“It is not for you to judge me. Bring me back to my territory and my father can pass sentence,” Craig demanded.
“Son of an Alpha, eh?” Aiden asked.
Craig puffed his chest the best he could with Brady still holding him firmly. “I am. And I demand my right to trial by my own pack.”
Aiden scoffed. “Then you have been raised to know our laws. The crime is judged by the Alpha of the territory it is committed in.” He shook his head and sighed. “We wolves are a proud race. We don’t hire people to murder. If you were that intent, you should have done the job yourself. At least then you would be put to death for actually having the balls to commit a crime. Your kind of cowardice is an insult to even be near.”
“Death?” Brady smiled at his brother.
“Throw him to the wolves,” Aiden replied.
“No. This one’s on me.” He leaned in and whispered in Craig’s ear, “I want you to take a final look at your mate, and see what you will never have again.”
Craig’s head turned a fraction of an inch. His whole body trembled in Brady’s grip. As he let Craig get that last look, Brady said, “You know... it’s obvious why Rachel ran from you. You’re a weak coward who hides behind Daddy’s tail. She needs a real wolf. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her.”
Brady turned and looked into the crowd of wolves still scrapping over their shot with Rachel. “Hey, boys,” Brady called to the crowd below.
The fighting stopped, and the two wolves who’d been locked in battle looked up to Brady.
“Consider this my official entry into the contest.” Before anyone could get a word in, he snapped Craig’s neck with all his might, nearly ripping it from his body, and let his lifeless body drop to the ground.
In the silence that followed, Brady shifted down into his wolf and jumped to the ground between the two fighters.
The crowd hushed as their eyes shifted between Brady, the dead wolf, and Aiden standing above them all.
Aiden cleared his throat. “It has come to our attention that some individuals attempted to set in motion a plot to murder the lovely Rachel. With that shocking discovery, we will be forced to end these games.”
Disappointment washed over the crowd. Murmurs of dissent and anger could be heard, especially from those who had spent their night fighting for their chances with Rachel.
“I understand your disappointment,” Aiden said. “But we will not allow threats on the lives of any in our care. Those who have fought bravely tonight are to be honored and congratulated. No doubt they have proven themselves to the single ladies of our packs. So not all is lost. However, seeing that we did promise something special for the winner, I will reserve a space on my personal council, should any of you wish to continue to fight for a prize.”
Brady shifted back to his human form. “If that is the case, I withdraw my entry, as I’m already on the council.”
The two wolves who’d been locked in battle eyed each other silently for a moment as Brady walked away.
Just as his feet hit the steps up to where Aiden stood, he heard the fight continue. Brady laughed. Wolves do love a good fight.
“Am I allowed to talk to her now?” Brady asked, as he climbed back up to his brother.
Aiden shook his head. “Wait until I send her inside with Fallon. Reconcile in private. We’ve already angered the pack.”
Brady heaved a sigh. “Fine. What should I do with the accomplices waiting in lockup?”
“Send them home to tell their Alpha what happened,” Aiden said.
“Fine.” Brady began to walk away.
“And that Rachel will be brought under the protection of the Olde Town, no matter the cost.”
“Really?”
Aiden chuckled. “Admit it, brother, you want her.”
“I’ll admit nothing,” Brady retorted, though hearing his brother’s order gave him more joy than he could have imagined.
“You will in time, brother,” Aiden countered. “But for now, take care of them. Tomorrow you can claim your prize.”
“She’s not a prize.”
“She is not,” Aiden agreed. “But her love is,” he finished with a sly wink.
TEN
Inside the compound, Brady cleaned up and redressed before heading down to the lock up. The idea of leaving loose ends turned his stomach, but Aiden had ordered their release, so he had to comply.
“Go send for a car,” Brady said, as he approached the wolf standing guard outside their room.
“But they’re–” the other wolf attempted to protest.
“You were given an order.” Brady growled at having to explain himself to a lesser wolf. “Training grounds tomorrow morning. Clearly you need a refresher on the chain of command.” He continued on through the door, having made his displeasure clear. The other wolf scurried off as he had been ordered, leaving Brady to deal with the two wolves in the room.
They stood respectfully as he entered, and Mark cleared his throat as if to speak.
Brady held up a hand to stop him. “You will go home. Tonight.”
Both men let out a deep sigh of relief.
Brady continued, “You will tell your Alpha that justice has been done, and the girl belongs to the Olde Town pack from this moment on.”
Mark nodded. “Of course. Thank you.”
“You will also tell them of our mercy to you, given the circumstances, but remind them that our mercy has limits. Should anyone else attempt to cross into our territory again, they will find the same end as what’s-his-name did.”
“Craig,” Louis offered.
“I don’t give a fuck,” Brady responded.
“Oh.” Louis looked as if he’d just been slapped in the face. “He was important.”
“He was a coward. He was a murderer. He is now dead. End of story. And unless you would like to join him, you’ll get the hell off my property.”
Mark seized Louis’s arm and held him firm. “We appreciate the mercy of the Olde Town pack. And we will deliver your message.”
