by Tigris Eden
“What’s happening?”
“The mountain is under attack. Roman will do this from time to time. It’s his way of trying to get us out of the mountain.”
“I’m afraid to ask what’s making the mountain shake.”
“Dynamite, but the kind that goes undetected. It is, for lack of a better term, magic dynamite. To an outsider, the mountain is stable. Unmoving. For us, inside…” Before he could finish, the ground shook again. Instead of dragging her along, Blue picked her up and maneuvered her onto his back. “Hold on, Olivia. Don’t let go.”
“How is there magic dynamite?” Olivia asked.
“Because there are witches that spell them. We’ve had a long-standing love-hate relationship with their kind. Some are friendly, other’s hold grudges that are centuries old.”
She wouldn’t let go if her life depended on it, and it seemed it did. Because it looked and felt as if the mountain itself were about to collapse.
6
Olivia was once again running for her life. Well, not exactly running as she was hanging onto Blue’s back as he moved through the tunnels inside the mountain. Victor and Nerina were up ahead, both armed with guns. Actual firearms.
“Will those harm the Hunters?”
“Yeah, they got this.”
“Where are the others going?”
“Everyone has their part. Some will go deep into the caves. A place we can’t go. The others will head for the valley.”
“Why not?”
“Why not what?”
“Why can’t we go deep into the caves?”
“You’re human,” was all Blue said, as if that should make sense to her.
“Blue, take Olivia to the valley. The cabins there should be more than sufficient, with enough provisions to last you at least three days. Elena is taking the women and children and the elderly. I’ll send Santos and Colin to get you once we secure the mountain.”
“What we should be doing is taking the town back.”
“You know why we can’t,” Victor growled.
“Because you don’t think it will be safe. Well, I call bullshit on that, Alpha.”
Victor growled, stepping into Blue’s face, and although Olivia was still on his back, Blue stood up to Victor.
“You two need to stop. We can’t move everyone back to town. Not right now. Colin and Theo are working to make it safe. It’s only a matter of time before we can head back. But right now, it’s about securing the mountain and what’s here. We can’t leave this place unprotected. Blue, take Olivia.” Nerina said, shouldering Victor in his arm as she moved passed. Things were a bit chaotic, but it looked as if the wolves already knew what to do.
Blue’s grip on her ass tightened as he shouldered past Victor and made his way down another series of tunnels. As they walked, the mountain continued to shake. There were people all around in various stages of calm, panic, and anger. The women and children were not happy, the men seemed either calm or pissed.
Elena was wrangling the women and children, and Olivia tapped Blue’s shoulder. “We should help.”
“I’d planned on it.”
“Elena, who else is going with you to the cabins?”
Elena turned and blushed when she noticed that Blue was talking to her. What was that about?
“I’m taking the children. And I have the girls over there helping me with the others. They all but volunteered when they heard that you would be at the cabin.”
“I don’t see why,” was Blue’s response. “My main concern is Olivia. She can’t shift or defend herself if the Hunters breach the mountain.”
“You go on ahead. Take this group that’s ready to go with you. They all know the way.”
“Right.”
Olivia was still on Blue’s back like some baby. She wasn’t comfortable with that at all.
“Think I can walk?”
“Not till we’re at the cabins. The others will shift. You won’t be able to keep up.”
The camp was a little dusty, but with everyone’s help, they managed to get all the rooms cleaned. Blue took the cabin on the far end. He still hadn’t been able to have a conversation with Olivia regarding their relationship. Shit. That one word would have normally had his balls shriveling up. He didn’t do relationships. He didn’t even have sex. A condition of his contract. But before entering the deal, all he’d been known for was fucking. How would he explain everything to Olivia without pissing her off?
She was currently outside, talking with the two girls she’d spoken with yesterday. Alexandra and Penny. He didn’t try to listen in, but it was hard not to.
“You got to sleep in the same bed with Blue. No one’s ever done that. At least, not since I’ve known him,” Alexandra said in a hushed tone. Maybe the females would work to his advantage. He hadn’t slept with either of them or invited them to play.
“You say that like it’s a good thing.”
“Olivia, that is an amazing thing. We’ve known him a long time. He’s never taken a female to bed. They tend to him, and then he pretty much moves on to the next. Back when Eden’s Den was open, he would sit in his VIP section while women literally serviced his manhood.
Shit. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for them to talk to her.
“Oh, really?”
And, of course, she’d be interested in the story that didn’t paint him in a positive light.
“Yes, have you not been paying attention? All the unmated females—and several of the males here—want him.”
“Because he’s not affected by silver?”
“No, silly.” Penny giggled. “Blue is a master when it comes to all things female. In every way. Any woman would be crazy to deny his attention. He’s the embodiment of lust.”
Excellent interpretation, Penny. Olivia didn’t say much after Penny’s statement. She stood there as the girls continued to praise his prowess and sexual knowledge.
Olivia snorted. She did that a lot he realized—especially if she didn’t agree with something.
“Besides his lusty skills, what else do you know about him?” Olivia questioned.
