by L. P. Dover
“Fuck,” Zayne hisses, reaching back to grip the headboard. Sucking him harder, I slide my lips up and down his length. His cock pulsates, and I know he’s close. But, before I can drive him to the end, he grips my arms and tosses me onto my back, his blue eyes glowing like his wolf. “I need you now.”
“Then take me,” I whisper, spreading my legs wider. “I’m yours.”
Towering over me, he closes his lips over mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, drawing him in closer. He presses the tip of his cock to my opening and stares at me. Time stands still as I get lost in his heat-filled gaze. He pushes in gently at first, and the delicious ache of him stretching me makes me greedy for more.
“Please,” I moan, thrusting my hips against his. “Don’t hold back.”
His eyes flash dark with need, and he thrusts so hard I scream out in both pleasure and pain. He rocks against me, quickly bringing me to the edge. Raking my nails down his back, I hold him even tighter, loving the feel of his hips thrusting in and out of me. My insides begin to tighten, and I bite my lip to keep from screaming out again.
“You feel so damn good,” Zayne growls. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.”
He thrusts harder, and my body explodes from the inside out just as he comes inside of me, filling me. Heart racing, I stare up at him and take his face in my hands. The glow in his wolf eyes slowly turns back to his human ones. The urgency I felt within him at the lake isn’t as potent now. I’m hoping the rage will subside until we can complete the bond.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asks, brushing a hand down my cheek.
I shake my head. “I’m perfect.”
Still connected, he smirks and circles his hips gently. “I was speaking the truth. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.”
Lifting on my elbows, I kiss him. “We have all night. It’ll be our Christmas presents to each other.”
His eyes flash to his wolf’s. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you.”
17
Zayne
When I wake up, I almost expect everything to have been a dream. I’ve watched Amelie from afar for so long and now she’s finally mine; it doesn’t seem real. So much has changed in so little time. I thought for sure the mating signs would happen with her last night, but it never did. I’m trying not to get angry over it, but I don’t know what the Great Luna’s waiting on. Why would she deny me my mate when all I’ve done is be loyal to my people and protect them? I don’t think I’ll ever understand.
Looking over at the clock, it’s almost nine in the morning. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laid around in bed that long. Amelie’s hand rests on my chest and I lightly trace my fingers over her bare shoulder. She moans and it makes my cock twitch. I want to make love to her again.
My phone vibrates on the dresser, but Amelie doesn’t wake. Carefully, I slide away from her and out of the bed, not even waking her. But then, the phone stops before I can reach it in time. As I look to see who it was, a text comes in.
Colin: Call me asap!
Grabbing my clothes off the floor, I slip them on and hurry outside to call him back. When he answers, I can tell something’s wrong.
“Zayne, thank fucking God. Where are you?” he says quickly.
“Amelie’s, why?”
He sighs. “You need to get away from there. One of the Channons is in Wyoming.”
Anger ignites in my chest. I had a feeling they’d be coming soon. And, of all nights, it had to be on a full moon. “Fuck,” I hiss.
“You have to get away from Amelie before they trace you there.”
I jerk my attention to the house. Amelie is still inside, sleeping peacefully by the sound of her breathing. “What about Amelie? I haven’t told her anything about this.” The rage within me is quelled for the moment but staying away from her with danger close by is going to make it worse.
“We’ll explain it to her. But right now, you have to go. We need to figure out the game plan.”
I wish there was time to explain everything to Amelie, so she’d know why I had to leave. I should’ve told her everything from the beginning, but I didn’t want to involve her if I didn’t have to. As quietly as I can, I hurry inside and peek into Amelie’s bedroom one more time. I want to bring her with me, but it’ll put a target on her back. I just have to hope that keeping my distance will be enough to keep her safe until I can get rid of the Channons once and for all.
Time ticks by but I can’t leave without giving Amelie some kind of explanation. I remember seeing a notepad and pen on her kitchen counter, so I go in there and rip off a piece of paper.
Amelie,
I’m sorry I had to leave, but there’s no time to explain. All I’m asking is that you trust me. I told you before that everything I do is to keep you safe. This is one of those times. I’ll come back to you when all is well.
Zayne
I set it on the nightstand beside her bed and close the bedroom door behind me. At least, this way, I’m not leaving without an explanation. I did it before and I can’t do it again. My plan is to hunt the Channons down and finish this. I’m not going to let them fuck up my life.
18
Amelie
Glancing over at the clock, I groan when I see it’s ten in the morning. I stretch my arms over my head and look over to see the other side of the bed empty. The sheets are cold, and I can’t even smell Zayne’s scent; it’s as if he was never there.
Sitting up, I glance around the room and concentrate on the rest of the house. Zayne is gone. If I wasn’t naked and sore between my legs, I’d think last night never happened, that it was all a dream.
I look around for my phone and then realize I left it in the living room. Tossing off the sheets, I grab a T-shirt and pajama pants out of my dresser and throw them on. The house is eerily quiet when I walk past the kitchen to the living room. The Christmas tree is lit which makes me smile, but I have a feeling something isn’t right.
