by Jade Royal
Grief for a woman I’d hated all this time filled me. She wasn’t what I’d thought she was at all. She was a victim of true love and cursed by something bigger than us all. Magic.
“What happened to the new Alpha?” The need to settle a score rose in my stomach.
“Did you think we’d let him rule?” Ms. Cordell asked. “Once we knew that you were safe, we went back to avenge our king. Queen Simi was in no condition to rule so we declared one in her place. A descendent from the king’s family.”
“How’d I end up with the Everette’s?”
“When your mother pointed at the crib, she’d left instructions for you. There was an address and the name of a couple that couldn’t conceive. She’d watched them for weeks she said. She’d left them money to take care of you. When they’d died, we removed the money from the account, created a college fund for you, and put the rest back into your trust.” Lisa spoke this time.
It was too much information. Too much feeling. Just too damn much.
“We should head back. I think we’ve given you too much to think about,” Ree said.
I stood, and that’s when something else dawned on me. “Ree, how old are you really?
Ree smiled. “We’ve all lived for centuries. Guardians have a much longer life span, especially when their bound to royal families. Ms. Cordell is the eldest, but I’m not too far behind her.”
Ms. Cordell didn’t appear to be old, though she dressed as if she were. The illusion that she’d presented was gone without the barrier of clothes, making her appear just as young as the other women. They were glorious.
I giggled as I thought about trying to teach them to cook. “Are you guys really that bad at cooking or was it an act?”
“Partially, both,” Ree smiled. “Ms. Cordell and I can cook. The other’s, not so much.”
It all seemed surreal. I looked at the woman that I didn’t know. “Who are you?”
“My name is Mandy. I live on the outer edges of the pack land.” That explains why I hadn’t seen her before.
“Well, nice to meet you.” I pondered all the information, and something dawned on me. “You said guardians of nine. Where’s the ninth?”
“We don’t know,” Mandy said sadly. “We haven’t seen her in a long time.”
“Let’s head back,” Ms. Cordell said ending the conversation. She led the way through the forest in wolf form. The rest of the wolves flanked around me as we headed back to the house. Mandy didn’t go beyond the edges of the forest, but the others did.
Once we were back to the house, I headed upstairs to check on Seuss, but he was asleep. I headed to the shower, and a strong heat built in my groin taking over my senses. I lost myself in the raw feelings of it all. The need to fuck was riding me hard so I decided to masturbate. Taking the edge off wasn’t doing the trick. I lost count of the number of times I came. My legs were like jelly, but I still needed more. I blasted the freezing water over me until I was too cold to function. I stepped out the shower shaky and a blubbering mess. My body was just as raw as my emotions. I toweled off, and the heat resurfaced and simmered along my skin.
When I passed the mirror, I noticed a difference in my eyes. They seemed wider than they once had, and my hair was more vibrant, curlier and fuller. I got dressed and headed into Seuss’ room to see him awake. He stared at me as I moved toward him. Though I was the one moving, I felt stalked. He watched each movement of my body as I neared him.
“Nice to see that you’re awake.” I stood at the foot of his bed. Things felt different now that he was conscious.
Seuss nodded to me and then I heard his faint voice across our bond. “The ability to speak escapes me.”
“Understood. Did you need anything?” It was near dinner time, and I was starving. I knew he had to be, too. Feeding off me and Alice’s healing induced sleep couldn’t have been as satisfactory as real food.
“Steak.”
I smiled. “Well, that’s easy. With what?”
“Steak. Why does there need to be anything with it?”
“Because you need your vegetables, Alpha.” I put my hand on my hip in disbelief. Steak wasn’t a full meal.
Seuss groaned. “Sassy …”
“You rang?”
He smiled and then closed his eyes to rest. He inhaled deeply and sighed. “God, I love your scent.”
I blushed but chose not to respond to his comment. “I’ll go make your steak and be back in a few. Maybe I can convince Ms. Cordell to send me some of that magical juice that she makes.” I turned to head to the door.
“That’s not juice, it’s deliciousness.”
It was my turn to laugh. “True.”
“You cook?” he asked.
I turned to see him watching my departure. Was he … admiring me? “Yes.”
“We’ll see.” Disbelief was etched in his features as he closed his eyes again.
I could show him better than I could tell him. I put my hair up in a bun as I descended the stairwell. I opened the freezer as Maddox came through the back door.
“Your Alpha wants steak,” I said as I looked up into his eyes.
Maddox looked at his watch and turned on his heels. “I think I can catch the butcher in town. Steaks do sound good. I think the Beta needs one too.”
I giggled. “Buy enough to feed whomever. I have a challenge from an Alpha that I need to show up, Beta.”
“Yes ma’am.” Maddox saluted me and exited the house again.
I checked the pantry to find potatoes, and there was fresh broccoli in the fridge. Ree entered the kitchen and looked around at the ingredients on the counter.
“Just in time. I need your help.”
