Savage Yearning (Corona Pride Book 1)

by Liza Street

  A second later, Doug Channing’s heavy hand came down on her shoulder.

  “Tough break, huh, Laura?” he asked, his voice taunting.

  He’d been the biggest antagonist during her trainings, always fighting dirty under the guise of “trying to make Laura a better Guardian candidate” when really, he seemed to like hurting her.

  She shrugged, dislodging his hand. Turning to face him, she said, “Marlana’s choice, and if that’s what she thinks is best, I’m not going to argue.”

  “I knew you didn’t have it in you,” he said, shaking his head, his amber eyes mocking. His auburn hair was styled flat against his head. “A real Guardian would be in there, arguing his case.”

  “A real Guardian listens to her alpha,” Laura said. “Stop trying to stir shit up, Doug. It isn’t attractive, and you end up smelling like a real asshole.”

  From inside the kitchen, Juan laughed. He’d probably eavesdropped on the whole conversation.

  Doug frowned at Laura, then skulked upstairs.

  Did the rest of the pride feel like Doug did? Maybe they also thought Laura didn’t have it in her. She couldn’t let Doug’s words get to her. Juan’s presence would be soothing, so she went into the kitchen. Juan would be a reminder that she’d gone against Marlana’s orders for a reason.

  Juan wore a blanket over his shoulders and his eyes twinkled when he saw Laura. He still looked pale, though. “You totally handed Doug his balls.”

  “Don’t talk like that,” Laura said, but she couldn’t help grinning. “You must be feeling better, if you’re laughing.”

  Darkness fell over Juan’s eyes for the barest of moments. “I’ll be okay. I’m just glad to get out of there.”

  Laura nodded and reached over to squeeze his hand.

  “Mom’s going to be back any second,” he whispered, “so I have a quick favor to ask.”

  “More than saving your neck?”

  He nodded. “Just a small one. Can you text Madison for me? I lost my phone, and after sneaking out, I don’t think Mom and Dad will get me a new one.”

  “You’re right,” Laura said, “and I agree with them. You could have died, Juan.” Her eyes filled with tears, but she brushed them away. “Anyway, yeah, I promised her I’d call to let her know you’re okay. I should have done that already.”

  He looked like he was going to ask how she spoke with Madison, but they heard their mom’s footsteps, and a moment later, there she was, her dark hair pulled up in her usual, no-nonsense bun.

  “More water, Juanito,” she said briskly. “You need to replace your fluids. Drink up.”

  All traces of humor gone from his face, Juan sipped from his water glass. Their mother started opening cans of vegetable broth and dumping them into a gigantic pot on the stove. Usually their dad was the one who cooked meals, but when their mom got stressed, she made food.

  “Have you spoken to Marlana yet?” Laura asked her.

  “Haven’t had a chance,” her mom said.

  Laura nodded. She didn’t expect her parents to intervene; they’d always touted the benefits of a pride that stayed in line, and they’d always obeyed the alpha’s orders. It was part of the reason the families were so close.

  Just like when Laura had been told to choose between leaving and training to be a Guardian. For once, Laura wished her parents would support her instead of the ideals of the pride.

  Laura’s mom looked around the room and cocked her head, as if listening. Then she rushed to Laura and cupped her cheeks in her hands. “Thank you for bringing him back,” she whispered fiercely. Her green eyes, mirroring Laura’s, were bright with unshed tears. “You did the right thing, m’ija.”

  As quickly as the words were said, Laura’s mom was back at the counter, stacking up carrots, potatoes, and other soup ingredients.

  Laura and Juan looked at each other over the counter, mirroring each other’s surprise. “Wow,” Juan mouthed.

  Laura nodded. It felt like history had been made, right here in this kitchen.

  “I’m gonna just…go,” Laura said. She didn’t know where to go or what to do. Maybe one of the Guardians was around and would run drills with her. Not Ben or Doug, of course, but maybe Agatha or Michael. “Do either of you need anything?”