My phone is on the coffee table so I snag it up, thinking there will be something from Zayne. Nothing. I try to call him but every time it goes straight to voicemail. I even text him to make sure he’s okay, but I get no replies.
After the night we had, why would he leave? Then again, he could be out running an errand, thinking he’ll make it back before I woke up. It’s Christmas morning so if he were to go somewhere they’d most likely be closed. I don’t like the sinking feeling in my gut, but I push past it and busy myself in the kitchen. Maybe once breakfast is done, Zayne will be back.
I cook enough eggs, bacon, and pancakes for two people and end up eating alone. With each passing second and not even a return phone call, my mind races with scenarios. Zayne is my mate so I know he wouldn’t deliberately hurt me by disappearing. But then again, he did ignore me before when I tried reaching out to him. Did our night together scare him?
Groaning, I storm down the hall to my bedroom and strip off my clothes. It’s already lunch time and still no word from Zayne. I want to call Laila to see if he could be there, spending some Christmas time with her and Sera, but I stop before I can press her number. It’s her first Christmas with the baby and I want today to be special for them. The last thing I want is for her to listen to my concerns.
I walk into the bathroom and turn on the hot water. If I’m going to spend Christmas alone, I need to make the best of it. Once I’m freshly showered and dressed, I go back to the living room, and instead of reaching for the new romance novel on my bookshelf, I grab the first book in the Game of Thrones series. Hopefully, it’ll get my mind off of things.
19
Zayne
Knox Channon is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The second I made it back to my house this morning, Kami and Colin were already in my driveway. For the past two hours, we’ve been tracking him through Kami’s FBI satellite footage. He spent the entire morning in downtown, roaming around all the streets. Kara is in Utah, which is a lot closer to us tha
n Chicago. My instincts tell me she’s headed this way. Until then, I have to keep my focus on Knox.
“Amelie’s going to be pissed at you,” Colin says.
Sighing heavily, I glance down at my phone. I’ve missed several calls, and I’ve avoided Amelie’s texts. I need more time to explain everything to her; it can’t be done in a text or a few second phone call.
“I know,” I grumble. “I left Amelie a note. Hopefully, it’s enough for now.” I peer over at Colin and Kami, both sitting on the couch, ready for battle. “I’m sorry to get you involved. I know it’s your first Christmas together.”
Colin snorts and turns to Kami, bumping her in the shoulder with his. “It’s okay. We like danger and adventure.”
Kami smiles sadly at me. “We want to help you, Zayne. We’ll have plenty more Christmases together just like you and Amelie.” She holds up her phone. “I can call her if you want.”
I’m just about to tell her yes when I notice Knox leaving the downtown area. On Kami’s computer, his location is a blinking blue dot. Now the blue dot is headed in our direction.
“We don’t have time for that,” I growl.
I turn the computer her way, and her eyes widen. “Do you think he found out where you live?”
Colin jumps up and pulls out his phone. “I’ll give everyone the heads up.”
He walks away, and I stare at the computer. “I don’t know.” My body burns with the need to fight. “Either way, I’m ready. This is personal. It won’t end without a fight.”
A few minutes later, Colin comes back, his serious gaze on mine. “Everyone’s on their way here. You won’t have to do this alone.”
Standing, I stretch my neck to both sides. “This is my fight, Colin.”
Kami takes my place at the computer and focuses on the screen. “He’s getting closer.”
Colin scoffs. “Does this guy seriously think he can take over our pack with so many royal alphas? We’re stronger than he is.”
I’ve thought about that. Knox has to know what he’s facing. Either he has a death wish or there’s something else going on. The first one I can deal with. I’ll be happy to rip off his head. If it’s the second, I don’t look forward to finding it out what it is. The Channons were a scheming and cunning family. In a pack, it’s beneficial to have wolves like that, but right now, it’s the last thing we need.
I march over to the window, ready to see his car pull into the driveway. “I’m going outside. That way, when he pulls up, he’ll know I’m one step ahead of him.”
“I’ll come with you,” Colin says from behind.
We get to the door, and Kami shouts. “Wait! He’s not coming here. He drove right past our turn-off.”
Growling, I rush over to her. “Where the fuck is he going?”
Colin and I stare over her shoulders at her computer, the blue dot not far past my street. The blue dot slows down the closer it gets to Amelie’s road. My eyes stay transfixed on the screen as time seems nonexistent. He slows down even more, and I can’t seem to look away from the blue dot.
“I don’t like this,” Kami says, holding a hand over her mouth.
“Neither do I. I have to call Amelie.” Grabbing my phone, I dial her number, but she doesn’t answer. I call her again and again, and still nothing. “Dammit,” I hiss, squeezing my phone so hard I can hear it crack. Knox gets closer to her street.
Kami’s cell is right beside her laptop, so she picks it up. “Let me try. She might be mad at you for ignoring her.”
Heart pounding, I listen to the line ring, hoping like hell she picks up. When she doesn’t, I get a sinking feeling in my gut. Kami looks up at me and shakes her head. “She’s not answering. What are you going to do?”
The second Knox turns down Amelie’s street, my wolf goes into full alert. I can feel him underneath the surface, desperate to break free and protect his mate.