I entered Seuss’ room with his dinner tray, and his eyes opened immediately. He inhaled deeply, and the pangs of hunger answered back. Placing the tray on his lap, I watched him as he assessed his meal. There were homemade mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed broccoli and peppercorn steak. There was a knock, and I went to the door to retrieve the juice from Ree. Seuss was struggling to cut into his steak when I returned to him, so I graciously took the knife and fork from him and cut a piece for him to try.
I heard the rumble of approval, and I couldn’t help but to beam. “Perfect.”
“Thank you.” I’d been nervous about it since I hadn’t asked his steak temperature preference. I liked mine medium rare and assumed that it would be fine, or I could cook it longer for him.
“Another.”
I sat beside him continuing to feed him all his food. After his second plate, he leaned back full of his meal. He was more than satisfied, and I was pleased that he was. I used the time while he slept to eat my food in peace before removing everything except his half cup of juice. I changed into clothes for bed before heading into the room with Seuss. I still needed to heal him today, and Maddox reminded me when I’d gone downstairs the third time. I slipped in beside him and he opened his eyes.
“We still need to heal you, Seuss. You’re still healing.”
“I know.”
I pulled the blanket up high enough to hide the view as I removed my shirt. I leaned against his warm body. It was my turn to moan in approval. Before I could reach for him, Seuss wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer. I snuggled into him resting my head against his shoulder and my back against his side.
“Talk to me,” he urged.
“What would you …” I yawned and closed my eyes, “… like to talk about?”
I’m not sure if he responded before I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.
Justice
Talk about being on edge. I’d never paid so much attention to the meaning of the moon’s cycles until I came here. Today would be a full moon, and it made me wonder if that was the reason why my hormones were on high alert. I’d spent the day outside in the yard feeling the need to stay close to Seuss. My skin was hot, so I’d chosen to wear a loose free flowing dress and boots. I was sitting on the porch staring at nothing when Alice approached.
/>
“Are you going to bathe Seuss tonight or is Maddox?”
I laughed to myself since I’d yet to see Maddox bathe him since my arrival. We both knew I was going to do it. The question wouldn’t have normally bothered me, but it did for some reason today. I stood to stretch and then turned to answer her.
“I’ll handle it as usual, Alice.” I added a polite smile on the end, but I knew that the gesture was a little too late.
“Very well.” She turned away just as the coolest breeze came through.
I closed my eyes enjoying the soothing sensation. I opened my arms allowing the breeze to cover me as completely as possible. The wind even blew through my hair making my scalp tingle.
“What perfume are you wearing?” Alice asked.
I waited until the wind died down before answering. “None. I haven’t been home to retrieve anything.”
Alice nodded but moved closer towards me. “You smell really good. Are you sure you’re not wearing anything?”
“What do I smell like?” I lifted the collar of my dress to see if I could smell anything.
“It’s sweet like melon. Ripe. It’s not an unpleasant smell at all.” Her face wrinkled as she tried to place the smell.
“Hmm …”
“The girls are making a larger dinner tonight because of the full moon run. We figured a few of the pack members may come back with Maddox since they’ll gravitate to him and Seuss.”
“Is that normal?”
“Yes. During the full moon, most packs do things to bond including hunting, shifting, running, and even mating. Most wolves aren’t alone for a full moon.”
That made sense. Maybe it had something to do with my agitation today and the reason why I didn’t want to go far from the house.
“I need to head inside. It’s shaving night for Seuss and I want to be finished before dinner.”
“I like the fresh look you’ve created for him. Has he seen it?”
“Not that I know of. I’ll show him tonight and see what he thinks.”
“I bet he’ll love it.” Alice encouraged.
I headed for the door and smiled at her as she held it open. “Maybe.”
Something dawned on me that I hadn’t considered since leaving the hospital. Ms. Sandy hadn’t spoken of anybody visiting the house, but I wanted to make sure.
“What will happen with the police charges placed against me?” I’d been safe while here, but I knew I’d be leaving soon. I didn’t want to go to prison. Especially, for something that wasn’t intentional.
“Seuss and Maddox took care of that. Trust me, the police won’t be bothering you about that.” Alice smiled making me wonder. What exactly had they done?
“Are you okay with me doing this?” I stood at the bottom of the bed looking over at Seuss.
“Haven’t you done this before?” he asked from his end of the bond.
“Yes, but you were asleep all the other times.”
“Understood.”
“I can go and get Maddox for you.” Why was I so damn nervous suddenly?
“I want you …”
My mouth went dry suddenly, and I licked my lips quickly. Did he just say that he wants me? “Let me get the rest of your things.”
I headed into the master bathroom to retrieve his shaving kit. I set it up beside him on the table then turned to leave again. “I need to change.”
“No.” The denial was simple and final. I exhaled slowly.
Seuss watched as I headed over to him and began to undress him from the waist up. I leaned into him while pulling up his shirt, and he leaned forward to sniff the side of my neck. My breathing became labored, and our eyes met with an intensity what shook me to my core.
“You’re coming into your heat,” he whispered against my ear. “You smell ripe. Sweet. Delicious”
Forget what he was saying. His hands were everywhere leaving heat in his path. “Seuss …”
Seuss groaned and sniffed the crook of my neck again. He trailed his tongue across the same spot and I gasped. My nipples pebbled against his chest alerting him even more to my arousal.
