But just now, seeing the way Katya responded to Conner, he knew it was more than physical pleasure between the two of them. He actually felt the emotions swirling around them. Unfamiliar emotions. Deep emotions.
Like love.
He knew right then that he wasn't complete, that there was something lacking in his life.
Sonofabitch! He didn't want to have these kinds of feelings. Not now, not ever.
Determined to avoid any further thought about relationships and women, he palmed his cock and stroked it, stepping toward Katya. She turned to him and smiled, and when she licked her lips in anticipation he nearly lost it.
Oh yeah. He wanted that mouth on his cock.
He reached for the back of her head and drew her closer to the throbbing tip of his shaft. Drops of pre-cum teetered on the edge, and her tongue snaked out to capture the fluid before it fell to the forest floor.
"God, baby, what a sweet mouth you have. Suck it, Katya."
Her lips covered him and he closed his eyes, determined to block out anything and everything but the erotic pleasure he received from Katya's mouth.
Katya licked the head of Noah's cock, taking the thick shaft in deeply, then moving back to watch her saliva cover the mushroomed head. She looked up and watched him. Lord, the man was magnificent standing there with one hand wrapped around the back of her head, the other massaging his balls as she sucked his magnificent rod.
His tangy taste and the velvet smoothness of the head of his cock made her pussy clench around Conner's shaft. She rocked forward and back, her clit hitting the base of his cock and splintering sparks of need deep inside her.
In response to her movements, Conner lifted his hips, thrusting harder and faster inside her aching cunt until she thought she'd die from the pleasure.
She moved Noah's hand away and cupped the twin sacs underneath his shaft, squeezing and tugging them gently. He groaned and pushed her head closer, forcing more of his delicious cock into her mouth. Deeper, harder, until she swallowed his cock head.
For an alpha female, this was supreme delight. To have both these powerful men under her control was more satisfying than she realized. She was in charge of their pleasure, she directed each sensation with either her mouth or her pussy.
And she loved it.
Even better, they loved it.
The scent of their arousal filled the air around her. Conner reached for her breasts, plucking her erect nipples and sending spiraling sensation to her cunt. She could do nothing but groan against Noah's cock, which caused him to pump faster and harder against her mouth.
Pleasure built, higher and higher like a coiling snake threatening to strike.
"Come for me, baby," Conner urged, his voice a hot whisper in the night. "Let me feel that pussy squeeze the juice right out of me."
Conner helped that suggestion by reaching between her legs and stroking her clit with his thumb. Fire burst within her and she whimpered, sucking harder at Noah's cock.
"Aww, Christ, Katya," Noah responded, wrapping his fist in her hair and pumping hard, jettisoning a hot spurt of fluid into her throat. She swallowed greedily as the sensations in her lower belly spread out like a wildfire.
Noah withdrew and she turned her attention to Conner, lifting her hips and slamming them down over his shaft. He thrummed her clit faster and faster, the sensations tightening inside her. When he groaned and dug his fingers into her hips, she erupted, her orgasm shooting fiery lightning in front of her eyes and pouring out her creamy cum all over Conner's cock and balls.
She came, and then came again, her gaze focused on Conner. The way his eyes lit up with the feral light of the animal within him, his claws unsheathing to scrape her skin, his teeth and jaw elongating as his orgasm forced the change within him.
And the animal in her surfaced as she continued to ride out her climax, growling and dropping her head to his chest to take a sharp bite of his sweet flesh. Time suspended and she was lost in the spiraling emotions of completion, more satisfied than she'd ever been before.
This was perfection and she never wanted the moment to end.
She couldn't move. Conner's heart raced against her cheek. He wrapped his arms around her, seemingly in no hurry to move from their spot on the forest floor. Barely able to open her eyes, she lifted her lids partway to survey the area around them.
Everyone else had gone.
The ritual was over.
Conner and Noah had given her a magic that she never knew, had never thought possible.