“Good. There’s a car waiting out front to take you to the nearest airport.” Brady turned and walked out of the room. “And it should not have to be said, but I never want to see your faces again. We clear?”
“Crystal!” Mark replied.
He’d expected to feel something after taking care of the guilty. Some sense of satisfaction. Happiness, perhaps. He’d done what he promised to do. Rachel was safe now. She’d healed from her wounds and had a new home with his pack.
But as he walked down the quiet hallway toward his room, the most he could muster up was an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.
Even waiting for Fallon and Rachel to come inside so they could revel in their victory together seemed far too exhausting. He could always speak to them in the morning. So rather than head back out to the massive reception hall, he chose the quieter path toward his personal quarters.
A fire was roaring inside the small hearth, casting a glow around the room that welcomed him in and warmed the chill in the air. He dove into bed, burying his head in the pillows, praying sleep would take him quickly, but his mind was too busy with the events of the day playing out like a movie, scene by scene. And Rachel, the star, looked even more glorious in his memories.
Aiden was right: he wanted her. But he wanted every girl he met. Brady snickered to himself, remembering his vow to sleep his way across New England.
“Challenge accepted,” he mumbled to himself.
And at that moment, a soft knock pulled him from his thoughts.
“Come in,” he said, not wanting to lift himself from the comfort of his warm bed.
The door cracked open, and Rachel’s face appeared as if he had willed her to come. “I wanted to thank you,” she spoke softly.
Brady shot up and bounded to the door. His heart raced with sudden anticipation. “Just doing my job.”
Color rushed up to her cheeks. “Can I come in?”
He stepped aside and closed the door behin
d her. “Is something else wrong?”
“No. Not at all. Everything is right. Thanks to you.” She lifted up to her tiptoes and surprised him with a kiss.
The world stopped spinning, and in that moment, Brady’s mind went blank. All the thoughts and worries he’d had, the blood on his hands, the justice he’d had to dispense... negativity evaporated as if it had never existed. Only she was there with him. Her presence was like the missing piece to his puzzle. His heart restarted with the spark of her affection.
And before he could reason why or how, her hands wrapped around his neck. Nimble fingers weaved into his hair and gripped him tightly.
Oh, God. This has to be a dream.
But if it was, it wasn’t one he wanted to wake from.
Her lips parted against his and she teased his mouth with little flicks of her tongue.
He growled appreciatively and nipped at her nimble tongue.
Rachel giggled and pulled away just enough to meet his eyes. “You saved me.”
Her voice had a musical quality that he could listen to forever. And the mischievous look in her eyes said she planned on hitting a few high notes before the evening was over.
Lesser men would have jumped at the prospect of what she was offering. Hell, he usually was one of those lesser men. But risking the loss of his man-whore card, he stopped himself from scooping her up into his arms and throwing her straight onto the bed.
In the silence, her smile faded. “What’s the matter?” she asked. “I’ve seen how you look at me.”
He’d done plenty of that. But the timing felt wrong. “Sex isn’t currency.” Brady took a step back from her, knowing that if he didn’t, he’d give in to temptation.
“No,” she countered. “But it’s a great way to blow off a little steam.” Words he’d said before to women. But hearing them from her mouth had a strange effect on him.
“I don’t know what you might have heard about me, but I don’t really get involved―”
Rachel cut him off with another quick kiss. “I’m not asking for a new mate. I can sense the connection we have; I just thought we might explore it a bit closer.”
“No strings?” he asked cautiously.
“Unless you want me to tie you to the bed?” Spoken like a true vixen! Those words had his motor running full speed. Rachel shimmied out of her dress, letting it pool on the floor below her.
Excitement and anticipation sent all the blood rushing south, leaving Brady a little lightheaded as he watched her carefully calculated moves – her bare naked ass, gorgeous thighs, and the gentle bounce of perky breasts as she climbed up and perched at the edge of his bed.
No man, honorable or not, could resist. Brady wanted her more than anything at that moment. And as she agreed, No strings.
He knelt at the edge of the bed and looked up, catching her eyes as if to confirm once more that this was okay.
“I heard you were the big bad wolf,” Rachel purred, and spread her legs ever so slightly for him. “Come devour me.”
His cock woke with furious need upon hearing those words, throbbing for attention. But he’d make sure he lived up to his reputation first. Brady growled hungrily, spreading her creamy thighs further apart, revealing her bare pussy, glistening and ready for him. He drew a finger through her wet slit, earning a moan from Rachel as she arched her back and pushed her hips out toward him.
Knowing she was ripe and ready for the taking, he buried his face between her legs, lapping greedily at her little nub. Her hands came down and weaved into his hair, tugging at him as she moaned for more.
Perfection itself, her body was deliciously responsive to every touch. Each flick of his tongue caused a tremor; every nip of his teeth earned a panted gasp of delight. And when he sent a finger into her warm depths, the slow rolling moan nearly sent him over the edge.
The sounds of her pleasure made his cock ache even more for attention. He could hardly wait to bury himself inside her glorious body, but he had a reputation to maintain.
The big bad wolf.
