There were others to consider in this and she couldn’t stand by and let them suffer. She’d have to watch for an opportunity to escape. She didn’t want to call out to Luken and get Shadeau killed. He was her mate, and she would die before she let harm come to him. But she had to try to convince Luken her mate wasn’t all bad.
So she’d have to run for it. Getting away from Shadeau would be tough, but she could do it. He curled up behind her, his arm sliding around her abdomen and pulling her to him. The move was possessive and it made her ache a little inside. She wanted the chance to explore what was between them—to claim him as her own.
The bond was an odd thing. She didn’t even know him, yet she couldn’t imagine life without him. Yes, she could still think and make decisions on her own, but the decision to leave him hurt. She tried to console herself with the fact she was doing what she needed to do to give them a chance. But it was like putting a Band-Aid on a gash that needed stitches. Not much help.
She snuggled further into the welcome heat of his body. “Tell me something about you?”
“What do you want to know?”
Jasmine shrugged. “Like, what do you do in your free time?”
“I like to fix things. Keeps my mind busy.”
“What kind of things?”
“Cars, radios, mechanical things like that. What do you like to do?”
“Read.”
He propped himself up on his elbow and stared down at her. “I never pegged you as a bookworm.”
She turned her head slightly so she could gaze in his eyes. “Guilty. I love getting lost in a good story.”
Shadeau traced the pads of his fingers across her cheekbone. “I could get lost in you.”
A roll of desire danced above her pelvic bone. What if this was their only time together? She had no way of knowing what he’d do once she snuck away. How would she find him? Her pulse rate accelerated.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
She shoved her panic aside, smiling. “Nothing. Just a lot happening in one day.”
“I’m sorry things had to happen this way, but I’m so happy I found you.”
She smiled at his handsome face. “I’m glad I found you too.”
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. “Sleep.”
All the events of the day rushed in and took their toll. Suddenly sleep sounded like the best thing. She laid her head on his outstretched arm and snuggled tightly against him. Her eyelids fluttered closed as the dream world claimed her.
Chapter Four
“Take only the essentials, and hurry,” Konrad instructed his pack mates. The rising sun had brought disaster with it. Arik had done major damage to their living peaceful coexistence among humans. Already Tyson’s den had been attacked. It left them no choice but to flee into the woods and combine their strengths.
It would be hard having four alphas together in one camp, but it was for the best of their pack mates. Konrad would do what he had to do, even if it meant putting up with the posturing of other alphas.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Tyra said before placing a kiss on Konrad’s bare shoulder.
He cupped his mate’s cheek, giving an affectionate caress. “Our foe is fucking crazy. Of course right now all the human-against-wolf violence is happening in our area. But it won’t be long before the whole world starts wondering what or who they are living beside.”
“I really want to beat this Arik guy’s ass.”
Konrad looked over his shoulder with a smile. “Really? And the rest of us don’t?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course you do. But I’m pissed that when I finally get rid of my issues about being a wolf and find you, now this guy comes in and is threatening all of it. I just want to punch him in the throat.”
He turned and took her into his arms. “Honey, you need to calm down. All this stress isn’t good for the babies.”
As if they could hear him, the twins gave a kick to his abdomen. He loved them so much already. He looked down at the swell of their mother’s belly then back at her face. And he loved her even more.
“I heard kissing can reduce anxiety levels.”
She smiled. “You don’t have to lie to me to get me to kiss you.”
He laughed. “I’m serious.”
Tyra leaned in. “Then get to it, hot stuff.”
He claimed her lips.
* * * * *
Jasmine awoke to a burst of desire that had her pussy growing wet. She moaned as she stretched. Her ass rubbed against a thick erection and her eyelids snapped open. Memories flooded her. Her mate curled a possessive hand around her bare breast.
She sucked in a shocked breath as she closed her eyes. Shadeau had moved his hand up her shirt sometime in the night. Now he teased both of her nipples with pinches and rubs. But it was more than that. Her body felt as if it were on fire, burning with want.
