Table of Contents

Title Page

Bee’s Enraged Beast

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

About the Author

Bee’s Enraged Beast

A James Pack Story

By Lacey Thorn

Bee’s Enraged Beast

by

Lacey Thorn

Belinda…

I don’t belong. Despite my alpha brother’s protection, many in our pack don’t want a freak like me around. My one chance at acceptance lies with my mate. I know he’s searching for me, but he’s not the only one. I don’t want to die without knowing his face, experiencing his touch, feeling his love.

Beast…

I don’t belong. With a name like Hannibal, is it any wonder? Most call me Beast, usually in a voice filled with fear. I’m a reaper of sorts. A wolf who hunts down bad wolves, bringing justice for those who most need it. My one shot at acceptance lies in finding my mate. When the man I’m hunting takes a hostage, he signs his death warrant. Once I catch her scent, I know who she is. Mine. Any harm she suffers will be returned tenfold, and her justice will be given in blood and death.

Copyright

© 2020, Lacey Thorn

Bee’s Enraged Beast

Cover Art by Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Edited by Michele Paulin

Electronic Format ISBN: 978-1-949795-61-5

Published by: Lacey Thorn Publishing

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Dedication

To every beauty in search of her beast…

Chapter One

~ Belinda ~

It was going to be bad. The vision came over me with the subtlety of a Mack truck. From what others had said, I knew that if anyone looked at me now, my pupils would appear blown out. If anyone I trusted was near, I’d grab them and speak quickly, conveying everything I saw before it was gone.

I’m Belinda James. The crazy sister of alpha Bastion James. Many warned him to leave me somewhere, anywhere, but my brother would never discard me. He’s stayed with me every step of the way. Kept me close when our parents found me to be more of a freak than they wanted to handle. I’ve learned the hard way that my brother is the exception when it comes to our society. He loves me, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, too. But I can’t save him from what he’ll go through. I can’t save either of us.

Right now, I know two things. In the next few minutes, I’ll be taken by my brother’s enemies. They’ll take me, hurt me, and use me in an attempt to bring him to his knees. Use me to try to destroy him and the pack he’s created. What they don’t expect, and my brother won’t know, is someone else will come for me, too. My mate. I’ve felt him drawing closer. I’ve been patient, but if he doesn’t show up in the next twenty-four hours, I’ll never get the chance to know his touch.

Actually, there’s one more thing I know. Betrayal from within your pack is the hardest thing to see. Even with my visions, I didn’t know it was coming until seconds ago.

It came far too late for me to do anything about it. Still, I scan for the closest exit and push my way through the crowd to reach it. I should have known better than to go out without letting my brother or his mate or even Simon know where I was going. But when I’d been offered friendship, I’d grasped at it with both hands. Plus telling Simon would be tantamount to encouraging his crush. And I won’t. I’m not his. We both belong with others. Then again, what do I know?

Foolish. Naïve. Far too trusting.

Raina had warned me some in the former Rigton Pack didn’t want my brother to take over. They didn’t believe the Rigton elders had the pack’s best interests at heart when they’d courted an outside alpha. But I hadn’t felt a moment of unease when Cammy had approached, offering friendship.

I’d taken the fact that she wasn’t originally part of the James Pack as a good sign. Surely, she hadn’t heard all about the alpha’s freaky sister who had visions. She couldn’t hate or fear me as some did. Yet, she’d betrayed me. Betrayed our alpha and our pack. No matter the reason, the die had been cast.

“Bee, where ya going?” Cammy caught my arm and tried to slow me down.

I turned with a growl, shoving her off me.

“Hey, are you okay? What’s going on?” she asked.

“What did you do?” I growled and watched her eyes widen.

“I…” She shook her head frantically back and forth. “They just want to talk, Bee. Your brother won’t even listen to them. They thought if they could talk to you, you’d put in a good word and get the alpha to meet with them.”

“They’re going to kill me.”

Her head began that frantic shaking again. Maybe, that was why I hadn’t picked up on her betrayal. Even she wasn’t aware of what she was doing.

“Call Bastion or Raina. Now, Cammy. Before it’s too late for both of us.”

But it was already too late. I knew it the moment they surrounded us—the four men the pack had looked for since Benji Makers had disappeared months ago. Benji had been a member of the former Rigton Pack. He’d made the mistake of thinking Rebel Cameron was his for the taking. Since her mother played whore for his father and his cronies, Benji believed Rebel should fill the same roll for him and his friends. Rebel disagreed, and since it turned out she was the mate of Taylor, one of the inner circle of the James Pack, she had the muscle to back her up. Not that our pack wouldn’t have backed her up either way, but with Taylor there, it prevented her from trying to handle it all on her own.

It galled me that any woman would ever be forced to deal with an unwanted suitor. It said everything about the male’s character. I mean, Simon fancies himself in love with me, but he’d never do anything to make me feel unsafe. He’d never lay hands on me in a sexual manner without my invitation.

No, Rebel shouldn’t have needed muscle. A woman’s word should be enough. No should mean no. Period. But scum existed in every society, and they believed they had the right to take whatever they wanted. Rebel’s mate, Taylor, had done his best to beat some sense into Benji. He would have killed him if others hadn’t hidden Benji while Taylor cared for his mate. They should have let Taylor kill him.

None of it mattered now. Bastion knew Benji had inside help. Now, I knew who that was. Cammy. He’d hooked up with his three buddies, and somehow, they’d slunk back to create trouble. Trouble involved taking a huge helping of Belinda James.

“Hey, baby, where you two going this early? The night’s just starting.”

One of the guys with Benji stepped into Cammy and dropped a kiss on her lips before tugging her into his side.

“Hey, Hutch. We were just heading toward the bathroom,” Cammy lied.

Benji shook his head, gaze narrowed and focused completely on me. “You want to head out the backdoor? Let’s go. I don’t have time for this shit, anyway. You know who I am?”