  “Don’t go farther than the yard,” her mom said. “We’re still on lockdown.”

  “Got it.”

  What Laura wanted more than anything was a place to sit down and have a good pout, away from the gloating looks of Ben or Doug Channing. First she sent a quick text to Madison, letting her know that Juan was okay. Then she started toward the hallway to be alone. The scents of citrus and dust reached her nose, and she paused midstep. She wouldn’t put it past Doug to be loitering near her room, waiting for her to find somewhere quiet to lick her wounds. Sometimes it sucked being in such a large pride—her enemies sometimes knew her just as well as her family. She did an about-face and walked back through the main living room. She didn’t feel like going outside and feeling cold. She didn’t feel like shifting into her lion form again. Where in this house could she find some solitude?

  Her gaze landed on the door to the side of the kitchen. The garage. It wouldn’t be warm, but it should be quiet and safe from the prying eyes of anyone else. Opening the door, she nearly ran right into Dristan.

  “Hey,” he said. The garage was dark behind him. “I was just finishing up.”

  “I was just…” Laura didn’t know what to say. The nearness of him made her feel lighter inside. All her panic and dismay were still present, but they felt distant at the same time.

  His hand closed around her arm, and he hauled her into the dark garage with him, closing the door behind them. He rubbed his cheek up against hers. He hadn’t shaved today, and his blond scruff was rough against her skin. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Looking for some solitude,” she said.

  “Sorry. I’m just packing up some gear to go with Ben and Doug.”

  Laura looked down. She didn’t feel mad or resentful, just defeated.

  “If I thought it would do any good,” Dristan said, “I’d step down from this.”

  Even in the dim light leaking through the bottom of the garage door, Laura could see that his blue eyes were wide and searching, sincere.

  “I know,” Laura said. “Or at least, I would have guessed that. But I wouldn’t let you, anyway. Right now, we do need more Guardians. I just think I should be one of them, you know?”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  She returned his earlier caress, rubbing her cheek against his. He was soft and hard and rough all at the same time.

  “What do you do to me?” she murmured.

  He curved his hands around her waist and caressed her ass, then yanked her forward where she could feel his long length pressed against her. “I don’t know, but you can feel what you do to me.”

  “Mm, yes,” she said. Confusion, sorrow, dismay—all those things were fading. This—a hug from the man she loved—was exactly what she’d needed.

  The man she loved? She’d thought it without censoring herself. And it was true—she loved him. Loved him.

  When he moved his mouth to hers and took her lips in a kiss, she pressed herself even more firmly against him. She couldn’t get enough of this man. His tongue ran along her lower lip, and she opened her mouth, allowing him in. His hands were hot and everywhere at once—one in her shirt, tweaking her nipple through her bra, another behind her, holding her close. He’d pinned her in place with pleasure. He moved from her mouth to press a biting kiss to her neck, and she arched against him.

  “More,” she said, her voice husky with need.

  “Can’t. No time for a shower. I’d smell like you and everyone would know.”

  “Maybe I don’t care.” She hooked her leg around his. Too many clothes. Why were they wearing so many clothes? “You’re already going to smell like me.”

  “Do you really want Ben and Doug knowing exactly what we’ve been up
to?”

  While there was something sexy and forbidden in the idea of being found out, Ben and Doug were a definite deal-breaker. They were creeps, and besides, they’d just use the knowledge against her, and against Dristan. “I guess not. Not until we’re official.”

  He held her face in his hands and looked at her with a serious expression. “Official?”

  “Maybe?” Laura said, her voice a squeak. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud. She’d wanted to wait until she knew if he was certain about her. “I don’t know, maybe it’s too soon—”

  “You should go. They’re going to come in any second. Let’s think about this. See you when I come back this afternoon? My room?”

  Laura nodded. She shouldn’t have brought up anything about making them official mates. It didn’t even sound like he wanted that. Her face felt hot.

  Dristan pressed a soft kiss against her lips. “This is more than playing around to me, too,” he whispered. “I hope you know that.”

