Storm (Rise of the Pride, Book 12)

by Theresa Hissong

  “I never thought I’d find my true mate until I saw you the day you were visiting Landon. After you were taken, I vowed to find you.”

  “And you did.” She paused when his movements changed. “You found me and saved me.”

  “You’re mine forever now,” he promised, pausing to kiss her sweetly. “I won’t ever let anyone hurt you, Amaya. I swear it.”

  “I know, Storm,” she cooed, pulling his face closer so she could capture his lips. “I want you to mount me. Bite me. Let’s complete our mating and start our new life.”

  The loss of his cock made her wolf howl, but her mate was there, never losing the connection by their touch. Amaya knew she would never get over the feeling of his hands on her body.

  He pushed at her hip, urging her to roll over. When she was on her stomach, his forearm tucked under her belly and lifted, putting her into the position of their beasts. His snarl was possessive and deadly…and she felt her body liquify from the sound. They both cursed as he entered her again.

  “I will bite you first,” he groaned as he thrust once, twice. “After I lick over your bite, your wolf will take over. Let her. She knows what to do.”

  The magical connection they shared swirled again, raising the hairs on her arms. The wolf inside her pushed at her mind, demanding to takeover, but Amaya wanted to be present for their mating. She’d been practicing finding balance with her beast, and this time it worked.

  His hand tangled in her long hair, making a fist at her scalp. She didn’t feel any pain as he tugged on his hold, bringing her back to his chest. He moved harder, now. Faster and faster, he fucked her until she felt the stirrings of her release. The moment she cried out in pleasure, he sunk his teeth deep into the flesh and muscle of her neck where it met the top of her shoulder.

  His beast growled as it held on to her like a rabid animal claiming its prey. Her wolf bucked, startling Amaya. She didn’t want him to let go, but he did, sealing the wound as promised.

  One second, she was reeling in her orgasm with her mate…the next, she reached behind her and pulled him to the bed, climbing over his body. She wrapped her hand around his cock and pulled it to her body. She wanted to bite him. She wanted to taste his blood and make them as one.

  “Do it, sweetheart,” he urged, turning his head to give her direct access to the place he would be marked.

  She opened her mouth as wide as it would go, striking him in the same spot he’d bitten her. When the coppery taste of his blood hit her mouth, the animal forced her to take the drink, bonding them for life.

  Storm didn’t want to leave his new mate, but shifter law had to be served. Murdock was being held in a room at the alpha’s home. There were three Guardians posted at the window and three at the door. All of the females had been sent away from the main house for protection.

  Liberty and the alpha’s children were staying with Evie’s mother and father until Murdock was brought to justice.

  The old way.

  Their job wasn’t done after killing Murdock. He still had other alphas around the country selling Khat and causing crime and violence. It wouldn’t end with him. It wouldn’t end until all of the Gadaí were rounded up and either given new alpha blood or killed.

  Storm didn’t know what Talon’s plans were for what was to come after they’d only freed six males and the four females Amaya had told them were left at the warehouse. He would await his alpha’s orders on the subject, but first, they had to take care of the wolf alpha before the FBI showed up wanting to know why the violence in the streets suddenly stopped, or why they had reports of rogues dead in the streets. No one knew how many they had missed in their secret raid.

  He entered the alpha’s home right as the other Guardians were bringing him out. They would take him to the meadow at the back of the land to serve his punishment. Talon led the procession, nodding to Storm as he passed. The alpha was holding on by a thread when it came to the agent and alpha to the wolf pack, Walter Murdock.

  The Guardians had risked everything to work for the very same government agency the villain had wormed his way into just to keep the feds off his trail.

  Soon, the Guardians, Winter and Ranger, passed him, opening up a space for Storm to see the wolf alpha being escorted by Kraven and Savage on either side of him. Evie, Hope, and Jade were behind him, and the rest of the Guardians followed. He stepped in by his brother, who was bringing up the rear.