I nodded. There was no reason to lie. He knew I was aware.

“Good. That saves time. Your brother’s man took something that belonged to me. Now, I’m taking something that belongs to him. If you’re a real good girl, you might make it back to your loser pack in one piece.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him. I’m sure it didn’t.

“I thought the night was only beginning,” I offered, glancing around, desperate to catch the sympathetic gaze of anyone around. But I wasn’t familiar with this bar. It wasn’t one the James Pack frequented. It was one where no one knew me. One populated by too many humans for me to do anything to draw attention to the fact I wasn’t human. What had been enticing when Cammy suggested it was so much more than I’d bargained for. No one here would help me.

“Oh, it is, sweet thing,” one of the others said, running his hand over my ass. I met his gaze and let him see what I thought of his touch. He swallowed but forced out a laugh as if I didn’t scare him. I did. I smelled it. Alpha blood. My father was an alpha. My brother was an alpha. My mate, who was even now searching for me, had alpha blood. If any of the men surrounding me thought I’d go down easily, they had no clue who they were dealing with.

“Hands off for now,” Benji warned.

“For now,” the ass toucher vowed, but I had no trouble seeing the lust in his gaze. He wouldn’t get his hands on me again. Next time, I’d break them. Break him.

My vision had been clear. Me lying in a pool of blood, completely destroyed while they circled me.

It was what could happen. What might happen. It wasn’t set in stone. My visions never were. The opportunity for things to change always existed. I clung to that probability. I wasn’t easy, and I wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Benji stepped into me. So close there was no missing the brush of his body against mine. The fanning of his breath over my cheek. “I’d hate for any innocent humans to die tonight. Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Don’t draw attention, or their blood will be on your head. Understood?”

I nodded, but under my lashes, my gaze scanned. All I needed was one person to look at me, to really look at me and see I was in trouble. There were other wolves here. The damn bar was in Rigton County which meant someone here should realize who I was. I usually hated the gossip that preceded me. People thought they knew who I was without ever meeting me. I’d take it now. See the dark hair and the blue eyes so light people refer to them as eerie. Someone look at me!

Benji’s hand was firm on my back. He didn’t dip lower, didn’t fondle or caress my ass in any lewd gesture. It didn’t matter. I knew what he was capable of. I’d spoken with Taylor’s mate, Rebbie, as well as my brother’s mate, Raina. Benji was capable of extreme violence. He’d been ready to beat and rape Rebbie before she’d knocked him out cold and fled, right into the path of her mate. Hell, I’d seen her possible outcome if Taylor hadn’t made it to her in time when Benji had snuck back to attack her again. I’d seen my own fate if help didn’t show up soon.

Ideas bloomed in my head. I might have a way to buy some time. Not here though. I’d have to let them take me, no matter how much my wolf fought against such a thing. She wanted freedom to fight or run, if needed.

“Where are we going?” Cammy chattered behind me. Most likely, she was escorted by the one who’d hugged up against her earlier. “I thought we were going to dance for a little bit. Hang out. Where are we headed, Hutch?”

“Be quiet,” Hutch ordered, and from her cut off squeal, I assumed he’d done something physical to reprimand her for the questions.

“Everything okay here?”

I glanced quickly at the man who’d stepped in front of us. Human. Male. Big but nothing when compared to the pack of mangy wolves surrounding me. Perhaps, I should have been more specific when I’d beseeched the universe for someone to see me. I should have asked for one of the wolves loitering around to notice me. Not a human. His blood would stain my hands if I pressed for help now. No, I’d gotten myself into this mess, and I’d have to get myself out. Or survive long enough for real help to arrive.

“My girl’s had a little too much to drink,” Benji said in that smarmy tone slick bastards used to communicate with one another. I swear every woman has met that type at one time or another in her life. “She wants some fresh air and a warm bed.”

The wolves with him laughed, but the human earned my respect when he looked directly at me. No smile. No returned humor.

“I’m talking to the lady. Are you okay, miss?”

Benji’s claws dug into my side, and I cleared my throat quickly.

“It’s so warm in here.” I fanned my face and stumbled into Benji, throwing an elbow into his stomach in retaliation as I did. “Benji, I need that fresh air. I think I’m going to be sick.” I gagged. Not hard to do when I recalled the vision I’d been hit with earlier.

I glanced up at the human. I wanted to remember his face. He’d offered help, and though I couldn’t accept it, I’d repay him for the kindness. I kept one hand over my mouth as I met his gaze. “I’m fine. Really. Thank you.” I gagged again, almost managing to retch with that one. “Air. I need air.”

He nodded as he finally stepped aside, and Benji took the opportunity to jerk me closer as he led me outside. His grip was bruising, just shy of bone breaking as he practically shoved me ahead of him out the door.

“Bastion’s going to come for you,” I murmured.

“Oh, I’m counting on it, sweetheart. Him and that behemoth that mated my whore. I’ll enjoy killing them both. If you’re still alive, we might have some fun. If.” He laughed, with his buddies joining in as we moved across the parking lot.

Cammy said something then yelped. I glanced back to check on her and felt a sharp prick against my neck. Like a bee sting. I slapped at it but my coordination was suddenly non-existent. I stumbled and would have gone to my knees if Benji hadn’t caught me. His face was in mine.

“I should apologize for using you. Tell you how hard it will be to put my hands on you. To break your bones and watch you bleed.” His breath tickled my ear. “But I won’t lie. I’m going to enjoy every moment of it. Revel in every scream I pull from your lips. I’m going to love breaking you. And the best part is no one other than your brother will even care. You’re not a very popular wolf, are you, Belinda?”

He laughed again. Laughed as a door was opened, and I was tossed inside like a bag of garbage. Cammy followed after me. She was out cold while I fought whatever Benji had injected me with.

“He’s coming for you.” My words were barely a whisper, and he leaned closer.