But now that it was finished, she only wanted to wrap her body around her husband and never let him go.
The conflicts within her surfaced as she opened her mouth to let the words of her heart spill free. But still, that familiar hesitancy reared its head--that need to keep her protective wall up so that she couldn't be hurt again.
Conner kissed the top of her head. "You ready to go inside now?"
She leaned up and searched his face. "Let's shift and run."
His gaze gleamed dark. "You just want to fuck me as a wolf."
"Well, yes, that, too."
She climbed off and he stood, reaching out his hand to her.
"Come on, wild woman. Let's see if your wolf ass is as hot looking as the human one."
She shifted and took off at a run, knowing the game of chase they played up the mountain would end with passionate lovemaking under the full moon.
Her newly married life was starting out very, very well. And if she couldn't let herself feel the love that she knew she had for Conner, then this would just have to be good enough.
Chapter Fourteen
Conner inhaled the sharp pine scent of the forest around them. Lying naked with Katya in his arms, they didn't feel the cold at such a high elevation despite the early morning chill.
Not even dawn yet, the moon still hung over the horizon, calling to him.
Not a chance this time. He was exhausted. With the wedding yesterday and then the ritual followed by the run in the woods with Katya, they'd had a damn full day. He and Katya had run up the mountain, stopping when they reached a small cliff near the top.
There, they'd made love in wolf form, both of them howling into the night for what seemed like hours. When they were spent, they made the climb to the top of the mountain and fell asleep.
Katya turned and nestled against his side, one leg thrown over his hips. Her thigh brushed his cock and it twitched to life again.
He shook his head. Damn thing was out of control. His body was exhausted. His cock thought it was some kind of superhero.
Down boy. I'm too damn tired.
The low howls of a wolf pack echoed through the forest below.
His pack. His family now. Curling an arm possessively around Katya, he leaned in and breathed the sweet scent of her hair.
He hadn't even told her he loved her yet, but he'd rectify that as soon as she woke. Now he was content to have her in his arms and listen to the sounds of--
Gunfire! The echo of gunshots was followed by the howls of the wolf pack. He didn't have to wake Katya. She bolted upright, her eyes widening.
"Hunters!" she cried, scurrying to her feet and taking off down the mountain.
He didn't bother to argue with her, just caught up to her and ran like hell.
Both of them shifted along the way, Conner taking the lead as they leapt over limbs, rocks and various roots, more sure-footed as wolves and ten times faster than if they were in human form.
His senses keen in this form, he inhaled, scenting the area around them.
Would he be able to communicate with Katya this way? The psychic connection didn't always work.
Several different human scents, he thought.
Yes. I know very well the smell of the hunters.
He nodded, pleased that he and Katya were able to communicate so well in this form. He wondered where Noah was, and if he was with the pack or inside the castle. He could sure use his brother's tracking skills right now.
T
read light. I don't want them spotting us until we can get a feel for how many and where.
She lifted her snout and nodded, staying right behind his left hindquarter.
Perfect.
They entered the flatlands of the forest and crept along slowly, following the sounds and scents of both the packs and the hunters.
Sounds like about twenty hunters, Katya communicated. That's a big hunt.
So much for the cooperation of the ministry. Conner wondered if the man had been blowing smoke up his ass with promises of protection, all the while knowing that some obscure head count of wolves would lead to the hunters' right to take down a certain number.
Well, that "certain number" was his pack now, and by God they weren't going to be allowed to just cull the pack whenever they thought the numbers were too big.
Let me go around the left and you take the right, Katya suggested.
No. I want you with me.
I can protect you better if I can come at them from behind.
He didn't care. He didn't want to take any chances on Katya being injured. If she stood next to him the entire time, he could get in between her and a hunter's bullet. If she circled around to the other side, she could be ambushed or hit straight on. No way was he going to lose her.
I don't need you to protect me, Conner. I've done this before. I can take care of myself. We're much smarter than they are, you know.