He buried his nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled. “Your scent is changing. You’ll be in heat soon.”
Damn if he wasn’t right. But there had to be something with finding her mate, because this rev-up was far stronger than it had ever been before. It was a difference of being super horny and fucking horny.
“More. Please.”
With a growl he turned her over and brought his body over hers. “You smell so fucking good.”
She pulled at his sweatshirt and he helped her rid his body of it. She needed to feel his skin. Her palms touched his pecs then slid up over his shoulders, claws digging into his flesh.
He leaned in and took possession of her mouth, ravishing it. Every flick and glide of his tongue ramped up her desire. Her pussy throbbed with want. When he released her lips she gasped in a gulp of air. He tore at her clothes. She helped, wanting nothing between them.
“You have the best breasts I’ve ever seen.” Shadeau leaned in and captured one tight-budded nipple in his mouth.
“Yes!” She clutched at his head, holding him to her breast. She brought her feet up to his hips and pushed his pants down his legs. The sweats slid down and then she felt the glorious heat and heaviness of his cock against the seam of her pussy.
She wanted the engorged flesh inside her, stretching her, filling her until she screamed. She lifted her hips and moaned when the pressure against her clit increased. He pulled back, releasing her nipple with a snarl.
“Not yet, lover. I want to taste your cream.”
She whimpered as he trailed kisses down her abdomen. Then hot breath fanned her cunt. A bead of moisture rolled out. He spread her lower lips and caught it on his tongue, then licked slowly across her entrance up to her clit.
“Oh!”
He laughed and then flicked his tongue against her swollen bud. She tossed her head from side to side, releasing sounds of pleasure. Lips, teeth and tongue began a sinful game against her sensitive sex. She lifted her hips, grinding her cunt against his mouth as she called out praises for the wicked work he did.
Shadeau sucked her clit into his mouth and she screamed with ecstasy. His fingers joined in the game, fucking into her pussy with delicious strokes.
“Yes! Shadeau!” Her body spasmed as her cunt pulsed. Waves of pleasure filled her pussy and lower belly as she came hard. Back bowed, she screamed, gripping her own breasts and squeezing her nipples.
He wrung every last drop of her orgasm from her. His lips touched the inside of her thigh as she stared into his eyes, relaxing against the ground. He rose up on his knees and Jasmine couldn’t help but lick her lips as she stared at his large cock.
“Ah, you’re looking at my dick like you want to taste it.”
Her gaze moved upward. “And what if I do?”
He closed his eyes and moaned. “Later. Right now I want to be inside that pretty pussy of yours.”
He gripped her thighs and pulled her closer. Remaining on his own knees he spread his legs, letting the backs of her thighs rest over the tops of his. She felt the head of his smooth hard cock probing her
entrance. He rubbed it against her clit and she moaned.
“Hang on, sweetness. I plan to make you come again real soon.”
Her pussy throbbed in silent anticipation of his promise. She gasped as he thrust forward. The walls of her entrance stretched, allowing him to push a little deeper.
“So fucking tight,” he growled between clenched teeth.
She moaned, spreading her legs more and scooting closer to him. He inched in some more and her breaths grew rapid. Her ass was off the ground now. He grabbed her hips and pulled her down, his erection sinking in to the hilt. She cried in pleasure, her pussy delightfully full.
“Finally,” he sighed.
A shiver of passion danced along her nerve endings. Yes, finally her mate was inside her.
He moved in her slowly, each stroke timed and delivered with an expertise that had her desire rising higher and higher. His fingers caressed her hips and ass, then her thighs as his gaze roamed over her body, taking in every line and detail.
She watched him as he made love to her with his body and his eyes. Her teeth sank into her lower lip and she moaned as he pressed in deep, grinding his pelvis against hers. Wetness rolled down her ass as her pussy creamed for him.