“I’m counting on it.”

“Not…Bastion…” I forced my eyes open, forced my lips and tongue to cooperate.

“Who else do you think is coming?” Benji scoffed.

I pulled together every ounce of my strength and used it. “My mate.” The words were hard, firm. The same as my teeth when I snapped for his earlobe.

His scream was music to my ears. Pain exploded along my jaw as I was struck hard. Once, twice, then a third time. Blood filled my mouth. His. Mine.

“He’s coming for me.” The whisper was more of a reminder to me than a warning to them. They weren’t listening anyway. “He’s coming.” And I needed to stay alive until he got there and helped me get away.

Another hard hit. The strike landing at my temple. Bright lights exploded behind my eyes. Then nothing but darkness.

Chapter Two

~Hannibal~

The men I followed were close. They’d been at the hotel within the last few hours. Their scents were still strong inside the room. The foursome who’d left a wake of devastation in their path. I had basic information on all of them. It was my job to collect all four and see that they paid for the lives they’d destroyed.

Hannibal Craig. That’s me. Though most know me as Beast due to my immense size. Some think I’m rather scary. I guess it’s understandable given my height and muscle, which is massive even by shifter standards. Just shy of seven feet tall and almost three hundred pounds—okay. Over three hundred, but barely. And all of it solid muscle.

My size makes it hard to fit in anywhere. Alphas don’t want a mean motherfucker like me hanging around. Even as muscle. What if I got ideas? Wanted to take the pack for myself. As if I want that headache. All I want is to find my mate. I know she’s out there. I can’t explain it, but I swear there are times I feel her. As if she’s reaching for me, beckoning for me to come find her. And I’m always searching.

I’m a lone wolf for the most part. I spend most of my time traveling around, hunting down rogue wolves who’ve picked the wrong people to fuck with. The four I currently hunted were the worst of the worst. They preyed on women. Story was one of them had been hurt bad. Bad enough his wolf DNA had struggled to heal him. But our genetics are superior, and eventually, they kicked in. Good for him. Not so good for the woman who’d given him shelter while he healed.

Whatever sob story his buddies had given her had been lies. They’d taken an elder wolf and slit her throat. Hell of a way to say thank you. Still, that had been a better outcome than what they’d done to her granddaughter when she’d shown up to check on the older woman. They’d put her through hell, and still, she hadn’t faltered when she’d approached me with her request. She wanted those responsible brought back for her pack to deal with. She wanted to watch them die. I understood that need, but I’d made no promises other than death. Sometimes, situations were out of my hands. Sometimes, wolves preferred to fight to the death rather than be captured, and all too often, I was happy to oblige.

The hotel room had been cleared of any belongings, though they’d left it in complete disrepair. Not messy but torn apart. The picture from the wall was in pieces on the carpet. Bed frame broken. The bathroom was littered with glass.

I hated wolves who thought they were above everything and everyone. These four screamed it. I’d enjoy showing them the folly of their ways. First, I had to find them.

They’d headed back to their old stomping grounds. Rigton County. Once the home of the Rigton Pack, but after their alpha had died in a wreck, they’d been absorbed into a different pack. The James Pack. Bastion James and his band of bastard sons and vagabonds. It was said most had alpha blood running in their veins. Many had been abandoned by their families, with no interference from their packs. It was something I couldn’t fathom. Your family should protect you until you could protect yourself. The way my mother had.

She’d protected me from the day I was conceived. She alone had loved me without expectation. She’d simply loved me because I was hers. I’d towered over her by the time I was ten. By the time I was thirteen, I was the one protecting her. At twenty-seven, I still lived nearby and checked on her often, despite the fact she’d mated now. To a man named Cain Rogers. A human with an equally human daughter six years my junior. They were some of the few who know we exist.

I do what I can to protect the family, though Cain’s daughter sometimes makes that difficult. Cain’s a good man. Better than a lot of wolves I’ve met. In my world, that matters. Plus, I’ll check on my mother until the day I die. She deserves nothing less from the son she left her pack to protect.

Which brought me back to Rigton County, the territory the James Pack currently guarded. Protocol was to let James know I was there and why. And I would. After the fact. Unless I ended up being here longer than I’d anticipated. I hoped for a quick in and out. Snag the scum I hunted and be on my way. If I was still here come morning, I’d reach out to his pack. Or if there were bodies to dispose of. I might need to contact his pack then, as well.

For now, I needed to think like my prey. They wouldn’t want James or his pack to know they were here. That meant avoiding the known wolf hangouts. They’d stick to the fringes. What I couldn’t figure out was why they’d come back here. Everything I knew said this was where the leader of the group had almost been killed. Someone had beaten the hell out of him. Too bad, they hadn’t finished the job. It would have saved me a lot of trouble and changed the life of a female wolf with more courage than I’d seen in too long.

I hoofed it back to my truck and grabbed the folders from the passenger seat, scanning the top one to refresh myself on the information I’d been given. My phone rang, and I thumbed the ignore button with a growl. I didn’t have time for Cici. It rang again, and I hit ignore. Then again. And again. Until I caved with a groan.

“What do you want, Cici?”

“Hey, big brother! Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

I sighed. Heavily. “I’m not your brother.”

“Your mom. My dad. Hello, siblings. I always wanted a big brother. Why would you try to take my dream away from me, Hannibal? I thought you liked me.”

Other than my mom and Cain, Cici was the only person who called me by my name. I’d inherited her when my mother had married her father. She was human. Fully human. But completely fascinated with who and what I was. And defensive of me. It was actually laughable. Cici was maybe five-one in her bare feet. It was comical to see her call someone out if they gave me a weird look when I was around. She felt it was her duty to bust my balls on everything I did, but god forbid anyone else tried.

“Again. What do you want, Cici?”

“To help. I have information for you.”