I know that. Just stay here, Katya.
But--
He growled a warning to her and she snarled back, but took her place at his flank. Satisfied that she was where he could keep an eye on her, he circled the outskirts of the hunters' positions, counting them one by one.
There were about a dozen of them, stalking his pack as if they were nothing but a pelt or a trophy. They disgusted him. Didn't they realize that the wolves were endangered, regardless of the bogus numbers they put up about the surplus of wolves in the Carpathians? Not that the hunters cared. They weren't managing the numbers. They were hunting for the thrill of the kill.
Not this time. Not anymore. He wasn't going to give the ministry any reason to want to launch a hunt of the wolves, so no way would he injure them.
But he could sure scare the shit out of them.
As two of the hunters stalked a young wolf trying to hide, he stepped calmly behind them, then let out a howl that would curl any human's hair.
The hunters screamed like little girls, turned around and ran like their asses were on fire.
Katya growled appreciatively. I hope they pissed their pants.
He smiled, baring his teeth, lusting to take a bite out of those asses. But he'd have to content himself with merely moving them away from the pack.
They did the same thing with another pair of hunters, sneaking up behind them and then growling and scaring them away.
That part was fun.
The other wolves had spread out, forcing the hunters to split up in pairs.
I told we've handled this before, Katya informed him.
Your people do well. We should be able to--
He stilled when he scented lupine on the air first, but not full wolf. One of the pack in human form? That couldn't be. But when he turned, he realized why.
Peter, in hunting gear, stalking the wolves.
Katya spotted him too, her growl low but loud enough for Peter's keen lupine senses to hear. He spun around, his face twisted in a sick smile, and took aim at Katya. Conner's reaction was swift as he leapt in the air and came down on top of Peter. Peter dropped the gun and fought, screaming as Conner bit into his shoulder.
Peter shifted, his strength increasing as he made a rapid change to wolf. But Conner's rage was stronger than Peter's desperate attempts and he quickly had him pinned, his teeth clamping down on Peter's throat. The smell of fear filled the air around them. Conner growled, his canines digging into the fur of his adversary's neck.
But Peter went still, lying limp. And just as suddenly, shifted back to human.
"Got you just where I want you," he choked, his eyes feral, his sanity gone.
Conner heard Katya's raging snarl just as the sound of rifle shot reverberated through the forest. A fiery hot pain seared Conner's chest, followed by a numbing warmth.
Shit. That shot had hit him.
Thank God it hadn't hit Katya. He heard her in his mind, felt her presence as she drew closer. He heard a hunter's scream and knew Katya had attacked.
Conner felt the dizziness, the weakness, but managed to hold on long enough to look down at Peter, whose eyes widened.
Yes, you sonofabitch. You shouldn't have shifted back to human so quickly. Peter began the swift transformation to wolf, but not swift enough. Conner bit down hard, ending Peter's life. He felt no remorse for killing a lupine. This wolf was a traitor to the pack and deserved to die.
He let loose of Peter's lifeless body and stumbled, barely able to keep on all fours. Wetness seeped down his chest and he fell again, this time unable to get back up.
He searched the forest for Katya but didn't see her. He'd die if she wasn't all right. He still hadn't told her he loved her. Dammit, it was important that she knew how he felt.
Later. There'd be time to tell her later, right? Now he was tired. His world shifted and went black.
*
"Hurry. Get him upstairs," she ordered, thankful that even unconscious, Conner's body had known to shift back to his human form. Treating him would be much easier without having to search through thick fur for injuries.
Noah met her at the foot of the stairs. "What happened?"
"It was Peter. He brought the hunters in. Conner and Peter were fighting and Peter shifted back to human. One of the hunters shot Conner, thinking a wolf attacked a human."
Noah nodded and reached for his brother, carrying him effortlessly up the staircase. She read the panic on his face, the same panic she knew was reflected in her own.