Shadeau slid his hand between her hip and his inner thigh. It caressed her ass cheek and slid lower. His finger found the moisture that had rolled down to her anus. He touched her there. Slow circles of his digit that matched the slow rhythm of his cock rocking inside of her.
A breath burst from her lips as he pushed that digit inside her ass.
“Easy, sweetness. I’d never hurt you.”
No one had ever entered her ass before. She relaxed as his other hand rose and he licked his finger, then lowered it, placing it over her clit. She moaned, giving control of her body and pleasure to him.
Sensation filled her lower body. As he worked her clit and pussy, the finger in her ass began to move. Pleasure-filled noises escaped her lips. Her eyelids slid closed and she was unable to concentrate on anything but the wonderful feelings he was causing.
Sensual lust rode her hard. Each movement brought her closer to coming around his cock. The stimulation was overwhelming. Her body seemed to ride the edge of orgasm for a longer period of time than ever before. Her pussy tingled like mad. Unintelligible words came out of her mouth as she thrashed on the ground.
Then glorious pulses racked her cunt and her inner walls fisted his cock. She screamed, “Shadeau!”
“Yes, sweetness. You look so pretty coming for me.”
Nothing could stop the yells of pleasure. She clawed at his legs, each wave of ecstasy driving her mad. She wanted him to stop—she didn’t ever want him to stop. Her body sang for him.
He growled, withdrawing his finger and cock from her body. She whimpered at the loss. Her limbs felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds. She couldn’t fight him when he flipped her over and pulled her hips up. She didn’t want to.
Cool air kissed her ass a second before he slid his dick into her pussy. His movements were frantic. He pounded his hips against her bottom. A satisfying smack of skin against skin filled the air.
He fucked her hard and deep, and she took it, loving each stroke. Jasmine clawed at the ground, moaning and screaming. Her pussy creamed again. One climax rode into another until her throat was raw from giving them voice.
He stiffened behind her with a roar and warm jets of cum bathed the inside of her cunt. Shadeau pitched forward. His sweat-slickened chest came against her back as his hand planted on the ground near her head.
“So good,” he panted. “So beautiful.”
He rolled them, not losing the connection of their bodies. Jasmine laid her head on his outstretched arm as she tried to rein in her own frantic breaths. This was how it was supposed to be. Her body languid and sated. His cock pulsed inside her and her inner muscles tightened around him in response.
She wanted to stay in this moment. If it were only that easy. His lips brushed against her neck and she snuggled in tighter against him. Soon she’d make her move, but for now, she craved a little more time with him. She hoped he’d understand when she left. It wouldn’t be for good.
There were things that would make the transition difficult, but deep down Jasmine believed her pack would stand beside her. They couldn’t blame her for wanting to be with her mate. It would be hard, but Shadeau had a chance at being accepted. She had to hold out for that chance.
Chapter Five
Night had fallen. Jasmine listened to Shadeau’s steady breaths behind her. She’d spent the day in his arms, fueling her desire even more to make this work for them. So many mysteries were locked inside him, and she wanted the chance to unravel them all.
They didn’t speak much. But in the middle of the day he’d made sweet, slow love to her until her toes had curled. She didn’t push for any more than he was ready to give. There would be plenty of time to get to know him if she had her way.
With easy movements she started to remove her body from his side. A few times his breathing caught, making her halt. As soon as the steady rhythm returned she’d move again.
Finally free from his embrace, she tiptoed around him and made for the stall door. With her hand gripping the top, she prayed the hinge wouldn’t creak or groan. She pushed and nearly sighed in relief when it swung open silently. Once she’d closed it, she made for the exit, shifting into her wolf once she pulled it open. The gust of cold wind would no doubt wake him, so she bolted.
Running in the snow wasn’t the easiest of feats, but after living this long in Missouri she’d gotten used to it. The problem was that there was no way to cover her tracks. Shadeau’s howl pierced the air and a shiver of dread raced down her spine. He was angry. Hell, it wasn’t as if she expected him to be anything less. She picked up the pace, knowing he’d follow.