“Well, most I know is from others, but I heard he’s celibate. He’ll play with the females, but he won’t penetrate them.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“Well, it was only a rumor until confirmed today at breakfast, but it’s because of his breeding contract with Cassandra. But now that he’s found you, well, his dry spell is over.” Alexandra sighed. “You are so lucky. All that man and power between your legs…can you even imagine what’s going to happen to your body. He’s gone without for so long. I’d be ready anytime, anyplace, anywhere.”
“Alexandra, you’re such a slut,” Penny admonished playfully.
“What? I’m only telling the truth. Olivia, you’re lucky, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m a little jealous.”
“There’s nothing to be jealous about. I have no intention of staying here.”
When she said those words, Blue decided to interrupt their conversation.
“Olivia, may I have a word, please?”
She looked his way as he stepped off the porch. Alexandra and Penny walked in the opposite direction, offering Olivia a smile and a wave.
“What type of word would you like to have, Blue?”
“The kind where you and I finally have that talk. The others will be here soon. Things will happen quickly. For now, we’re all safe.”
She hesitated a moment. She knew what they were going to talk about, and she was trying to avoid it. Too bad. Blue knew he needed to approach the situation with caution. If she were from one of the Packs, it would be easy—no frustration or misunderstandings. But Olivia was human. Explaining what it meant to be his mate would be difficult for her to understand.
She followed him into the cabin and took a seat on a wooden rocking chair. Always sure of himself and his words, Blue hesitated. He pulled in a deep breath and knew the next words that came out of his mouth would change
everything. His delivery needed to be as close to perfect as he could get it.
The valley was beautiful. Green with snowcapped mountains surrounding them on all sides, a crystal-clear, green-blue river, and tranquil sounds. Olivia knew what he wanted to talk about, and she’d be lying to herself if she tried to pretend she didn’t want to hear his delivery. Not to make fun of the situation, but to test the severity of it. Every time she brought up that she was leaving the mountain, Blue turned into a monosyllabic caveman stating that she was his. Talking to Alexandra and Penny hadn’t put her at ease either. It was almost like Blue was a celebrity crush. He had a certain charm about him that was appealing, but he also gave off a heavy dose of arrogance.
She hoped they were truly safe from the Hunters.
She crossed her legs and placed both hands on her lap. “I’m ready to talk, Blue.”
“Good.” His confidence was faltering, she could see it in the way his nostrils flared. She knew it was one of his tells, whether he wanted to cop to it or not. She was good at reading people. It was part of her job. Assess, re-assess, and then confirm or deny. “I know that what I’m about to say will be hard for you to understand, and even harder for you to adhere to. But I say these things because they are necessary and true. I would never give you false information, Olivia. Never lead you to believe something that wasn’t factual.”
“All right,” Olivia said calmly.
“I wouldn’t have to explain this to someone like me, but you’re human. If there is something you don’t understand, please let me know. First and foremost, communication is vital if we are going to come to terms with our situation. Trust is important. Crucial.” Blue cleared his throat before his nostrils flared again. “Fate has granted me a chance to become whole again, and in doing so, I’ve been given the greatest responsibility any male can have—to protect and cherish his mate. You are my mate.”
She had to admit, his delivery was smooth, and she did have questions. Pinpointing her first question was the hard part.
“Why do you think I’m your mate?”
“It’s the way I’m drawn to you. My wolf knows instinctually that you belong to me.”
“Is it like with Victor and Nerina? Am I your Eros?”
“Yes, it’s exactly like that. Only, we are not just connected body, mind, and soul, we are also connected in death. Where you go, I’ll go and vice versa.”
So if she died, so did he, and vice versa. That wasn’t good at all, they were in the middle of a war. Well, not her, but the wolves and vampires were. What if he got killed? It would mean her death.
“Is there a chance you could be wrong?”
“No.”
“I’m not ready to die.”
“Who said anything about dying?”
“You all are involved in a war. With every war comes death.”
“I’m not dying any time soon, Olivia.”
“You can’t know that?” Why was she acting like a woman terrified? Whether Blue wanted to admit it or not, there was a good chance he was wrong. She had to believe that. Even if she did catch feelings for the guy, on an unrealistic level. He could still be wrong. Fingers and toes Liv, cross them both.
“Why can’t we chalk this up to a strong lustful connection and call it a day?”
His eyes traveled the length of her body as if he were considering her response. The blue of his orbs was intense. A reminder that he wasn’t human.
“I will admit to the attraction. I know you feel it, too. But calling it a day will never happen. I intend to tie my life to yours in three days.”
“Don’t I get a say?”
“This conversation would be so much easier if you were part of the Pack. We’d be communicating in the only way that would make sense to us.”
“And which way is that?” She shouldn’t have asked that question.
Blue took a step closer, his movements graceful as he stood in front of her chair. Tall and imposing, he towered over her. She heard his knees crack when he bent to be level with her face, his breath hot against her cheek as he reached out with his hand and tugged on one of her braids.