  No one spoke. No one did anything except follow Talon and keep their senses open for anyone who might try and rescue the alpha. The Protectors walked with their Guardian mates. It didn’t matter to the males if the females were strong enough to handle themselves. When a shifter was in the presence of a male like Murdock, it was their nature to immediately be close to their mate. Murdock could still call out to any remaining Gadaí, telling them where to find him and to attack.

  He’d made Amaya promise not to leave the cabin. She had voiced her worry for him, but he promised he wouldn’t be long. He wasn’t going to miss locking himself in his cabin with her for a few days. Not after he finally saved her and brought her home. The march through the woods was quiet. Only Murdock’s heavy breathing could be heard.

  The sheriff had deputies posted outside their gates, watching the road. Kye was in the control room scanning the cameras on the land. They were expecting a war over the next few days as the members of the pack began to weaken.

  It was certain they would cause even more trouble without their leader. The ones they’d found at the warehouse were already on their way to Colorado, but the pride knew there were a few still out in the streets that hadn’t been caught. The pride would do a sweep of the streets and watch the news for any weird stories of shifters going mad.

  It was almost over. They could try to live in peace again. The other alphas in different states were still being pursued by Guardians in those areas, but as for the Memphis area, the war with them was over.

  Savage and Kraven continued to follow Talon to the center of the meadow as the rest of the Guardians and Protectors spread out to make a circle around a pole they’d buried in the middle years ago.

  Talon was not going to give Murdock a chance to fight him. Shifter law would be in force tonight, and when Talon ripped the cloth cover off of Murdock’s head, the male bared his fangs. “You can kill me, but it won’t be over.”

  “You are here because you have failed the shifter world,” Talon began. He ignored Murdock’s threats. “You have been charged with crimes against humans and shifters. Gadaí have a long history, and in the old world, were put to death for their treason. This is your end, Walter Murdock.”

  The alpha to the Shaw pride was pushing out so much magical energy, the Guardians and Protectors were high on it. Storm wanted the wolf’s blood now more than ever. He felt the power surge from Talon as his claws extended from the tips of his long fingers. He’d seen Talon unleash his full alpha only one time before, and that was the night they’d found Liberty in the cabin.

  Growls bubbled from the chests of Guardians and Protectors in the darkness. Each and every one of them was being built up by the alpha. He couldn’t contain his power and it bled into his people. The Guardians and Protectors started to sway. Savage recited a death chant in Gaelic. It was their ancestor’s language, and only used in times of war.

  “My pack is coming for you,” Murdock warned. “And the FBI will kill you all. My mate’s brother will be back for revenge when she dies without me.”

  Talon continued to ignore the alpha’s words as he began to circle the male. Kraven and Savage held the alpha by the arms, spreading them out like he was going to be crucified on the pole, but they didn’t tie him up.

  Talon lowered into a crouch, shifting his face to that of his panther…the rightful alpha to the pride. He roared a second before pouncing on the wolf alpha, using his canines to bite into his throat. Murdock’s eyes widened, his mouth opened…and then there was nothing but silence as the sound of tearing flesh echoed off the surroundi
ng trees.

  His alpha landed gracefully on his feet and spat Murdock’s bloody throat on the ground at the dead male’s feet. Savage and Kraven dropped his limp body.

  And the Guardians and Protectors cheered, raising their voices so the entire pride could hear them.

  It was over. Murdock was gone.

  Talon raised his hands into the air, leaning his head back as he stared up at the night sky. “Shifter law has been delivered! We are free!”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Talon braced for Agent Tabor’s arrival. The male had requested a meeting first thing in the morning, and it was a coincedence it would fall on the morning after the pride had delivered shifter law to the wolf.

  They’d held the government off just long enough to kill Murdock and dispose of his body, and there was no way the FBI knew what had happened. The shifters had been a secret for a very long time, and they had their ways of keeping things from the humans.

