“Tomorrow we must assure Draven knows about the whole in the wall.” Vanquish said.
“And about Marta.” I added.
Vanquish nodded.
“What about Marta?” Hunter asked. “She’s an old lady.”
“With an evil bend.” Vanquish corrected.
Who poisons are wolves.
And keeps the females from getting with pup.
Draven would be furious to hear that.
I cringed at the thought, hoping it was something Lyra Lani had already divulged to him.
So I don’t have to.
***
I filled Hunter and Racer in on what I’d seen tonight.
They were all angry with me. But less than I’d suspected.
I’d thought they might be tempted to wring my neck.
“Stay away from her.” Vanquish ordered. “No following old ladies in the dark.”
“Old men then?” I asked sheepishly.
His black glower could’ve shriveled a berry.
“I’m surprised you didn’t run into Fury.” Racer remarked
After a night where I found it almost impossible to sleep, I caught Hunter by the hand and quickly led him down to the creek.He blinked blearily. “You do know I guarded the Border most of the night? Than when I did finally sleep, we woke up to find out you were out. So, I’ve hardly slept. And now you drag me out at barely first light?”I tugged him behind me while he walked on leaden feet. “Stop your complaining and walk faster.”“Why?” He asked warily.“Because I made you a promise.” I said laughingly.His dark brows shot up and he straightened. Scampering more quickly behind me.We reached the edge of the creek, and he gave me a suspicious look.I gestured toward the water.“That’s going to be cold as ice, you know that right?”I smiled and nodded smugly.He stripped off his clothes and looked from me to the water. Giving the water a disdai
“That a girl. Scream louder.” He whispered in my ear. As he began pounding viciously.Unable to move or to adjust I was held still, bound to the tree while he plunged in and out of my body. His pelvis slapping against the soft flesh of my ass and making it ripple.He was groaning. Clutching the sides of my hips to hold me in place. While he rose and fell behind me.As if he needs to hold me here. I couldn’t go anywhere. Or resist him, even if I wanted to.I felt his hard, war-honed body dragging up and down my back and his powerful hips and buttocks working as he flexed in and out of me. His thighs cradling the bottom of my cheekseach time he lowered and flexed his legs outside of mine.“That’s it, Sweetheart. Take all of it. I want you sore. To think of me every step you take tomorrow.”It was hurting.But it also felt good.They had somehow taught me to like it rough
Hunter was entirely ruthless in his ministrations this morning. Probing me in a way I’d never been touched. His smooth tongue was warm and easily flexed to reach inside me and cause instinctive bucking and writhing. Scraping the front of my body against the unrelenting bark. My head was thrown back and I was fighting the urge to unleash the sound he’d been craving. Hunter is always the fun loving one. This form of intense, unexpected lovemaking would’ve been something I’d have expected more from Vanquish. Or even Racer. He stood behind me. Sweeping my crease with two fingers before he pressed against my side and one shoulder. So, I could feel every hard muscle on his body. He twisted to reach nearly the front of me. Brushing the tiny nub at the front of me in a way that made me moan in objection and press against his hand. Then he slipped it backward, agonizingly slowly. Prolonging my torment. “Hunter!” I cried out. B
“Draven...” Hunter straightened. Then looked away. Lifting his hand slowly and realizing his pants were in them. He quickly stepped in.Trying to put some manner between him and the fierce, dark-haired Alpha, who was now staring at us from across the spread of leaves and grass between the trees. He had his arms crossed across his chest and blatant fury on his face.How’d he know?In my panic, I bit my cheek and tucked my body against Hunter in an effort to hide all my bare flesh from the angry Alpha looking me up and down disdainfully.Apparently unamused by my nudity.“My Alpha.” Hunter lowered his head in deference. “We were merely out for a morning frolic.”“That wasn’t what I asked.”“Our intent wasn’t to defy you.” Hunter said quietly.“But you did nonetheless.”“We only-”“Enough!&rdq
It’s too late now. I thought. Even if I’d wanted to change my mind, it wasn’t like we could go back out there and persuade Draven to have some mercy.He’s not the merciful type.No one would buy that he’d just changed his mind after making a declaration like that, anyway.I felt my anxiety climbing every second that passed. Hunter and Racer picked up the bags. Vanquish turned me around and started guiding me out.Draven and a few of the other Border Guards walked behind us.To make certain we were leaving.That we’re obeying the Alpha.A crowd had gathered near the big blue door in the gate and as we were ushered through, I walked by Lyra Lani and saw her giving me a look beneath hooded lashes.She knows what’s going on. That reassured me somewhat that this was the act that I’d suspected it was. I took a long breath. Daring a p
I knew his posture. I’d seen him take it when he was doing things which he felt like were his duty.Don’t go. It was all I could think. Whimpering as I watched them. Catching BailaLae’s wrist and hanging on with planted feet until she had to tug me loose.Aviari caught her shoulders and turned her away from me, even though I could hear her sobbing.“She’ll be okay.” He told her.But it seemed like Aviari’s larger than life personality waned in that moment and we all knew he wasn’t wholly certain.He’d sounded scared.Then mom and dad had gotten home. Both of them cut and badly beaten. It was long after the little boys had already gone to bed.They’d told our older siblings goodbye upstairs. While they followed them around. Tossing out their clothes as they tried to pack them. Begging them to stay.For the first time, I wondered at how hard it must&rsq
By the time Hunter returned, his face was solemn. “You found a hideout.” I filled in. Hunter nodded slowly. “There’s only a few wolves there now, if that’s what you can call them.” He frowned. “They’re hardly that.” “Are you sure this is what you want?” Vanquish queried. His hands landing on my shoulders as he tipped down to be level with my face. I nodded stiltedly. “I have some rage I’d like to expend on their kind.” “Keep in mind that many of the NightHunters were different packs before they were taken over.” “They chose to succumb. They didn’t have to.” I didn’t. “As you wish.” Vanquish rolled his shoulders and steadied himself. “Here.” Racer walked over and handed me the handle of an ornately carved knife. It was narrow and smooth, winding with vines. It was small and fit very well in my palm. “Keep this on you at all times.” My eyes flew to his face. “Did you make this?” He lowered
I crouched and as the wolf leapt, I slid to my back and lifted the blade to jam it into the wolf’s underside. Dragging it the length of the beast’s body. Splitting it open and sending its entrails spilling onto the floor. The second man was a heartbeat behind him and was suddenly over me. He dropped to his knees to hover over me, pinning me to the ground and lifted his fists to begin pummeling me. I instinctively threw my arms over my face to block his hits but before they could rain down on me the original black wolf with white striped over his shoulders and framing the sides of his snout thudded across the room and hit the man so violently that he sent him tumbling off me. The man spun on to his feet to confront the wolf but by now the other two who looked so similar to the original, were slinking closer. Their thickly muscled shoulders bunching and curving over them as they edged threatening forward. Their pointed teeth bared in vicious snarls which indicated thei