Chantal met them at the top of the stairs, blinking back sleep. Her eyes widened as she spotted her brother. "Oh, God," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "He's been shot?"
"Yes," Katya answered, taking Chantal's hand as they headed to the bedroom.
Guilt stabbed at her. How could she have been so careless as to let this happen? Why did Conner step between her and Peter? If he hadn't, she'd have easily skirted the bullet and hidden, or attacked Peter herself. She knew she would have sensed him before it was too late.
"Lay him on the bed," she directed Noah, jerking the coverlet back while Noah set his brother onto the mattress.
Having a lupine doctor on hand was a blessing, since the nearest hospital was in Bucharest. Besides, they could not explain a gunshot wound to the hospital staff there and the trip would take the better part of a day. Conner could be dead by then.
The pack physician, Mikail, followed them to the bedroom and immediately set to work checking Conner's injuries. Katya stood at the side of the bed, trying not to panic at the sight of so much blood pouring from the wound on Conner's chest. The doctor worked on him for what seemed like hours. She paced, but all she really wanted to do was curl up in a ball on the bed next to him and hope she wasn't going to lose someone else that she loved.
No. She refused to think of either losing him or of loving him.
Love is a fantasy. He is a good partner. A strong alpha. If he dies, you will find another.
It was the mantra she had repeated to herself over and over since the moment she realized her emotions for Conner ran much deeper than she wanted them to. Staying remote made losing him easier. If only she could convince herself to be that heartless.
She glanced down at him. So pale, his lips nearly blue, his chest rising and falling with supreme effort. Her sense of hearing picked up the bubbling rattle of his breathing, as if he was drowning in the thick, flowing blood filling his lungs.
Her gaze flitted over to Noah. He frowned, looked almost angry. Deep lines etched his forehead and she knew he was as concerned as she was. But he hadn't said
a word. Just stared down at Conner, looking more like he wanted to strangle his brother.
Chantal held tight to her hands as if she was her only lifeline. Katya squeezed back, not knowing what to say to offer comfort.
Mikail stood and turned to her. "The bullet just missed his heart. In that respect, he was very lucky. However, he's lost a lot of blood, and his left lung has collapsed. He needs a chest tube. Katya, he needs more than what I can do for him."
The bleak look on Mikail's face told her more than she needed to know.
"He's going to die, isn't he?"
"I don't know."
Noah cursed and turned on his heel, his fists balled up at his side. He left without a word. Chantal let out an anguished sob and rushed out of the room after him.
She felt their anguish, but could do nothing to help them. Her heart fisted in pain, so unbearable she nearly dropped to her knees. How could this have happened? She couldn't have found him only to lose him so quickly.
Not again. Please, God, don't do this to me again.
"He is lupine, Katya," Mikail said. "You know we recuperate much faster than humans."
Suddenly shivering, she wrapped her arms around her middle and shook her head. "You said he needs more care. More than what his healing powers are capable of."
Mikail stood. "All we can do is watch him for the next twenty-four hours, see if his body is strong enough to repair itself. Sometimes the damage is too great, as you know."
Yes, she knew. She'd watched her parents die, knowing there was nothing she could do to save them.
Mikail left, promising to come in every hour and check on Conner. He left instructions for two of his assistants to take turns watching over him and to alert him if there were any changes.
But she couldn't just sit here and wait for him to die, watch his breathing slow more and more each hour until he just...stopped.
No! She wouldn't go through it again! Never again. Pushing past the woman who'd entered the room to sit with Conner, she hurried down the stairs, ignoring the concerned looks from the people lining the staircase and standing below.
She couldn't speak to them, couldn't tell them that their new alpha had sacrificed his life to save hers. She brushed past them and hurried through the door, running toward the woods at the end of the path. Inhaling the pine scent, she began to strip as soon as she stepped into the forest, then shifted, running nonstop with no direction in mind.