CHAPTER 12

 

Josh leaned back in his chair in what passed for a living room in the military compound.

It was a former military base that had been abandoned by the humans decades ago. When Ryan had become Alpha, he’d commandeered it as a place of sanctuary for the pack in times of need. They’d taken up residence there twice over the last five years, due to threats from various supernatural beings. The first time had been during a turf war with a rival wolf pack, which they had since annihilated. The second time had been in response to a betrayal from the Vampire Prince that’d put Ryan in jeopardy.

And, now, they were enduring the third time.

Josh took a sip from the glass of scotch in his hand, savoring the peace and quiet, which he knew was merely the calm before the storm. Things were tense and everybody was on edge. Luca had crossed Ryan once again and the pack was under no delusions that neither their Alpha, nor the Vampire Prince, would simply let it slide. No, a battle, if not a war, was on their doorstep.

The pack was asleep, aside from the four guarding the base. Two were located at the entrance and two at the rear. Josh couldn’t sleep, though. Not until Ryan returned. As his second-in-command, it was his responsibility to safeguard and lead the pack in his Alpha’s absence. Ryan had left over an hour ago to seek out his former flame, a powerful witch, who he hoped would be able to help him to free his newfound mate from Luca’s clutches. He’d insisted on going alone, refusing to put the pack in unnecessary danger. Josh knew that Ryan already felt guilty for unwittingly putting them at odds with Luca, due to the complicated issues with his mate. The pack didn’t see it like he did, though. Ryan had protected them countless times. The pack had flourished under his rule for the last five years. They’d back him through anything. They’d follow him to hell and back if they had to.

Josh snatched up his phone. It was time to check in with Ryan again.

He stilled as the sounds of howling and commotion outside by the front gates reached his ears.

He sprang from the chair and hurried out of the room into the small lobby.

Heaving open the titanium doors, he looked out at the fenced-in courtyard to see what the matter was.

Bryan and Steve stood at the gates, growling at someone. He couldn’t see who it was, because their large bodies were blocking his view.

He strode down the steps and approached the gates.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, pushing past the boys to see what they were freaking out about.

He frowned at what he found.

A tiny woman glared back at him. Her hair was mussed up, wild and tangled. The slutty dress she had on was torn to shreds, baring skin in a hell of a lot of areas. Blood-red scratches adorned her arms and face. And she was caked in mud.

“This is private property, sweetheart. If you need medical assistance, I can call you an ambulance, but you don’t have authorized access inside this compound.”

“You don’t remember me, huh?”

He scrutinized her for a moment.

Ah, of course.

With the state of her and the way she was dressed, he hadn’t recognized her right off the bat.

Just to make sure, he scented her. And there it was. Ryan’s scent all over her. He turned up his nose as he scented a potent vampire smell also. Luca, clearly.

“Ryan’s girl,” he told the boys.

They nodded and hung back.

“Cora,” she corrected him.

“Right, sorry.”

“Where is he?” she demanded. “Is Ryan here?”

Her tone was demanding, commanding even. He smiled to himself. So much like Ryan.

“He will be.” He turned to the boys. “Open the gates.”

They set about unlocking them, taking several moments to accomplish the task, because they were so heavily fortified. Then, they pulled them back, edging the heavy things open with an ear-piercing screech.

“Thanks,” Cora said, as she passed through into the courtyard.

Josh noticed her limping, the grimace on her face with every step she took. “Are you wounded?” he asked, worriedly. She’d better not be, or Ryan would lose his shit.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “My feet are just a little sore, because I walked here.”

His eyes darted to her feet and saw that she was barefoot. Just a little sore? They were in a real bad state, bruised and bloody. Jesus. “No shoes?”

“I was in a hurry to leave. He took my clothes and… heels. Just heels. I couldn’t walk in—they’re not my thing,” she rambled.

It was clear she was in a state. Mentally, as well as physically. What the hell had the bloodsucker done to her?

He snagged her around the waist and swept her up into his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“Ryan would kill me if he found out I let you walk around here with your feet like that.”

His mention of Ryan had a soothing effect on her and she nodded and murmured, “Oh.”

“Where is he?” she asked as he carried her towards the building.

“He’s out conducting some business. I’ll give him a call once we get inside, let him know you’re here.”

 

 

***

 

 

Ryan burst into the room to find Cora sprawled out on the couch talking with Josh, who sat in a chair beside her. They were both drinking scotch and having what seemed to pass for a civilized conversation.

Ryan’s eyes raked over Cora and he started in surprise.

She was wearing a dress that was ripped in several places, no doubt from her journey to get to him. She would’ve had to pass through a forest to reach the base from Luca’s place. And he noticed her feet. They were bandaged now. When Josh had called him, he’d told him all about it. He couldn’t believe she’d walked all the way. Damn, she was a tough little thing.

They both turned to him as he strode into the room. He lifted his chin at Josh, letting him know he was grateful for him taking care of her in his absence.

“Hey,” he greeted Cora, as he made his way over to the couch.

“Hey, Alpha,” she returned in a drunken drawl.

“A little drunk there, darlin’?” he asked with amusement.

“No. I’ve only had a couple of glasses.”

Ryan eyed Josh. He held up four fingers. Ryan shook his head with disbelief. He perched on the arm of the couch beside her head and, deciding to play along, asked, “Two, huh?”

