“She looked down on Rory’s mother all those years for being an omega, and now she’s less, and outcast to boot,” Shay stated with grim satisfaction. It wouldn’t make up for all the damage the woman had caused, but it was a start.
“Thank you, all of you,” she said, looking at Nikolai and Caleb in particular, “for all you did tonight. Nikolai, I know you and Rory have this whole vampire/shifter stuff going on, but I appreciate you not only allowing Shannon to come here—don’t tell her I said ‘allow’—but stepping in with much-needed advice and wisdom.”
“Of course he did.” Kiesha slung her arm over Shay’s shoulder. “We’re family. Family sticks together. You know how it is: we may argue and fight with each other, but let someone else threaten us and it’s on.”
“Hmm, I always wanted a vampire as a brother,” Shay mused, eyeing the vampire thoughtfully.
Nikolai shook his head and smiled, a mere crook of the mouth. “The wolf has his hands full with you.”
“Yep, but he’s never bored,” she said with a cheeky grin.
Caleb choked on a laugh. From the way Kian’s eyes twinkled, she knew he was amused as well.
Rory retreated, letting his wolf take control. Unlike the man, the beast saw things in simple black-and-white and wasn’t conflicted by emotions. Betrayal was severely dealt with, then forgotten. Now it took joy in running with its brothers, its sibling at its side.
He brushed his side against hers in a show of easy affection as they ran through the dense woods, not minding that she had the scent of vampire on her. Even the vamp was pack.
The man inside the wolf knew that later he’d have to deal with fallout from tonight’s actions, but for now he was content to simply revel in the multitude of smells—the rich soil, new and decaying leaves, pine needles and cones, the smell of small prey.
He chased after a rabbit, caught and killed it, and brought its bleeding carcass to Shannon before bounding off after another one.
As a pack, they roamed all over the state park, traveling miles and remarking territory that belonged to the Sparrowhawks. Occasionally Rory caught sight and scent of couples mating in wolf form, and missed Shay with a longing that was physically painful.
Both man and wolf made the decision to turn and head back to the clearing, to their mate.
MacDougal fell into step beside him. “I contacted the Arizona pack’s alpha.”
“And?”
“I’m going to go, check it out,” MacDougal answered before trotting off.
Rory silently wished him luck. When he’d put aside his pride and gone to Alex for help, one of the issues they’d discussed was MacDougal and his discontent with the Sparrowhawks. Alex had put out feelers among his considerable contacts and discovered there was a small pack, numbering about thirty total, whose alpha was old and was looking for a strong wolf to take over. None of his males were strong enough. None of the men in Alex’s pack were interested since it meant relocating. Rory had taken the information and passed it on to MacDougal.
MacDougal was a strong wolf and had the makings of an alpha. Unfortunately he’d focused his attention on the Sparrowhawks, where he had no hope of leading. Rory had no intentions of giving up control anytime soon, and when he did, there were others higher in the hierarchy—Kian, Caleb, and should enough time lapse, his unborn son.
If everything worked out, this would be a win-win situation for them all. The Arizona pack would get a strong male alpha to take over when their leader stepped down, and Rory would have peace in his pack.
He padded into the clearing in time to hear his mate say, “Kian, now that we know what caused your muteness, you need to let Alex or someone at his clinic examine you. They may be able to fix the damage.”
It doesn’t matter. I’ve been this way this long, he signed.
“It does too matter,” Shay argued stubbornly. “Besides, you might meet a cute nurse or doctor who’ll insist on loving you back to health.”
One corner of Kian’s mouth kicked up, indicating amusement, but he shook his head.
“You might as well give in,” Rory telepathed him. “She’s not going to give up until you agree.”
“At least think about it.” Shay proved Rory right when she said it in a manner that showed she had no intention of letting the matter drop.
“Let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll get it scheduled,” Alex said.
“I’ll call Carol and make an appointment,” Shay said as though it were a done deal.
Shifting back to human, Rory laughed at the annoyed expression on his brother’s face. “Told you.”
He strode forward and lifted his mate into his arms. “Time to go.”
“You’re not waiting for the others?” she asked, eyes wide with surprise.
Rory stopped walking long enough to shove his tongue down her throat, letting her feel how much he wanted her through their bond.
“Oh!” she gasped when he ended the kiss and continued toward the truck, the perfume of her instant arousal scenting the air.
“But what about Kiesha?”
“I’m not into threesomes, and even if I were, I doubt Alex would agree,” he answered.
“You got that right,” Alex called out in response.
Shay slapped him on the back of his head. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
He pinned her with a look, allowing the heat of his lust to show. “Home or here? Your choice.”
She swallowed audibly. “Home.”
They made it to the house in record time. As soon as the front door shut behind them, Rory ordered, “Strip!”
The smile on her face should have warned him she was in a mood to tease. Shay undid the buttons of his shirt, one by one, taking her sweet time about it. By the time she reached the snap of her cargo shorts, he was panting and his claws were unsheathed.
She pulled down the zipper, then slid the tip of her forefinger beneath the slice of panties visible and gave her clit a stroke.
“Shay,” he warned, control hanging by a thread.
“Hmm?” She gazed at him under heavy lids, her face flushed.
“Mate, now is not a good time to tease.” He felt the shape of his eyes change and knew his wolf was close to the surface, as aroused as he. Her cream was driving them both crazy.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, striving to look innocent, but the devilish glint in her eyes gave her away. “I thought I’d indulge in a bit of foreplay.”
By alternating sides, Shay used her free hand to push down her shorts and panties. Rory’s gaze stayed glued to the triangle of pubic hair and her busy little finger circling her nub. When the clothing dropped to her ankles, she stepped out and kicked them to the side.
“Rory?”
He grunted, words beyond him.
“I’m naked.” Spreading her legs, she tilted her hips forward and speared her pussy with her finger. Seconds later she dragged the glistening digit through her nether lips, circled it around her clit, then plunged it into her vagina again. It made a squishing sound. Shay threw her head back and moaned.
Rory’s control snapped as with a roar, he scooped up his mate and bore her to the floor. He flipped her onto her belly, snatched her hips into the air, and like an arrow, pierced her glistening sheath to the hilt. Teeth locked onto her nape, he rode her like a bronco as she bucked, squealed, and screamed her pleasure beneath him.
After her orgasm ripped through her, he jerked free, lifted her into his arms, and carried her upstairs to their room.
“You didn’t come,” she panted.
“Not yet,” he gritted out between clinched teeth.