“Sweet …” He nipped the side of my neck shocking my senses. “Fucking heavenly.”
“I … Mmm …”
Seuss released me and leaned back as if nothing had happened. I was fevered and ready for him to take me. What kind of game was this? I huffed and went to work on him with arousal buzzing through my veins.
I began washing him and following the contours of his chest like my own personal map. I knew every mark and scar on his body. It’d done nothing to diminish the appeal of it. His muscles flexed underneath the cloth, and I focused on making them submit to my will as I massaged the soap into his skin with my hands before washing it away. I removed his bottoms and ignored his shaft. The man was always partially erect and now was no different.
Seuss was a sexy god with a body that I was dying to taste. He was a masterpiece that I tended to with great care. The dirty thoughts racing through my mind weren’t from the part of me that wanted him healthy. It was from the woman that wanted him as hers. I knew it wouldn’t happen, but I couldn’t help but dream.
Seuss’ hips and thighs seemed to be much warmer than the rest of his body. When I washed him there he gripped the sheets and closed his yes. At first, I thought that I was hurting him, but when I asked if he was okay his gruff reply told me all that I needed to know. His cock was all that was left, and I took my time getting to it.
When I took it in hand, his eyes seemed to glow brighter. The cloth was nice and soapy, so he was lubricated nicely. He hummed, and I stroked him slowly, enjoying him. He watched me intently, and I never looked away. I twisted my wrists around him, and he hissed as his eyes burned even brighter. I smiled before cupping his sack and cleaning it gingerly.
After rinsing him clean, I reached for his clothes, but he refused them. I covered him with his sheet and removed my boots to get on to the next phase of things. I started to get on the bed to work on shaving him but remembered that he was only wearing a sheet. A mischievous smile laced his features, and I cursed myself for teasing him during the bath.
“Are you washing my hair as well?” he asked.
I bit the side of my lip. I had enough water to do it all but none of it seemed safe. “Let me go change first.”
“No.”
I sighed. Maybe he could deny me, but I wasn’t as strong. I straddled his hips slowly and he closed his eyes. I didn’t know that wolves purred. Or maybe it was a low growl. Either way, when I brushed through his hair he was like putty in my hands. He watched me intently, and while it made me nervous, it also aroused me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, just that he seemed to be assessing me carefully. My mouth was close to his even though his head was tilted backwards. I fanned his hair out so that it could dry while I shaved him.
I was in the middle of lining up the hair on his cheek when he decided to be brazen. “Do I get a kiss when this is over?”
I cleared my throat. Did he remember? “What made you ask that?”
“Because I did the last time.”
I could only imagine how the color of my face deepened right now. I was embarrassed, and I had nothing to say for it.
“Or do I have to be passed out for that?”
I playfully hit his chest, and he laughed.
“There won’t be any kissing.” I poked his chest for emphasis. I cleaned him up and was about to stand when he grabbed my thighs holding me in place.
“I’ll take my kiss now.”
“Stubborn man.” I leaned forward for a quick peck, but he had other plans.
He captured my lips between his, hungrily taking my mouth. I panted around the kiss, breathless but begging for more. His hand fisted my hair and he arched my neck as he planted butterfly kisses until he reached my collarbone. My resistance was melting along with my core, and it was all for him. This was a bad idea, but I was powerless to resist.
“Time for ... oh …” A loud growl echo
ed throughout the room as Seuss pulled me into his arms protectively. I turned to see Alice fleeing from the room with a tray of food.
I giggled against Seuss’ chest.
“You … this isn’t funny …” His voice was gruff and sexy.
I kissed his chest and pushed against his tight hold around me. “I normally lock the door behind me before I give you a bath, but I was so nervous that I forgot.”
“Your fault then.” He chuffed.
I laughed harder. “Don’t blame me for her delivery of your dinner.”
Seuss silenced me with another kiss, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. There was something about this moment that felt different than before. The way he held me close as he conquered the kiss sent my mind spinning. I clung to him as if he was my life line. I could smell his arousal through the taste of him. He tasted of pure sin, and I was hungry for more. He pulled away from my lips and nibbled along my chin. My head rolled away from him, and he followed me with his lips. He sucked along the curve of my neck then replaced his lips with the tips of his tongue, raising goosebumps in its trail.
“Seuss,” I moaned loudly. A hum rose deeply from his chest. Seuss was sliding the shoulder of my dress down my arm as he kissed across my collarbone.
A knock sounded at the door, and I knew without a doubt that it was Maddox. Every bone in Seuss’ body tensed. He was ready to strike, and I wasn’t sure that I could hold him back. I kissed his lips briefly and begged him with my eyes to relax.
“Yes?” I yelled out.
Maddox voice was loud and clear when he spoke. “I’m sorry to interrupt any bonding time but Justice, there’s a problem with one of the girls. I wouldn’t bother you if it wasn’t an emergency in the pack.”