Rachel writhed with pleasure. Brady hit all her right spots. Moans vibrated through her body to his mouth as he suckled and nibbled her clit. He worked two fingers into her while he circled her nub with his tongue, increasing the pressure and frequency to match her staccato breaths. She was close to the end. He could almost feel it as if he were right there with her, about to topple over the edge.
Her back arched and her legs began to twitch. This was it. He hooked her legs over his shoulder and buried his face as hard as he could between her legs and rode out her climax, lapping up every last drop of her pleasure.
Her body went slack in his grip. He eased out from below her and climbed up into bed alongside her. For a few quiet moments he lay and watched Rachel, enjoying the satisfied look on her face.
“Damn. I needed that.” She broke the silence with a girlish little laugh.
“That’s something I normally say.” Brady appreciated her bluntness.
“So I’ve heard.” Rachel rolled over to face him.
“Been listening to gossip. Not surprised.” He shrugged. No point in denying it. He did have a reputation.
“Not all gossip is bad.” She smiled wickedly.
“Clearly. Or you wouldn’t be here.” Brady relaxed back against the mattress with his hands behind his head, wondering where the rest of the night would go. His cock stood at full attention, tenting his sweatpants.
Rachel’s eyes made their way down south and her smile widened.
“Maybe it was because of your reputation that I’m here,” she said slyly.
“Oh, really?” Brady turned his head in her direction.
Rachel tiptoed her fingers down his chest toward the campsite below. “You don’t seem to hide who you are. It’s all out there in the open.” Her hand breeched the waistband of his sweatpants and coiled around his cock.
Brady’s eyes rolled backwards into his head as she gave him a little squeeze. “Nothing to hide here.”
“Even the girls you’ve been with say they knew what they were getting into with you.” Gently, she began to stroke him. “Let’s just say I appreciate honesty. I haven’t had much of it in my life.”
Brady breathed out a moan.
“That’s good. Ooh... I mean. Honesty... Ahh.” He couldn’t pay attention to words when his entire world was her hand around his cock.
She must have understood the fact she’d stolen all the blood from his brain; rather than continue to talk, she leaned over and pressed her hot mouth against his neck, nibbling at the pulse point where all his blood was draining south.
As confident as he was in bed, she was proving to be just as much an Alpha.
His cock had turned to stone in her hands it was so hard, and the gentle scraping of her teeth at the base of his neck had him near breathless. She worked him into a frenzy that made his hips buck in time with the rhythm of her strokes. He’d nearly gone mad with need to be inside her, and then suddenly she was on top of him, that glorious body of hers perched just above his marble pillar.
Time stopped as he waited for her to descend and give his cock the sheath of her hot body. Wickedly she wiggled her hips, teasing him. When he nudged his hips up, she lifted as well, denying him entry. Her pale blue eyes settled on his, unblinking, daring him to look away or to blink. She was in control here, and she wanted him to know it.
He relaxed beneath her, submitting to her dominance.
Rachel bent forward, capturing his lips as she dropped her hips, seating herself all the way down onto his hard cock until their bodies became one.
That one move nearly finished him, as excited as he already was. Brady moaned into her hot mouth and Rachel swallowed his pleasure whole.
She sat up, letting the fullness of her breasts dance for him as she arched backwards, and began a mind-blowing yogi-like rotation of her hips. Her eyes found his, a true Alpha, as she controlled the decadent rhythm of their bodies. Already close to coming, Brady tried to hold on t
o the sensations as long as he could without letting them send him over the edge. He’d be damned if he finished before she did, but it was clear she was a master of sexual acrobatics.
Rocking and grinding her hips with belly dancer-like finesse, she rode him hard and fast, as if she too were nearing her second climax. Just as he was about to topple over the edge, the tremors began. She broke eye contact, closing her eyes for long moments as her moans turned to staccato breaths.
He was right there with her too. That low coiling spring of pleasure, just waiting to release.
She bent forward again and Brady wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, letting his hips rise up to meet her grinding rhythm. She let out the first cry, and that sent him over the edge. The tight contractions of her climax milked him to the last drop, until spent and utterly exhausted, they collapsed together on the bed.
Rachel settled alongside Brady, burying her head in the crook of his arm. He listened to the sound of her heartbeat as it slowed back down to a normal pace, and for the first time, enjoyed the moment without thinking about how he would get her to leave.
“That was good,” she purred, before drifting off to sleep next to him.
“A guy could get used to that,” Brady mumbled to himself, knowing without a doubt that he had finally met his match.
ELEVEN
Light, and the incessant buzz of his cellphone, coaxed Brady’s eyes open. Rest for his type came in too-short bursts, never quite satisfying but enough to recharge his batteries for another day.
The gentle caress of sleep nearly tempted him to draw the curtains closed and turn off his phone, if only to have a few more moments of nothingness.
Outside his room, others would demand of him everything expected of a second son. And he would do all that was required and more. Life was all about duty. He lived for it. Loved it.
But in the comfort and warmth of his bed, for those brief moments, Brady fought against consciousness, preferring to let his mattress bear the weight of the world and his battle-worn body. Between fighting and fucking, he’d worn himself out to an epic level. The latter being well worth the exhaustion.
Mated (Olde Town Pack Book 2) Page 6