  Maybe she did know it. Things were moving so fast, though.

  She turned to walk away, but Dristan grabbed her again and pressed his lips to hers. “For luck.”

  “Be safe out there, okay?” she said.

  “Will do.”

  She opened the garage door, already missing Dristan and his warmth.

  The house seemed too harsh and bright after being in the dark garage, and Laura blinked. Her mom was coming out of the kitchen, a tray full of soup bowls in her hands.

  Laura froze, feeling guilty. Not because she felt bad about being with Dristan, but because she’d been caught and she didn’t want to explain.

  Her mom’s eyes narrowed, and she sniffed the air. “You’ve been with him again.”

  “None of your business,” Laura said.

  “My family is my business.”

  Anger washed through Laura, heating her cheeks. “Yeah, we’re your business as long as it involves enforcing Marlana’s orders.”

  “You have no idea what it’s like to raise a family,” her mom said. “Now have some soup.”

  Laura threw her hands in the air. Fuck it. She didn’t want to argue—there was nothing to be accomplished. She took a bowl of soup, but instead of sitting in the living room with the other gathered pride members, she stalked upstairs to her room to eat alone.

  Nineteen

  Ben and Doug were general douches during the drive to the trailhead, and they were even bigger douches during the hike to the caverns.

  “Getting pretty friendly with Laura, huh?” Ben asked.

  Dristan shook his head. “We need to pay attention. Just because we haven’t heard of vamps being out in the day doesn’t mean they can’t be.”

  He seriously doubted it, though—they’d stopped chasing him and Laura as soon as the sun had risen.

  “So you’re not banging her?” Doug said, grinning with all his teeth.

  Ben and Doug were identical twins and identically obnoxious. Dristan focused on the trail beneath his feet. The plan was to go in with him in his human form so he could open doors if necessary, and the other two as lions to fight if any vamps were around. It made sense, since they were the trained fighters.

  “Maybe you guys should shift now,” Dristan said. If nothing else, at least they wouldn’t be able to talk shit about Laura while in their lion forms.

  “Nah, it can wait,” Doug said. He turned to his brother. “Guess he’s not banging Laura, since he’s not answering.”

  Ben laughed. “Since you’re not tapping that, I get to talk about those perfect titties.”

  Doug held his hands out in front of him, as if caressing a shapely woman. “It’s more her ass I’m interested in. I wonder if she’s into anal.”

  “I bet I could get her into it,” Ben said.

  Dristan felt his teeth grinding. They were trying to piss him off on purpose. He didn’t need to defend Laura’s honor, since she was fully capable of defending herself. Problem was, she wasn’t here, and their comments were beyond loathsome. Focus on the job, focus on the job. “Let’s just get into that cave and get out.”

  They reached the cave entrance. Dristan looked up. It was nearing noon, so they should have plenty of time.

  He looked skeptically at the twins. “You guys have my back, right?”

  “That’s the plan,” Ben said, yanking his shirt off.

  Because everything always went according to plan.

  Ben and Doug shifted. Doug went in first, and Dristan second. Ben followed behind. Dristan carried a pack with flashlights, knives, and stakes. He had no idea if a stake-to-the-heart would kill a vampire, but he’d brought a couple just in case. As he walked, he pulled out the stakes and stuck them in his back pocket.

  The cave smelled damp, like before. Stale blood still scented the air. Dristan had only just arrived, but he couldn’t wait to get out of this place.

  They reached the cages, still empty, and continued forward. In front of him, Doug’s ears were pricked. Dristan wondered if Doug or Ben could hear anything; Dristan could only hear the sounds of their own breathing.

  The cavern grew darker as they walked farther in.

  Suddenly, Doug stopped. Dristan almost ran into him, but stopped himself just in time. A large wooden door blocked the path in front of them. The door was new, he was certain. As kids, most of the lions had explored the territory and the caverns in it. Dristan didn’t remember this cavern in particular, but someone would have mentioned a mysterious door.

  It was at least twenty feet high by ten feet wide. Superhuman strength would be required to move it.