“I’d undress you and tie you to my bed.” His voice lowered, and he whispered against the shell of her ear, his hair soft against her cheek. “Massage you with my hands and bring you to the edge with my mouth, my fingers, even my cock. But I wouldn’t penetrate you, not for a long while.”
Olivia wanted to place her hands against her chest. She felt like she’d run a marathon, or better yet, taken one of her spin classes. But Blue wasn’t finished describing the ways he’d communicate if she were part of the Pack.
“Are you listening, Olivia? Or are you imagining the things I just said to you.”
“Both,” she whispered.
“Good, I want you drunk, mindless with lust and begging me to feed you my dick one inch at a time. I’m a large man, Olivia, and watching my cock slide slowly into your slick channel would undo me. We’d both be frantic with the need to become one mind, one body, and one soul. And when I couldn’t take it anymore, I’d root myself in your pussy, deeply, and tell you to come all over my cock.”
Blue tugged on Olivia’s ear with his teeth before whispering all the different ways he would fuck her. He was creative, too.
“Are you into bondage or something? Are you trying to turn me into your slave? In none of your scenarios are we just having sex.”
“One doesn’t just have sex, Olivia. This isn’t an experiment or testing the waters. Am I into bondage? Yes. Am I trying to make you a slave? No. It’s a lot more than that. It’s about the exchange of power and trust between a man and a woman. It’s about the embodiment of something so pure that trying to break it is impossible. I’m not just offering you my body. I’m offering up my life. I will give you everything, and in return, I expect nothing less.”
“But it feels like you’re the one who comes out on top.” Olivia sat farther back in the chair so that she could zero in on his eyes. She wanted him to know exactly where she was coming from. “I’m not into bondage. I don’t like to be told what to do in the bedroom.”
“Then you weren’t told in a way that was beneficial.”
“This isn’t something that will happen overnight, and just so we’re clear, I’m not on board with any of this. You want to fuck, I can get on board with that. We’re adults, and yeah, I’m attracted to you. But on a permanent basis…I don’t think so. I was married once, it didn’t look good on me.”
“I am not an ordinary man, Olivia, and you telling me what you think is going to happen won’t work either. You want to compromise, fine. I can work with that. You think to leave me, you think to run… I’ll find you, and you won’t like the outcome.”
“Now you’re threatening me?”
“No, I don’t threaten.” He stood and backed away from her, the silver torque around his neck glinting in the sunlight that spilled through the window. “Understand that I never thought this would happen to me. Now that it has, I’m not going to squander the gift given to me by my gods. Besides, the closer we get, the harder it will be for you to leave.”
And there was her solution. She would not get close to Blue, which meant, she couldn’t sleep with him.
“You’ve just ensured that you and I never get close.”
She wasn’t prepared for his laugh, she also wasn’t prepared for the words that came out of his mouth after he’d laughed, the sound deep and rolling.
“Challenge accepted, princess.”
7
The women and children all made it into the valley. Victor and Nerina and most of the males still had not returned. It wasn’t unusual, but Blue was starting to think that he should have gone out to help. He allowed Olivia to retreat. She thought they wouldn’t have a chance to be close. She was wrong. They were already connected. She was too stubborn to acknowledge what he already knew to be true. But he understood. She was human. The unknown was a thing they chose to actively ignore. There was a small percentage of huma
ns who were open to the possibility of more. He needed to be smart and careful.
“Blue, the women want to assign cabins. They are all clean for the most part,” Allesandra said, her long, black hair tied behind her head in a single braid. Cassandra looked so much like her mother, but if he were ever faced with a choice, he knew that Olivia would outshine them all, hands down.
“They can do as they wish, I am not their Alpha. Victor gave me no instructions.”
“I understand, but they will all look to you now that the males are fighting inside the mountain.”
Blue cupped Allesandra’s cheek and smiled sweetly. “You’re too kind, but I know you’re still angry with me. Is this your way to appeal to my softer side?”
“No, Blue. I understand that you found your mate. Cassandra has Teak. It was her choice not to take a mate. Her right. As it is yours to claim Olivia.”
“Thank you.”
Allesandra smiled before moving back into the crowd of women who stood staring.
“All right, ladies, let’s grab cabins. Cassandra, have one of them prepared for the physician, we have injured males.”
“Yes, Mother, I’ll get right on that.”
“I’d like to help,” Olivia offered.
“Yes, of course, can you see to the children? They can be a handful.” Allesandra’s smile was genuine, and Blue smiled to himself as he watched Olivia head over to the group of pups playing by the river. They stopped playing the moment she got close to them.
“Hi. My name is Olivia. I need some help. Do any of you want to help me?”
The children looked at her for a moment. The older pups snickered, and the younger ones smiled. The two youngest, Rose and Ima, approached Olivia first.
“I would like to help,” Ima said.
“Me, too,” Rose echoed.
“Good.” Olivia looked up, and Blue watched as she tried to get the kids to help her clear some of the branches that had fallen off the tree limbs. Trevor, one of the older kids, walked over and sneered. “Rose, Ima, don’t go near her. She’s human, she could be bait.”