She grinned mischievously and let out a small laugh.

“How did you get out of there?” he asked gently, laying his hands on her shoulders.

He’d been out searching for his former flame, Shaye. She was a powerful witch and if anyone could have broken through Luca’s magic, it would have been her. But he hadn’t even had the chance to pick up her scent when Josh had called him and told him that Cora had escaped on her own and had come looking for him at the compound.

“I blasted my way out.”

“What?”

She craned her neck to look at him. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she said, “With magic.”

“I didn’t think you could control it.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It just happened. I got upset. Scared.”

“Scared?” he growled.

“Ry,” Josh cautioned when his aggressiveness made Cora jump.

He drew in a breath and forced himself to ask calmly, “He hurt you?”

“I stopped him.”

He drew back from her and clenched his fists in fury.

What had Luca done to scare her enough that it’d had her power exploding forth?

She shifted on the couch, easing herself into a sitting position. “Are you mad at me?” she asked, worriedly, her intoxicated, glazed eyes trying to search his.

He shook his head. “No, my love. Not at you.”

She smiled back, seeming content.

But, instead of settling, like he’d figured she would, she caught him off guard when she lunged at him, flinging her arms around his neck. He felt her trying to pull him down on top of her. Whoa. Her strength was much greater than he remembered. A lot had changed in her in just a couple of days and it bothered him that he hadn’t been there to experience it with her. She was coming into her supernatural heritage, and he could’ve helped her to understand. He could’ve comforted her. But Luca had denied him that by keeping her imprisoned with the only thing in existence that could keep someone of his power away. Fucking magic.

He tried to find comfort and calm in the fact that she was here with him now.

“Time for bed,” he said, gathering her into his arms and sweeping her off the couch. “Get some sleep. I’m here now,” he told Josh, as he carried Cora out of the room.

He strode down the corridor until he came to the last door. His room. He pushed it open with his back, then kicked it shut once they were inside.

He dropped her on his bed, and she bounced around, shrieking excitedly. So, she was a wild drunk then.

“Shh,” he told her. “Don’t wake the boys, or I’ll have a situation on my hands. They’re not used to a woman being on base.”

“Wolves listen to their Alpha,” she responded, chuckling to herself.

He smiled and turned away. He crossed to a chest of drawers in the corner and quickly pulled out one of his gray t-shirts. He tossed it to her and ordered, “Put that on.”

“Okay,” she murmured without the slightest protest.

But then he watched her hold it to her face, rather than making any attempt to actually put it on. “What are you doing?”

“Smelling you.”

“I’m right here, darlin’,” he told her as he shook off his leather jacket and quickly shed his t-shirt as well.

“You smell… manly.”

“I hope so,” he said as he shed his jeans. “Now put on the shirt and go to sleep.”

Approaching the bed, he watched warily as her gaze raked over him, desire flashing in her eyes as she took in the sight of him in nothing but a white wife-beater and a pair of boxers.

Please don’t come on to me. He didn’t know if he could hold back. The last time he’d been alone with her and so close, it’d been fucking intense. But he wouldn’t take her while she was drunk. She was his mate. She deserved better than that.

To his relief, she looked away.

He climbed into bed and settled himself under the covers. He was just about to close his eyes when he heard little grunts of frustration coming from her. He turned his head and he saw that she was struggling with the zipper of her dress. The fucking thing didn’t suit her. He hated it on her.

With that in mind, he leaned over to her and tugged at it with his wolf strength, ripping it from her body, making her gasp.

“Better?” he asked, drawing back from her quickly and looking away to avoid the sight of her delicious tits. Just that brief glimpse of them had him hard as granite.

“Yeah. Thanks,” she said in a shy voice.

He felt her fidgeting for several moments. And then she let out a satisfied sigh and he heard her head hit the pillow. “Is the shirt on?”

“Yeah. And that aggravating thong is gone. Finally.”

Thong? He turned to her. “What kind?”

“Lace. A lilac color, like the dress.”

Fuck me. Lace? That was hot.

“I’m not wearing anything under this shirt now,” she revealed, sidling closer to him.

He swallowed hard. “Is that right?”

“Yep,” she said, winking at him.

He shook his head with disbelief. “My God, woman. You are drunk beyond belief.”

He looked into her eyes and he was surprised to see that they weren’t glowing like the last time they had been so close. She was turned on, that much was clear. But her eyes were telling him that sex wasn’t what she wanted, or needed. It was something else.

“Ryan,” her silky-smooth voice called to him.

He looked at her, confused.

And then she held her arms out.

Oh. She wanted him to hold her. He hesitated, unfamiliar with such an intimate request. He wasn’t that guy. At least he never had been. It was hard and fast all the way with the women he’d taken to his bed in the past.

But as he looked into her eyes, he knew he couldn’t deny her.

He drew her to him, wrapping his arms around her, her back to his front. A tiny cry of surprise escaped her. He grinned, realizing she could feel his cock pressing into her ass.

“Oh, wow. You’re—”

“Hard for you? Of course, darlin’. Deal with it.” Because, somehow, he was.

She murmured in agreement and he felt her relax against him.

“Sleep now,” he told her gently as he stroked her soft, black hair.