“Useful information?” I pinched the bridge of my nose as I shook my head. Cici would be the death of me. I’d told her more than once—

I snapped my head up. “Tell me you didn’t follow me here!”

“Well…”

“Damn it, Cici! This isn’t one of your books. Wolves aren’t romantic heroes looking for love. They’re assholes, and they’ll kill you without a care.”

“I’m cute, though. Maybe, they’ll think I’m cute, and that’ll buy me time for them to get to know me.”

I thought of what the four I was chasing had done to a lone female. A wolf. A shudder went through me at what would happen to Cici if they got their hands on her. They’d kill her. She didn’t have advanced biology working in her favor.

“Cici, I swear to god! Your ass better be home, or so help me I’m calling your dad.” I needed to quit babying her, but I couldn’t help it. She was cute and endearing and annoying as hell. But the last thing I wanted was to terrify her with what the quartet I was after had done to a young woman.

“That’s just low, Han. Even for you. Besides, when did you become the guy who threatens to call my dad?”

It didn’t help that she was right. When had I become that guy?

“This is dangerous.”

Her tone grew soft, serious. “I know that. I know what they did. That brain you’re always teasing me about? I use it to research things. To find out the little things you don’t want me to know. I know what they did to her, Han. I know what you’re going to do to them. Let me help you.”

“If you know, then you should understand I can’t let you. If anything happened to you… Your father would kill me.”

“We both know he’d only be able to kill you if you let him, but I love you, too. Besides, I’m already here.”

“Cici!”

“Listen to me! I was only coming in case you needed backup.”

“Jesus!” The thought of her as my backup was too ludicrous to respond to.

“I thought I’d go out, grab a drink, see what I could see.”

“And?” I prompted when she paused.

“They were here. At the bar I’m at. Didn’t stay long and left escorting two women out. The bouncer I’ve been talking to said he had a weird feeling and tried to stop them from leaving. He wasn’t sure the first woman was with them by choice.”

“Yet, he let them leave.” Fucking perfect. Now, I’d have to contact the James Pack, but I needed more information before I did.

“He asked the woman if she was okay, and she said she was. Made it seem like it was her idea to leave. Said she was gagging like she was going to be sick. He also said her eyes would haunt him in his dreams. Blue. So light a blue they seemed to glow. Eerie. That was his word. Eerie in the most beautiful way.”

Almost glowing. Sounded like a wolf to me, but I needed to be sure. I’d be able to pick up on the scents when I arrived. I’d have to follow Benji’s exit and filter the unknown scents from those of him and his buddies to know if the women they’d escorted out were human or wolf. I was betting on wolf. Had they come back for a mate? I needed to know who I was looking for. “Any cameras?”

“Three in the bar and four outside giving different views of the lot. My new friend is going to take a look at the footage for us, so hurry up and get your ass over here. I’m texting the address to your phone right now. I don’t like the sound of this, Han. I think those ladies might be in trouble.”

With that, she disconnected. I pulled up the text, noted the address, and put the truck in gear. When I got my hands on Cici, I was sending her right back the way she’d come. I’d need to speak with my mom. She’d figure out a way to keep Cici from sticking her nose in wolf business. It was only fair since my mother was the one who’d inadvertently shared our secret with Cain’s daughter.

Cici meant well. She was a fierce protector. In the human world, she taught self-defense which gave her false confidence when it came to wolves. Maybe, I should “wolf out” one day, as she kept urging me to, and show her what a shifter really looked like in fur. We’re a lot larger than our pure animal counterparts.

I shook my head. I had a feeling she’d see more than she wanted this time. There was an itch at the back of my neck. One I’d felt since I crossed into this county. As if destiny had been leading me here all along. As if something beckoned me here, a finger curled in that come-hither motion.

I whipped into the lot at the address Cici had texted, parking at the back and glancing around as I unsnapped my seatbelt. Stepping out of the air-conditioned cab, I felt the slap of heat against my face, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up in alert. I followed my nose across the lot, scanning the area where the scents were strongest.

The foursome had definitely been here and brought two female wolves out with them. One scent in particular called to me, tickling at my senses as if searching for a way inside me. Dropping to my knees, I touched my fingers to the crimson droplets staining the asphalt. Blood. Her blood. A roar of rage drowned out the world around me.

I almost took out Cici when she flew across the lot at me.

“Han! Han, it’s me!” She turned to speak to someone else. “It’s fine. He’s my brother. He won’t hurt me.”

My gaze moved past her to the human male with her. He was big but not at my level. Still, I took in the way he’d attempted to put Cici behind him. I’m a big motherfucker, but this guy would have tried to protect her from me.

“Explains why you showed no fear of me,” the guy muttered to Cici before turning his full attention on me. “I pulled the video. Looks like my instincts were right. I shouldn’t have let her leave with them.”

“Tell me,” I demanded, the words almost garbled as my wolf tried to press free of human skin.

“Video indicates she was looking for an exit when the other woman stopped her. They were surrounded by the four men and made their way across to the door I stood at.” He shook his head, frustration pouring off him. “She said she needed air. Fuck! She said she needed air, and I let them fucking leave.”

“You couldn’t have stopped them,” Cici interjected. “You—”

“Cici!” I barked, interrupting whatever she might have said. My attention was seriously splintered. “What did the camera out here show?”

“The second woman seemed to pass out. The man beside her scooped her up in his arms. The first woman turned to check, then she went down. I don’t think she passed out, though. The guy with her. Benji. She called him Benji. He picked her up then tossed her into the back of their SUV, the trunk area. He leaned in, and it looks like he struck her a few times.” The guy paused as he stared at me, and only then was I cognizant of the growls emanating from my throat. “When he ducked back out, he was holding the side of his head, fingers cupped over his ear. It looked like blood stained his shirt there.” He tapped his fingers along his collar bone to show where. “He and the others got in the vehicle and drove out of the lot. They headed east.”

“What’s east of here?” I demanded.