  Good thing Dristan was a bit more than human. He yanked on the curved handle jutting out on the side, but nothing happened. Pulling again, he listened. Heavy metal chains clanked on the other side—the vampires must have locked themselves in.

  He pressed his ear against the door, listening for sounds of talking or breathing. Nothing. He gestured that Doug and Ben should get closer. After taking turns listening at the door, they each shook their heads.

  Silent as the grave.

  Then, from behind the door, a sing-song voice said something unintelligible. Ben’s fur rose, and he laid his ears back. The voice continued, and Dristan cocked his head, listening.

  It was a song. Doug growled, but Dristan touched his shoulder, asking him without words to be silent.

  The song continued, and Dristan struggled to figure out the melody. It sounded familiar, but it was only when he caught some of the words that he was able to make sense of the tune. “Roses love sunshine, violets love dew…”

  Holy fuck, the vampire was singing “Down in the Valley.”

  Creepy-ass vampires. Dristan shook himself.

  Ben’s and Doug’s mouths were open in silent snarls, but they didn’t make a sound. The safety of the pride was riding on the vampires not knowing their lair had been discovered.

  Time to go back to Marlana’s and report what they’d found, or, rather, what they weren’t able to find. But knowing the door was here, that gave them a good point to set up the explosives. If the resulting fire was strong enough and didn’t eat up all the available oxygen too quickly, the vampires would burn, and the Corona Pride territory would be safe again.

  Twenty

  Laura couldn’t help her sigh of relief when she saw Dristan’s Jeep pull back into the drive. The three men got out, bouncing on their heels.

  She quickly closed the browser on her phone—she’d been in the shifter-only forum again, seeing if anyone had answered her questions about mates. There’d been some surprises, amidst the normal things she’d expected, like only a female shifter can join another pride or pack without marrying into it, and rules about adopting humans into a shifter group. Not all of the new info was relevant, but some of it was.

  About an hour ago, Agatha and her son Chase had returned with the explosives purchased through one of the Coronas’ mining friends. It had been a little trouble to get them without explaining why, but better than one of the pride trying t
o figure out how to make explosive devices on such short notice.

  Laura stayed in her room, listening to the front door boom open and closed. Once Dristan and the Channing twins reported to Marlana, the whole pride would likely be on their way to the caves.

  Sure enough, a text from Marlana came through on her phone just minutes later, addressed to the entire pride. We leave at three. Get some rest before we go.

  Plenty of time to set up the dynamite and get a fire started before nightfall.

  A soft knock came on Laura’s door, and she opened it to find Dristan. His eyes looked tired and his blond hair stuck out in funny ways.

  “Did you see Marlana’s text?” he asked.

  Laura nodded.

  He ran a hand through his hair, spiking it up more wildly. “I guess we should get some rest, then.”

  Her heart felt like it had climbed into her throat, but she said, “Will you stay? With me? I can’t tell what you want, Dristan, but I want you. And I’m sorry for how I treated you before, when I wasn’t sure. I’m so, so sorry.”

  Warm arms enveloped her in a hug, and she sagged against him.

  His voice was deep and rumbling as she listened to it through his chest. “I want to be with you, Laura. I want to go to sleep with you and wake up with you and spend as much of my day with you as possible. Every day.”

  He burrowed his head in the crook of her neck.

  “I want those things, too,” Laura whispered. “Every day.”

  “What changed?”

  “Come over here,” she said, leading him to the bed. “Let’s follow orders and rest.”

  He grinned, even though he still looked exhausted. “Climbing into bed with you rarely leads to rest.”

  “It will this time.” Laura pulled back the covers and climbed in, then patted the space next to her. Dristan obediently lay down, facing her.

  She tried to think of the last time she’d cuddled with a guy…and came up empty of memories. She and Mateo had never really cuddled; their relationship hadn’t extended beyond sex. She curled into Dristan’s warmth, her head against his chest, his arms around her back. It felt good—better than good, actually. It felt perfect.