Frynna’s life was so much better than she expected when she ran away. Being mated to Killian was magical, wonderful, and so passionate it kept her inner wolf very satisfied. Not to mention her. Her main conflict was with the club. She loved it. She also hated it. The heights Killian took her to while there were incredible, but at the same time, she was horrified at how turned on she was that people watched her get off.
It should have been personal, something between her and Killian only. So why did it turn her on?
“You’re an exhibitionist,” Bridja snapped at her when she’d asked that question for the tenth time. “It’s fun knowing others are watching. Hypes up the excitement. Get over yourself.”
Startled, Frynna stared at her. They had gotten together at a coffee shop not far from Frynna’s home as Bridja was finally coming over. Her friend had never snapped at her like that before. She wasn’t sure what she’d done.
Bridja looked up and grimaced. “I’m sorry. Don’t mind me. I did something utterly stupid and am taking it out on you.” She sighed. “Besides, your scenes are the hit of the club. Wolves and felines are coming in when they know you two are going to scene because we all get something out of it.” She offered a wan smile. “You two are really hot when you play together. Lucky little bitch.”
Frynna gave a small smile in return. “Did I do something?” she asked quietly. Besides Killian and Michael, Bridja was her only friend. She didn’t want to lose her.
“No.” Bridja patted her hand. “I did something….” She winced. “I asked Caide if we should mate.”
Spluttering on her coffee, Frynna gaped at her. “You what?”
“I know.” Bridja whimpered. “It was a stupid impulse. I was lonely and you’re happy with Killian and one day after Caide and I scened, I asked him over to dinner. He came over, we ate…. In fact, he was mid-bite when I suggested we mate.” Her eyes turned sad. “The freaked out expression on his face was answer enough. Obviously I’m not mating material.”
Frynna put her cup down and took her hand. “Oh, Bridja, why? Caide doesn’t seem the type to settle down. Not that I know him well. He seems like a flirt.”
“He is,” Bridja agreed with another sigh. “And hot. And exciting. I thought if I couldn’t have a soul mate, at least a mate would be good. Didn’t turn out well.”
She had no idea what to say to try and make it better. While Frynna could never imagine herself being so bold, she could imagine that she would curl into a tiny ball and wish to die if the guy said no. “I’m sorry,” she said when nothing else came to mind.
Bridja made a shushing noise and shrugged. “My own stupidity. And what’s worse? He’s one of Alpha Hunter’s enforcers. So I see him often.” She groaned. “Dante kept asking us what was wrong at the last meeting. Caide made some joke about the full moon, but I’m pretty sure Alpha Hunter and Beta Blaise know there’s something else going on.” After shooting back the last of her coffee, Bridja smacked the cup lightly on the table and smiled. “But enough about me being stupid. I want to see your house. Come on.”
It was a warm morning and they walked from the coffee shop.
“How do you like living so close to humans?” Bridja asked as they headed left into the warehouse district.
“I never really notice,” Frynna admitted. “When we leave the house, it’s usually to go directly to Pack lands. A couple times he’s taken me to dinner or to a shop and those were strange. Today was the first day I’ve headed out on my own.” Which had been scary and kind of liberating. Killian had been encouraging her to get out and about on her own. “Oh and get this. He’s going to teach me how to drive.”
“No,” Bridja said in an awed voice. “You’ll be able to do anything if you can drive. How long does it take?”
“I don’t know. I—” She caught the scent at the same time Bridja did and they both stilled and looked around. “I don’t recognize it.”
“Neither do I,” Bridja said and sniffed again. “Definitely wolf.” And not from their Pack if Bridja didn’t recognize it. “Come on. Let’s get to your place.” With her friend on high alert, Frynna felt on edge. Her wolf, on the other hand, had other ideas.
We’ll kick their asses, her wolf said smugly. Let ‘em come. Our mate made sure we can defend ourself.
While it was true she was getting better at the defense moves Killian taught her, Frynna wasn’t as sure of herself as the wolf was. She picked up speed with Bridja right beside her and they reached the door of Killian’s warehouse in no time. The scent had almost dissipated and as they dashed inside and she closed and locked the door, she felt stupid.
Just a wolf passing through, no doubt.
Bridja pulled out her phone and Frynna reflexively yanked it from her hands. “What are you doing?” she asked.
With a cocked brow, Bridja took her phone back. “Texting Alpha Hunter that we have visitors.”
“They’re just passing through,” Frynna insisted, placing her hands over the phone’s display so Bridja couldn’t continue. “It’s nothing, Bridja. Why worry everyone?” As if they weren’t worried enough. Ben Ryder, their doctor, was still in Nebraska. He’d been there for seven days and it felt like Killian’s tension ratcheted up every day he didn’t return. “Please, Bridja. I’m sure it was just a wolf passing through. Killian says that happens from time to time.”
“A wolf passing through without informing the Pack?” Bridja asked doubtfully. “That’s like asking to have their head torn off. They would at least inform Alpha Hunter that they wished safe passage through his territory.”
“And who’s to say they didn’t?” Frynna countered hopefully. The last thing she wanted to do was add to Killian’s stress. If he thought an unknown wolf was within a mile of their warehouse, he’d, well, she wasn’t sure what he would do. But she didn’t want more tension to be on his shoulders. Or for his jaguar to feel he needed to mark his territory. That had happened once already and she really did not want him to pee in a circle around her ever again. She supposed it was tantamount to Tarzan beating his chest, but it had embarrassed her.