“Industrial section of town. Lots of factories and storage containers. The farther you go, the more rundown it gets. Lots of abandoned buildings out that way. Your sister talked me into waiting for you, but after what I saw, I need to head in and put a call into the cops—”

I interrupted that thought by jerking him to me, so our noses were practically touching. “No cops. Understood?”

He still showed no fear. It made me question if he knew more than he let on. I didn’t sense he was a part of what had happened, but something told me, he might know a few things about wolves and how to deal with one who was close to snapping.

He held his hands out wide, palms up. “No cops. Now, what can I do to help?”

I thought for a minute. The only way to get rid of him would be by giving him a task. One that didn’t involve calling humans into wolf business.

“I need you to make a call for me. Cici, do you have the number for Bastion James?” I knew she did. She’d have written it down before chasing after me. Someone needed to nail her feet to one place, so she’d stop looking for trouble.

She gave a quick jerk of her head as he answered, “I have James’ number.”

Interesting. Definitely human and there was no mating scent on him. Yet, he had a number to reach out to the alpha of the local wolf pack. Seemed Mom and I weren’t the only ones who had a liking for humans. It also meant I could trust Cici with him.

“Go with him and call. You’ll know what to say. I’m trusting you, Cici.”

She knew I spoke of more than the phone call. I trusted her not to let the human at her side know more than he should. She could play it however she wanted.

Then I focused on him again, letting the growl fill my voice. “If my sister’s harmed in any way—”

“I’ve got him, Han. What else do you need?” Cici interrupted, stepping between us, forcing me to take a step back.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me until I was satisfied with the distance between us and the man.

“He can’t be involved in this.”

“Walt?” She glanced back at the man. “He’s cool. Plus, he obviously knows the alpha here. He’ll keep his lips sealed. Now, what do you need from me once I’ve made the call?”

“I need you to stay here and stay safe,” I bit out, though I knew I couldn’t trust her to protect her own ass.

“There are four of them.” She held up her hand when I would have interrupted. “I know you can handle those four just fine, what about the women? What if they need help? What if one of the males tries to get to them first and uses the females against you? You need backup, and I know what calling James is meant to do. But they won’t get there in time, and I’m already in place. Let me help you. I’m smart and strong and more than capable of helping you. I swear, Han. I won’t do anything stupid.”

It killed me that she believed she could help me take on four wolves. No matter how strong and fierce she was, she was still only human. If she had a gun, maybe. But I knew firsthand she hated firearms and refused to carry one. She’d be a liability. God help me, I did think of her as a little sister. Emphasis on the little. I couldn’t risk her getting caught in the crossfire.

“I need you here to help the James Pack find us. Show them where I caught her scent. Give them this.” I reached back, gripping my T-shirt and jerking it over my head. “My scent will be stronger than hers. They’ll be able to follow it.”

Cici nodded. I knew she envisioned riding along with the cavalry to find me. I didn’t think the James Pack would ever allow it. I’d find her as soon as I was able and make sure she returned safely home.

“Done,” Cici agreed. “I won’t let you down.”

“Be safe,” I warned. “Don’t—” I broke off. There were too many things to put after that word when it came to her. “I’ll come find you as soon as I can. We’ll head home.”

She nodded. “I won’t let you down, Han. You’ll see.”

I watched her head back toward the bar with my shirt in hand. If Walt thought that was strange, he didn’t say anything about it to her. As soon as I was alone, I moved back to the truck, making sure all the windows were down. I wanted my scent to be strong on the air. I tasted the blood remnants on my fingers and felt the taste explode across my senses. I swear I felt a tug from her soul to mine. Light blue eyes filled my mind. Eyes bright with pain. She was hurt. Bleeding.

But she was something else, as well. Mine. My mate.

Until now, I might have tried to save a few of the four for the pack of the woman who’d approached me. That was no longer on the table. They’d signed their death warrants when they’d taken my mate. For every drop of blood they spilled, I’d spill more. For every injury, every harm, they gave her, I’d exact more from them. All four would be dead before the night was over. It wouldn’t be quick. I refused to make it easy.

And that was before I heard something that rocked me to my core. I swear I heard my mate’s voice in my head. And she called to me.

Chapter Three

~Belinda~

I awoke to the sound of Cammy begging and crying.

“Shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch!”

“Please, Hutch! The alpha will kill us for this!”

“He’s not our fucking alpha,” Hutch snarled.

Wasn’t that exactly what my sister-in-law had said when my brother mated her? She’d sworn he’d never be her alpha. Her brother, Rowan Byrd, had been her alpha. He’d been alpha of the former Rigton Pack before he’d died in a horrific accident. The truck he and his beta were in blew a tire, flipped and caught fire. I still believed that wasn’t what it seemed, but so far, no vision had given me an ah-ha moment where I could say with absolute certainty he’d been murdered. Yet, I couldn’t shake what I felt every time I went to the site where it happened. Something wasn’t right.

“I see our lovely…guest…is awake.” Benji walked toward me. I automatically attempted to move. The rattle of a chain made me aware of what he’d managed while I was out.

“You fucking chained me to a post?” I made no attempt to hide the disgust in my voice.

“We’ll have to make do with the ankle chain for now. If I allow the boys to keep you once this is over, we’ll buy you a proper choke collar with a leash.”

Snickers filled the air, and I smelled the taint of their lust.

“Bee, I’m so sorry,” Cammy wailed, drawing my attention to her. “I didn’t know what they had planned. I swear. I didn’t know.”

“Shut her up,” Benji snapped, and Hutch backhanded her, knocking Cammy to her knees, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

“What’s your brilliant plan then?” I asked Benji, doing my best to draw their focus back to me. Cammy was obviously dazed, making me wonder what she’d been subjected to while I had been out. I shouldn’t care, but I did. That was one of my biggest downfalls. Regardless of what people thought of my abilities or how they treated me because of them, I cared.