  Talon knew exactly what Tabor was going to tell the pride. Murdock was still missing, and they wanted their continued help. The only help his Guardians and Protectors would be providing was clean up. There had to be more wolves out there than what they’d found at the warehouse.

  Then there was the Khat still being distributed on the streets. And Magan, Murdock’s mate. She hadn’t been at the warehouse, and no one had seen her either. No one knew if she’d returned to her home country, or if the agent had kept her in another location.

  Winter pushed the office door open. Agent Tabor came in, dressed in his sports coat and jeans. “Talon.”

  “Agent Tabor,” he greeted, pointing to the seat in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

  As the agent got comfortable, Winter and Savage took their places beside Talon. They were relaxed, never giving away their concern for the visit even though Talon could feel it through his magic.

  “Do you have any news for us?” Talon asked.

  “We still haven’t been able to track down Agent Murdock,” Tabor cursed, lifting a folder he’d been carrying. “We did, however, see Magan Amburo shopping at a local store. She doesn’t look the same. Her eyes have changed. On top of that, the crime has stopped. It just vanished like the wolves left with Agent Murdock.”

  They were already aware the sister to the drug supplier had been changed. Maxam Amburo, the brother, would be a problem. But he was human, and since the wolf alpha had been stopped, they’d leave the rest of it up to the human authorities.

  “She’s like him,” Talon admitted, keeping the secret safe. “I don’t know what the absence of Murdock means for the Khat dealings here in the states, but if he is gone, the wolves will be, too.”

  “Are you saying you’re not going to help us anymore?” Tabor accused. Talon knew the human male was smart, even expected that very question.

  “We were hired to find the wolves,” Talon reminded him. “If the wolves are gone, we won’t be needed anymore. The drugs are your problem. Not mine.”

  Tabor’s eyes narrowed. He tried to read Talon’s expression, but the agent wasn’t going to get anything in return. Talon knew he was solid, and the human authorities would never know what had happened to the man they were looking for.

  “Then it appears we are done here,” Tabor said, clearing his throat. “I guess we won’t be needing you anymore, then.”

  “It was great working with you, Tabor,” Talon admitted. And it was true. The agent was a decent human, and if the world was a different place, Talon would’ve possibly called him a friend.

  But the pride came first, and so did his kind. The shifters were better off on their own, policing their own.

  “Thank you,” Tabor said as he stood and offered a hand. “Take care of yourself, and you have my number if you ever need anything.”

  “If we hear of Agent Murdock showing up somewhere else, I will call,” Talon promised.

  He walked Tabor to the door and breathed a sigh of relief when he was gone and out of sight. Magan was still around, but she wouldn’t be for long. They only had to wait a few weeks, and if she didn’t come to the pride for help, the wolf would die.

  It was the way their world worked, and from that moment on, the way it would be until Talon took his last breath.

  Storm woke to the sounds of his mate’s soft breathing. He still couldn’t believe that in a short amount of time, they’d found not only love, but themselves. It wasn’t two weeks ago he’d thought she was gone from him forever.

  His panther purred loudly, causing his mate to move a little. He tried to push his panther back to give her some more time in her contented slumber, but it wanted her to wake up. It wanted to play.

  “Morning,” she mumbled, stretching every inch of her delectable body. He rolled to his side and buried his nose against her mating mark.

  “God, you smell so good,” he moaned. Fuck! It was like she’d developed some sort of new mating scent overnight.

  “You smell amazing, too,” she hummed as he licked a path from her mating mark to her earlobe, taking a second to nip at it. “If you wake me up like this every morning, I won’t be able to get out of the bed.”

  “That’s the point,” he continued as he kissed across her neck, contemplating biting her other side. He wanted all the males to know she belonged to him.

  “I need to get up,” she yawned. “I’d like to go to my old house today and grab what I need. I guess I’ll also need to put it up for sale.”

  “If that’s what you want to do,” he replied, still kissing her skin. He didn’t press his lips to any of her scars even though he made note of every single one of them. So far, he’d counted eighteen.