But the felines bothering us never did it again, her wolf reminded her. He looked amazing as he strutted around, didn’t he?
Frynna didn’t dignify that with a response. Her wolf knew how hot Frynna thought Killian and his jaguar were.
“I would have known,” Bridja said firmly, turning away and typing on her phone. “It’s probably nothing, but just in case, I have to inform Alpha Hunter, Frynna. No rogue wolves can be in his territory. It’s inviting more if we don’t stamp on it.”
With a pout, Frynna headed toward the kitchen to get something to eat. If her friend was going to throw her to the wolves—and a jaguar—she was going to have chocolate. Until Killian, she’d never tasted the stuff before. It was wonderful. He kept a bag of it somewhere.
Bridja’s phone rang and she answered. “Yes, Alpha?”
It was important enough for a direct call?
With a sigh, Frynna started opening cupboards and yanking out drawers. Where did Killian keep the chocolate?
“No, I didn’t recognize the scents. Frynna didn’t either…. It wasn’t close to their warehouse…. Just the one…. Yes, Alpha.”
Where the hell was the chocolate? Frustrated, Frynna glared at the cupboards. She’d looked in every single one and the bag wasn’t there. Surely they couldn’t be out?
“No,” Bridja said slowly. “Is Killian around…? Well, Frynna’s acting strange. I—”
Frynna whipped around and glared at her friend. “I can’t find the chocolate.”
Her friend stared at her and then started to giggle. “Never mind, Alpha. Frynna’s just having a chocolate craving.” Her face went pale and she handed the phone over. “It’s Killian.”
Crap. Frynna slunked over and took the phone. “Yes?”
“Love, how are you?” His rich smooth voice enfolded her and she wanted to lean into it. But he wasn’t there. He was on Pack lands doing something for the alpha.
“Fine,” she said with a huff. “I can’t find the chocolate.”
There was a moment’s silence and then a deep chuckle made her entire body shiver. “Tut, tut, little wolf. Trying to eat the stash?”
She grinned, recognizing the tone. It was the one he used usually right before he pounced. Frynna wished Bridja wasn’t in the room. She’d respond in kind. “Just suddenly have a craving for it.”
“It’s in the office, Frynna. Third drawer on the left of my desk. Are you okay? Alpha Hunter said you smelled a rogue wolf.”
“The scent was light and we smelled it when we left the coffee shop. I assumed it was just a wolf going by on his way to Oregon.” She kept her voice light, trying to assuage any worries he might have.
“Probably was,” he agreed. “I want you and Bridja to stay inside until one of us shows up to escort her home. Hopefully the interloper is long gone. But just in case, I want the two of you safe. Now, go get some chocolate and I’ll be home in a couple hours. That should be plenty of time for you to show Bridja around.” The teasing note in his voice made her smile.
“And plenty of time to play upstairs,” she agreed. The new staircase was in and she loved it. She could climb it in both human and wolf forms.
“That too,” he agreed with a chuckle.
Once she handed the phone back to Bridja, Frynna ran back to the office. The only thing in that third drawer was a bag of small chocolate bars. “Bingo.” She trotted back into the main living space where Bridja was looking around.
“This place is huge,” Bridja said.
“It is. We can romp in our human or animal forms here.” Frynna held up the bag. “Chocolate?”
Bridja took one while Frynna collapsed onto the sofa with the bag on her lap and pulled two out.
For a moment, Bridja stared at her strangely. Then she sniffed. “When’s your next heat?” she asked apropos of nothing.
Frynna froze mid-bite. “A couple days?” she said around the luscious tasting candy. Her time with Killian was rushing by. Hadn’t he asked her the same question a week ago? It felt like moments ago. Ugh, her heat. Killian had mentioned he was going to use condoms. She hoped they wouldn’t feel weird.
“Ah. That makes sense. A few days before my heat starts, I crave chocolate more than air.” Bridja collapsed beside her and took a small bite of hers. “So is he going to keep you locked up here? Or put you in a chastity belt?”
Frynna’s mouth almost fell open. “He wouldn’t put me in one of those. Not after what Father did. Why would you suggest that?” Tears sprang to her eyes and she fought them back.
“And heat hormones too,” Bridja said with a wry smile. “I’m not saying he would. But Frynna, more than likely, you’re going to be stuck inside for the next two weeks while your heat takes its course. Most females in the Pack have taken to wearing chastity belts when they have to go out in heat. Unless they want to get pregnant. Killian would have to kill any male wolf who wanted to mount you.”
Frynna flinched. “I suppose. I hadn’t thought about it. Father kept us locked up all the time anyway. You know all the females were put into one space during that time. I… is it that bad?”
With a bark of a laugh, Bridja nodded. “Yeah. It really is. Alpha Hunter is trying to save the female contingent from an orgy when she’s in heat by making chastity belts freely available. Ben got me one before my heat started and while I don’t enjoy it, it’s preferable to coming out of heat pregnant and not knowing who the father was. Of course, there’s also a cabin way up north near the Canadian border which is for unmated females in heat. I went there a couple times. It’s not bad. Kinda weird with all the females trying to help each other with the itch,” she said with an embarrassed grin. “I’m just grateful it only happens twice a year rather than monthly like for humans. That would suck.”
Not going there. “Well, if I have to be locked up somewhere, here’s the place to be,” Frynna said. “Tons of room. Though the chocolate is running out.” She hefted the bag. “I’ll have to ask Killian to get some more.”
After Bridja ate the last of her bar, she hopped up onto her feet. “Now, I want to see your place. Come on. Show me.”