Benji moved closer. I tensed but stood my ground. I wouldn’t have been able to go far, anyway, with the damn chain around my ankle, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching me try. He cupped my chin, running his thumb along my jawbone.

“I’m going to break you. Bruise you. Bloody you.” He paused, reaching up to finger his ear, moving his hair so I could see the damage I’d done. I remembered the taste of blood in my mouth. Mine and his. I’d forgotten that, but nothing could prevent the sneer that tilted my lips at the visual reminder.

He moved quickly. He gripped my hair, jerking my head back before snapping his teeth in my face. “I’m going to use my teeth on you. Seems only fitting. Want to know what I’m going to rip off your body? What I’m going to tear from you?”

I clenched my teeth tight, holding the growl of my wolf at bay. I shook my head instead.

“Don’t you hurt her!” Cammy’s scream didn’t pull Benji’s attention from me. Or mine from him. We glared at one another, neither of us backing down. I knew better than to show an ounce of fear. Men like Benji fed off fear. It made them hungry. Made them hard. He looked forward to hurting me. Most likely, counting down the minutes.

“They know she’s missing.” One of his friends ran over. I enjoyed the stench of sweat, the pallor of his skin, and the way his hands trembled as he gestured. I hadn’t realized he’d been missing earlier, but it was obvious he’d been outdoors, checking on my brother and our pack. “They’re moving out. The big guy’s with them.”

“And my whore? Where’s she?” Benji demanded, shoving me away as hard as he could. I took pride in the fact I remained on my feet.

“Everyone’s at the main house. The big guy took Rebbie there. I watched a bunch of people go in. Then a group of the men came back out. James and his beta, along with four others, left. Rebbie’s mate was one of them.”

“Six wolves.” Benji’s glare returned to me. “Who would have thought James would find five wolves willing to risk their lives for you.”

My brother would have Cyan with him. And Taylor. Michael and Gabe. And most likely Simon. Simon wouldn’t be left behind if he thought I was in danger. I’d tried to discourage his puppy love, but he didn’t understand that I wasn’t his mate. There was no pull between us. Once he found his mate, he’d understand I was never his. If something happened and he was hurt before that happened, I’d never forgive myself. I’d never forgive myself if any of them were hurt.

“I guess we’ll need to speed up our timeline.” Benji stomped over to Cammy, who still sat on the ground. “What did you do?” He grabbed her by the hair and jerked her up onto her knees.

“Nothing! I swear!” Cammy was terrified, and there was nothing I could do to help her. Not with a fucking chain around my ankle.

“You did something, or they wouldn’t even be aware she’s missing right now,” Benji snarled.

“Please,” she begged. “I didn’t. I swear!”

I laughed. It was the first thing I thought of to grab his attention. To get him away from her.

“Messing up your plans, is it? Poor, poor Benji. Did you think you’d walk back in here and be able to crawl away again?” I shook my head back and forth slowly. “This time, you’re going to die.”

I’d planned to fake a vision, to use it to try to intimidate or scare him, but there was no need. It hit me fast. I dropped to my knees, cradling my head at the intensity. This was stronger than I’d ever had.

“Blood. Death. He comes for justice and will settle for nothing less than vengeance for what you’ve done. Hurt for hurt. Pain for pain.”

My shoulders jerked back, forcing my hands to fall behind me as my body leaned back. It was as if electricity coursed through me. It was a vision but so much more. It was as if the man I saw was seeing me also. As if he looked through my eyes.

I moved my gaze around, sharing as much as I could of where I was. I stopped and focused on things I thought might help with location. I let my gaze touch Benji, still holding Cammy by her hair as she knelt before him begging. I zeroed in on Hutch then on to the two others with Benji. I wanted the man I was connecting with to know who was with me. Then I skimmed back to Benji’s face, holding his gaze.

“I’m coming for you. You sealed your fate when you took her. I’m going to bruise you. Break you. Make you bleed. Isn’t that what you told my mate?”

Benji’s gaze flared wide, and my heart beat like a jackrabbit in my chest. The man I’d connected with was inside me. Speaking through me. That had never happened. Never had a vision consumed me as this one did.

“No one can save you now. I’m coming for you. Coming for you.”

I wasn’t sure if the last was meant for Benji as a warning or for me as a promise, so I’d hold on. Fuck! These damn visions left me weak and disoriented. This one? It would leave me on my ass, scrambling to gain some control over my body and senses.

Only it didn’t. It was as if a cord were severed between me and the man. It clicked in place a moment too late for me to share awareness along the link. He was my mate. I’d made a connection with my mate, who I’d yet to even meet. He was gone as quickly as he’d arrived.

I blinked my eyes several times before focusing on Benji again. “Beware the enraged beast. He fights for love, and all will fall before him.”

I stood as a wave of energy restored me. I had no idea what had just occurred, but I swear my mate had shared some of his vitality with me.

Cammy took advantage of Benji’s distraction. She managed to jerk free, took two long strides and shifted mid-run. Hutch and one of the others were on her immediately. I screamed when her bones crunched. A startled yelp followed by a weak whimper and she was back in human skin, curled on her side with blood trickling from her mouth. I couldn’t see her face, but she was still. Too still. Had they broken her neck?

“No!” I screamed, jerking at the chain as I strained toward her. “Leave her alone. Come get me! I’m the one you want. Killing her won’t punish my brother. It won’t punish Taylor for taking Rebel.”

Her name snapped Benji out of whatever thoughts had held him still. He ran toward me, hitting me like a freight train and taking us both to the ground. I’d been prepared for him to come at me, but I’d expected some type of finesse to it. My mistake. Big mistake. My head slammed against the concrete, and he was on me before I caught my breath. Claws dug into my sides, bruising and drawing blood as he raked them over my skin. I threw my elbows up and out, working to break his hold as a scream of rage tore up my throat.