In fact, she wanted him to follow. If she could just get him in front of her alpha she could explain and they could work toward figuring this all out. She knew Shadeau’s stubbornness never would allow him to go to Luken willingly. She hoped he’d realize she’d done it for them so they could be together.
Her gaze panned the area and she figured out where she was. The den sat approximately three miles straight ahead. They hadn’t traveled far, which was good.
She heard the snarl behind her and knew he was closing the distance. Pumping her legs hard, she cleared the trees at the edge of her den. She was partially puzzled as to why she hadn’t seen patrol tracks. It hadn’t snowed anymore this evening, and with all the danger, she figured the patrol would be heightened not nonexistent.
The feeling that something was terribly wrong increased as she reached the first line of houses. She slowed to a walk, knowing Shadeau would catch up. Her mind opened up to him. Something’s wrong.
His black furred form appeared next to her. He bared his teeth, but didn’t make a sound. What in the hell do you think you’re doing?
Jasmine walked slowly between two houses, ignoring his question. He could be mad at her later. There should be others here. Did your alpha take them all?
Shadeau took the lead, staying close to the side of a house as he peered ahead. We had a lot of wolves with us, but not enough to have taken your whole pack. And he’s not my alpha.
She turned to look at Shadeau. I have to reach out to them. Her pulse accelerated as different terrible scenarios played through her head.
Just wait.
Have you not figured out that I wasn’t leaving you yet?
I know, but that doesn’t mean I’m exactly big on the idea of running into your alpha. They’ll take you from me.
We have to give it a chance, Shadeau. She brushed her body against his. He growled low but she knew it was more in frustration than anger.
Just stay here and let me take a look.
Her heart gave a flutter at his protectiveness. It was sweet, but she could hold her own. Since he wasn’t being as pigheaded about things, she decided to humor him. She watched from between the houses a
s he moved toward the street. The snow gleamed like thousands of diamonds beneath the pale light of the moon. The quiet stillness made her shiver. Why would they have abandoned the den?
Her ears perked as she heard the crunching of snow. She peered around the corner and saw a human form moving in the shadows. The barrel of a gun was the next thing she saw and it was pointed at Shadeau. Fear clogging her throat, she leapt into action and dived for the man with the gun. She caught his arm with her teeth, and the boom of the shot made her ears ring painfully.
She released his flesh and rolled across the ground, regaining her feet quickly. A human male shouted from across the street.
“I told you those freaks hadn’t all left, Sam!”
Another shot rang out, blending with a fierce growl. Jasmine didn’t dare take her eyes off the human male in front of her. He screamed profanity at her as he retrained the gun in her direction. She took a defensive stance and darted to the side when he let loose another bullet. Shadeau’s black form jumped in front of her. She whipped her head in the other direction to see the man across the road lying still on the ground. Shadeau had taken him out quickly and efficiently.
Her gaze moved back to their foe and they attacked from both sides. Another bang rent the air, accompanied by frantic screams as they took him down. When he stopped moving, Jasmine took a step backward and stumbled.
No!
Jasmine turned her head and looked at her side. Dark rivulets ran down, staining her white fur. And damn if it didn’t burn like hell. Her gaze moved to Shadeau’s. His form flickered and then he stood on two legs in the snow.
He fell to his knees at her side. “Hang on, Jasmine. I’m going to get you help.”
Jasmine could feel her hold on her animal form slipping. With her last bit of strength she opened up her mind to her pack. Their voices were faint, but there. Hurt. Where?
North of the den. Where are you?
Jasmine recognized Ashok’s voice. Den. She lost her hold on her wolf and shifted. Shadeau scooped her up into his arms. She winced at the pain in her side. He clamped one hand down over the wound and applied pressure. She whimpered and sucked in a deep breath as he started to run.
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