“Fuck,” I shout, rushing to the door. “I have to get there before he does.”
“Z, I’m with you,” Colin shouts from behind. “Kami, call the others! Get them to meet us at Amelie’s!”
All I can think of is Amelie and keeping her safe. I don’t know how Knox found out about Amelie or who he talked to, but whoever it was will regret it. I take off through the field into the forest, and it’s not long before Colin catches up to me. I know I’m running as fast as I can, but my legs feel like they’re made of lead. All I want is to get to Amelie. I never should’ve left.
We get closer by the second, and I can’t feel Knox’s presence at all even though I know he’s close; he wants his energy hidden. Then, Amelie’s cabin finally comes into view, and I come to a complete halt when I see Knox get out of a brand-new black SUV. He looks the same except for his hair; it’s a dark brown instead of the blond most royal arctics are born with. My fangs grow, and I can feel the fire in my blood.
“The others should be here in a minute,” Colin says low.
I’m about to charge after Knox when the door to Amelie’s cabin opens, and she walks out. I don’t know what’s going on, but the last thing I expect to see is a smile on her face when she looks at him. Instead, her eyes tear up, and she cups her hands over her mouth. Her emotions skyrocket out of control, and I can feel them all; she’s happy. How is this possible?
Colin grabs my shoulder. “What the hell is going on?”
The rage inside of me grows. “I don’t know, but I’m sure as fuck going to find out.”
20
Amelie
When I heard the car coming down my road, I thought maybe it was Zayne. I couldn’t sense who it was, so I figured it was Zayne masking his presence like he used to. However, that’s not who showed up.
The second I saw my visitor, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Clasping my hands over my mouth, I slowly walk down the porch stairs. I haven’t seen him in twenty-five years.
“Is it really you?” I say, feeling the tears fall down my cheeks.
Knox smiles and opens his arms. “It’s really me.”
He looks the same as he did all those years ago with his dark brown hair and royal blue eyes. The happiness I feel overwhelms me, and I run into his arms, so thankful to see him again. Knox was never part of the Redwood Pack, but the alpha, Finn Olcan, didn’t say much about me dating a rogue. It was probably because he was about to mate with Tyla; at least, that was the plan before the Sierra Pack attacked us.
Knox hugs me tight. “I went back to your old home, only to find you all gone. So I tracked Finn to North Carolina, and he told me everything.”
Letting Knox go, I peer up at him, wondering what all Finn told him. “So, you know about me mating with Jaret Connery?”
Knox’s eyes flash to his wolf’s for a quick second. “Yes,” he growls. “You have no idea how much I hate myself for not being there to protect you.”
“It’s okay,” I say with a smile. “I got my revenge on Jaret in the end. As you can see, he’s no longer with us.”
Knox smiles, but there’s no humor to it. “Happy to hear it.”
Knox and I were together for a couple of years before he left town in search of his sister. He was my lover and friend. We shared many great memories. He had promised he’d come back, but when the Sierras attacked, and we fled, I never saw him again. We left without a trace.
Knox blows out a sigh and smiles at my cabin. “Finn told me you moved out here and joined the Teton Pack. Although the word around the country is that you’re the new Royal Pack.”
I shrug. “Guess you can say that. We do have a lot of royals.” His focus turns to the woods, and I watch him curiously. “Did you ever find your sister? I hate I never got to meet her.”
“I did,” he says, meeting my gaze. “Kara’s on her way to Wyoming now.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask him. “I can see it in your eyes.”
He nods. “I don’t have much time, but it’s obvious your pack hasn’t told you anything about me.”
Confusion sweeps over me. How would my pack ev
en know Knox? “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
With a heavy sigh, he glances over his shoulder again and then back to me. “Amelie, there’s something I’m going to tell you, and I don’t want you to get angry. Just know that there’s a reason why I kept my identity a secret all those years ago. The last thing I want is for you not to trust me.”
I step away from him. “Oh, dear God, what the hell?”
And in that next moment, I feel a blast of energy burst from his body. I know that feeling all too well. Eyes wide, I stare at him in shock. He’s not a normal wolf like I thought he was. What’s crazy is that it all seems to fall into place. When we were together, he never shifted around me. If he had, I would’ve seen that he was a royal arctic instead of a gray like he claimed to be. I never even picked up that he was an arctic because he subdued his power to where all anyone could feel is a lesser wolf. It’s one of the reasons why Finn didn’t mind him being around my old pack; he didn’t see him as a threat. When in all reality, he was the biggest threat of all. Knox could’ve taken over the Redwood Pack if he wanted to.
“You’re a royal,” I whisper.
Regret fills his royal blue eyes. “I am, and so is my sister. We kept our identities a secret because of something that happened two centuries ago. We were banished from our pack.” He holds up his hands. “I wanted you to find out from me before the others told you. They know I’m here, and they’re not far.”
Gasping, I look past him toward the forest; he was right. To my left, Ryker comes into view with Cedric by his side, and over to the right are Sebastian and Colin. And appearing right in the middle of them all is Zayne, his lethal gaze on Knox.
“Two centuries ago?” I say, breaking my gaze away from Zayne.