I kicked and clawed, giving as good as I got. He grabbed my hair and slammed my head into the cement again. Still, I fought. Fought as dizziness and nausea tried to suck me under. He ripped my shirt down the middle then bent lower and bit, narrowly missing my breast as I jerked to the side. I felt the puncture of his teeth and screamed as he ripped them free, taking my flesh with him. I used my elbow again, banging it against his jaw and the side of his face in a bid to shove him away. We rolled and fought, and somehow, I forgot about the damn chain until he had it in his hands, using it to bend my leg at an impossible angle.

“Die, you fucking bitch!” he screamed. I heard the snap seconds before I felt the excruciating pain rip through my body.

The sounds I made then were guttural, more animal than human as my wolf fought to be let free. I couldn’t now, though. The broken bone would make her weak as she tried to repair muscle, tendon, and bone. Weak and vulnerable. She’d be easy to kill, and I couldn’t allow that. My mate was coming for me.

After all my waiting, the planning and preparing for his arrival. This was how it would happen. He’d see me at my worst. At my weakest. His first view of me would be of a broken wolf. One who hadn’t been able to protect and defend herself. He’d see me as weak. I was many things. Freak. Weirdo. Crazy. But I wasn’t weak. I would never be weak.

Benji grabbed the chain, jerking a length of it up to try to pin down my arms. Maybe, he planned to use it to break one of them, too. I didn’t know. All I knew was, somehow in all of this, it had remained just the two of us. I didn’t know where his buddies were and why they weren’t jumping in to help him kill me. I would worry about them when they were in front of me.

I managed to get my good leg up and used it along with my hands to jerk at the chain in his hands. I heard the pop, followed by his growl as his shoulder dislocated. Knowing that, I added more force. This was life or death, and I planned to live.

Benji retaliated by grabbing my leg and digging in his claws before using his hold to twist the already broken bone. I screamed, my vision dimming as pain threatened to rob me of breath.

I heard a snarl followed by screams, and I laughed when Benji rose over me again. He plowed his fist into my cheek then quickly wrapped his hands in my hair and slammed my head against the floor again.

My vision faded quickly. My brain desperately tried to stay engaged. I needed to hold on just a bit longer. It couldn’t end like this. My mate was here. I knew he was here. I saw Benji raise the fist of his good arm, and I laughed. The sound was mad, crazy, and it gave him pause as he stared down at me.

“He’s here for you. You’re going to die, Benji. You’re going to die.”

“Then I better make sure you go first,” he snarled. He slammed my head down one more time before cranking it back so that my throat was exposed. I knew what he was going to do. I’d already seen his plan, had fought like hell to make sure it didn’t happen. Not like this was a mantra in my head. I was so close. So close to having the mate I’d been waiting for.

“No!” I yelled, shoving at him, kicking at him with my good leg. I fought like the wolf I was, fueled by the alpha blood in my veins and the promise of my greatest dream. I would not let this piece of trash rob me of my future.

I reached up and pressed my fingers into his eyes. I used every ounce of force I had and didn’t stop as he yelled and thrashed above me. Twice more he bashed my head. Each hit weakened me more, draining the strength from my hands. Still, I clawed, unwilling to stop my bid for survival.

Benji managed to grip one of my hands and bent it until the wrist snapped then tossed it away to reach for the other. I clawed, but there was no coordination to my movement. I was motion with no control. I was exactly how he’d promised I would be. Bruised. Broken. And bloody. My only solace was that he was all that, as well.

I took a blow to the ribcage that robbed me of air, and this time, I couldn’t get my lungs to work on the inhale. I gasped, desperate to suck in oxygen I couldn’t seem to find. What had I done that would force Benji’s face to be the last thing I saw? I caught a flash of light brown fur, and the largest wolf I’d ever seen loomed beside me. His massive jaws caught Benji’s useless arm and yanked, and as darkness pulled me under the last thing I heard was Benji’s scream.

Chapter Four

~Hannibal~

I headed toward the industrial area, the taste of her blood still on my tongue. I struggled to free my mind from thoughts of her so I could focus on finding her. I had no idea what she looked like. This woman who was mine. I only knew I had to find her before they took her from me. Permanently.

East had been a general direction. The roads wound as I followed them into the industrial section of town. Some buildings were obviously in use. Well-lit parking lots were filled with activity. I knew my mate wouldn’t have been taken to one of those places so I kept driving, waiting to find the rundown section Walt had mentioned. There was no missing it either. From one block to the next, you saw where businesses had folded up or moved out. Broken windows, unlocked gates that tilted against the pavement, and myriad graffiti advertising desertion like neon signs.

I pulled my truck behind one of the neglected buildings, parking out of sight before stepping from the cab and stripping to the skin. From here, I’d let my wolf take hold. My mate’s scent would be easier to follow when I gave the animal free rein. I didn’t know how far ahead of me they’d been. In my hurry to get to my mate, I’d forgotten to ask how long ago she’d been taken. Not too long, going by the freshness of the blood I still tasted on my tongue. Blood Benji would pay for. My mate’s blood.

I slipped easily into the light brown coat of my other half. Dropping to all fours as my body shifted and changed. I lifted my head to the night sky and let my howl sound, warning to anything around me. It was the only warning I would give. Anything that stood between my mate and me would be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Except for the man who’d taken her, who’d drawn her blood. Him I’d take my time with, exacting retribution one red drop at a time.

I inhaled deeply, sorting through the scents filling the air until I found the one I wanted. Locking in on it, I spoke to her in my mind. A promise that I was on my way. The response was instantaneous and almost knocked me on my ass. Her voice echoed in my head as if she were right beside me. No, as if she were inside me or I was inside her.

“Blood. Death. He comes for justice but will settle for nothing less than vengeance for what you’ve done. Hurt for hurt. Pain for pain.”