  “You’re not listening to me,” she chuckled and pushed at his shoulder, but he didn’t budge, moving down to her ample breasts.

  “I swear they’re bigger this morning,” he hummed and licked his lips. His panther nudged him to continue the sweet path down the length of her body.

  “Ow,” she yelped when he licked over her nipple.

  “I’m sorry, my love,” he continued, but when the most calming scent hit him square in the face, he stopped moving.

  Dead.

  In.

  His.

  Tracks.

  “Storm, what’s wrong?” she gasped when his eyes flashed amber. “Storm?”

  “Fuck,” he inhaled. “You’re with young….my young!”

  “What?” she balked. Storm jumped to his feet and started digging through his closet. “Impossible. We aren’t even the same species…What are you doing?”

  “Get up,” he ordered, tossing her one of his clean shirts. “We have to go to the healer right now, Amaya. Right now.”

  “I’m confused,” she said, her brown hair in disarray around her head. “I thought we couldn’t procreate.”

  “I didn’t think we could either,” he admitted, finally stopping in the middle of his room, searching for his pants.

  Pants…okay. Where were his pants?

  “How do you know I’m pregnant?” She finally pulled the shirt over her head and found her discarded sweatpants on the floor.

  “I can scent it,” he hissed. “Can’t you feel it?”

  “No, I can’t feel anything,” she huffed as she scrambled off the bed, hurrying over to him. She placed her hand on his and squeezed. “Storm. Slow down. Tell me what is going on. I don’t understand.”

  “We shouldn’t have made a child,” he said in a rush. “It’s impossible to mix the animals. Totally impossible.”

  “Well, I haven’t been with anyone else,” she scoffed.

  “I know it’s my cub,” he promised, pulling her to his chest. “I can scent it. A female’s pregnancy is the most wonderful smell to a shifter. The others will gravitate toward you. It does something to us…makes us feel like we are with our mothers again. I really don’t know how to explain it, but we need to see Harold. I have to know if you’re going to be okay.”

  “Storm, you’re scaring me,” she worried.

  “Sit down,�
�� he urged, walking her over to the bed and gently pushing her to her seat.

  Storm’s hands shook as he scrambled to find the healer’s preprogrammed number in his cell phone. He tapped his foot as it rang. When Harold answered, Storm didn’t wait for him to say a greeting.

  “I need…can you? I…”

  “Storm, what’s wrong?” Harold asked, his voice deepening. Storm heard the healer snap his fingers in the background, probably calling for Landon or his mate, Luna.

  “Amaya,” he blurted. “She’s with young.”

  “Oh,” he replied. Storm wanted to scream. “I’m on my way.”

  Storm dropped his phone on the bed and knelt at his mate’s feet. “It’s going to be okay, Amaya.”

  “Storm, look at me,” she cooed, tucking her finger under his chin. He’d never tire of her touching him. The magic between them swirled every time, and he was addicted to it. “I’m obviously pregnant, but I’m fine. Whatever is going on, we will find out. I need you to stay calm for me.”

  He was freaking the fuck out inside. How was she being so calm? His mind immediately went to her safety, and tonight was the full moon. She would need to shift. Could she shift? Would it hurt their cub? Would it hurt their cub if she didn’t?

  The knock on the door jarred him enough to answer it. He knew his eyes were wide with fright when Harold stepped inside. “Storm, let’s talk before I tend to your mate.”

  “But…she…” He swallowed and shook his head. “How?”

  “I don’t know, brother,” Harold admitted. “But I’m going to find out. First, I need you to calm down before the alpha comes bursting in the door. I’m sure you want some time to let all of this sink in and be with your mate before announcing it to the pride.”

  “You’re right,” Storm agreed, finally relaxing.

  “Now, is she doing okay? Morning sickness? Anything?”

  “She says she feels fine,” he replied. In fact, Storm was the only one freaking out over the news. He wasn’t sure if he was excited or scared…or both.