine.
She takes me deep and swirls her tongue over me, and my knees threaten to buckle. I have to reach out to grab the nearby railing on either side of me to steady myself. She does it again and again, bobbing her head up and down on me, and moaning in enthusiasm as she skillfully works me with teeth, tongue, and lips. I can feel exactly how much she's enjoying herself, and she can feel how much I love her mouth on me.
She drives me mercilessly all the way to the very edge of release, before finally pulling her lips away with a little wet popping sound. I'm left panting for oxygen with my nails digging into the wooden railing as I stare down at Raven in stunned awe of the single greatest blowjob of my life. I'm so turned on that I can't even think beyond the urge to be inside her.
"Get the fuck up here," I growl out demandingly. "Now."
She rises to her feet in one swift and graceful motion, whipping her shirt off over her head as she does. I've never been more grateful that I live out in the middle of nowhere as I take in her gloriously nude body bathed in starry moonlight.
Her eyes burn cobalt again as she jumps into my arms and climbs me like a tree. I grab her ass in both hands and help her along until her legs are wrapped around my waist with her warm slick pussy grinding against the underside of my dick. I smell her musky arousal amid her honey sweet scent. I feel her fingers clutching at my hair with a perfect bite of pain, and kiss her into oblivion. I lift her hips up just enough for my cock to find her soaked and eager core, then burrow myself deep inside the only woman I've ever loved as she moans and writhes in my arms.
She's so hot around my dick, so wet and tight. Her lips are soft and warm against mine as I kiss her with fierce and wild abandon, her hard little nipples rubbing against my chest. I want more, so I turn and set Raven on the corner of the railing, then pull my hips back and thrust deeply into her with a harsh guttural grunt.
"Emmett," she mewls pleadingly into my mouth.
I tighten my grip on her ass and begin thrusting slowly and deeply into her, driving our mutual pleasure higher and higher. Each time our bodies come together she cries out, louder and louder as her nails dig into my back. Our lust and desire crash together through our bond, coalescing
into a perfect union of want and need. I want to drag it out until forever.
I feel her luscious body grow rigid in my arms, her back arching until I have to tighten my grip on her to keep her from pitching over the balcony railing. Then she's coming violently in my arms, her pussy clenching and spasming around my cock. She screams out her release into the night, and I feel exactly how good it feels as her pleasure floods my body.
"Yes, baby. Yes," I snarl out through gritted teeth as I battle down my own orgasm. "Come on my dick."
She comes back down with sexy little whimpers, and I gather her now limp body close to mine. I tuck her head against my neck with my hand wrapped protectively around the back of her neck and continue fucking into her with steady measured strokes.
When she orgasms a second time, her pussy fists my dick, her entire body shaking and shuddering against me. Her teeth sink into my shoulder, and she worries at it while long mindless moans vibrate against my skin. I feel her ecstasy slam into me with brutal force, and it's all too much. I lose the fight against my own release as tingling licks of flame fire up my spine and burst out of me in a control-stealing rush. With a loud and bestial shout, I come apart, spilling my seed deep inside her as I convulse with hot fiery pleasure.
When it ends, we hold tight to each other, breathing heavily in our glorious post orgasmic haze. I breathe in the musky scent of sex and my honey sweet mate for several long moments until Raven pulls back to meet my gaze. Her eyes are soft and happy.
"Emmett," she pants out. "That was...that was..."
"Just the beginning?" I ask with a languid smile.
"What?" she asks with an adorably furrowed brow.
"I'm not done, baby," I tell her in a deep rasp. "Not even close."
I press my mouth to hers, delving my tongue demandingly between her plush lips to tangle with hers. I pull her close and feed on her with deep hungry kisses until she's whimpering needily and my dick thickens and lengthens again inside her. When I pull away to catch my breath, her eyes are bright cobalt once more. I feel her she-wolf's wild and untamed energy, and my wolf rises up again to meet her with a frenzied animal lust.
Wild Blood: The Trueborn Saga Book 1 Page 20