Me. She was giving her captors a warning about me. I caught a brief glimpse of her. Too brief. Pale skin against clouds of long, dark hair with a metal chain wrapped at one ankle. One moment, I stared into her pale, blue eyes. The next, I swear, I stared out of them. She moved her gaze around, sharing a glimpse of where she’d been taken. She paused here and there as if trying to give me details to help narrow my search for her. Her gaze focused on Benji, who held another woman by her hair as she knelt before him, begging. Then my mate’s gaze bounced among his friends. She made sure I knew who was there in the room with her, who needed to be punished. What she didn’t know, couldn’t know, was that I’d already been hunting them. If only I’d caught up to them sooner.

I’m coming for you. I whispered the thought to her, not questioning the connection we’d managed to make. Then I ordered her gaze back to Makers and my words poured from her lips.

“I’m coming for you. You sealed your fate when you took her. I’m going to bruise you. Break you. Make you bleed. Isn’t that what you told my mate?” The words spilled forth as she shared them with me. I’d rip the motherfucker in half. Shred him until nothing remained but blood and gore.

“No one can save you now. I’m coming for you.” My final warning to Makers. There was no place he could go that I wouldn’t find him. Nothing less than his death would satisfy me now. Then I was looking at my mate again, and I gave her my solemn vow before our connection was severed as quickly as it had formed. “Coming for you.”

I willed my strength to fill her, but she was gone too quickly for me to know if she’d felt it, received it. My lips peeled back from my teeth and vicious snarls spilled from me as I took off. I’d gone less than a hundred feet when her screams filled my head. Black rage consumed me, nearly taking my feet out from under me. Shaking it away, I focused on getting to her, on stopping them.

I howled again as I closed in on where her scent was strongest. I saw the SUV they’d taken her away in, smelled the metallic scent of her blood that stained the inside. I dashed for the door and the man standing outside it, looking to make an escape from the screams echoing from indoors. Her screams. One vicious bite and the one they called Mullins was on the ground writhing in pain, arms wrapped around his torn and dislocated knee. It wouldn’t kill him, but it would incapacitate him until I could get back to take care of him. Right now, my mate was my priority.

Mullins had left the door ajar and managed to kick it wider during his roll on the ground. I ducked inside, following the grunts and cries of my mate. I encountered two more of Benji’s cohorts about twenty-five feet inside the door. I took them down hard, ripping the throat out of the first one before remembering my promise to make them suffer. I grabbed the other by the shoulder and flung him against the wall like a rag doll. He didn’t move but I knew from the rise of his chest that I hadn’t killed him. Death would come later, and it wouldn’t be easy.

Now that I’d discarded them, I could see what they’d been focused on. There was a naked woman on the floor. Blood trickled from her mouth and nose, and each breath was a harsh gasp. I didn’t have time to pause, though. Help would have to wait. Even now, my mate’s pain washed through me. I glanced over just as Makers snapped her wrist. Still, she fought with uncoordinated movements that did little to thwart her attacker. She didn’t give up, though. She was the definition of courageous.

As I moved toward her, Benji landed another blow. One that had her gasping, and from her expression, the oxygen wasn’t reaching her lungs. I stopped at her side, nudging her with my paw even as I locked my jaws around the arm hanging uselessly at Makers side. I added fierce to the list of my mate’s attributes. I jerked hard on his arm and reveled in the way he screamed.

I tugged and pulled, not caring when I heard the rip of muscle and tendon. His arm was the least of his worries. I dragged him from my mate. He punched at me with his good fist, trying to gain his freedom, but it wasn’t happening. I might have only caught a brief glimpse of my mate, but it had been long enough to note every ounce of damage done to her. Had I needed to find her once she’d fully healed, I’d never recognize her by looks alone. Yet, she was the most beautiful woman in the world to me.

I attacked Makers with a vengeance. One part of my brain knew I needed to keep him alive. The other part was ready to show him exactly what happened when someone laid hands on my mate. Bloodlust settled over me as the wolf took full control. With every bite and swipe of my claws, I saw my mate in my mind. Covered in blood. Gasping for breath. I was going for his throat when the sound of someone screaming my name finally penetrated the fog of anger.

“Han! Han, you’re going to kill him! Stop!”

I blinked before turning my head and taking in Cici. What the hell was she doing here? I took in the area around her. Alone. She was supposed to be with Walt, waiting on the James Pack to arrive. She wasn’t supposed to be was here with me, in the midst of utter chaos, blood, and gore.

She dropped to her knees beside my mate. “Oh, god, Han. She’s out cold. I think her wrist is broken, and going by angle alone, her leg also. There’s so much blood. Her side.” Cici swallowed, gaze bouncing between me and my mate. “We need help. She needs help.”

I left Makers in a pool of blood. He’d passed out at some point, and I growled at the thought I could have killed him without him being cognizant of what was happening. I wanted him to know he was going to die. Wanted to see the fear and terror he’d inflicted on others reflected in his gaze. I padded over to Cici and my mate. Cici reached out and ran her fingers through my fur as if I weren’t the scariest thing she’d ever seen. I knew blood dripped from my mouth and matted in my fur. I hated her seeing me this way. Hated her being a part of this side of me. Then I forgot about her as light, blue eyes blinked open and linked with mine. Those eyes were my lifeline. My future.

“You…came…for me.”

Her words were slow and sluggish as if she were having trouble getting her lips and tongue to cooperate. I tried to respond, but nothing came out but snarls and rumbles, reminding me I was still in my wolf skin.

“Stay with her,” Cici ordered, rising and pulling her phone from her pocket. “I’ll call Simon again. He’s with the James Pack. I told them where we are. They should have been here by now. Where the hell are they?” Her gaze moved around the room, cataloguing everyone. “I’ve got to head outside. My phone isn’t getting a signal in here. I’ll run out to my car and be right back. I’ve got some spare clothes for you, too. I’ll grab them.”

I barely paid attention to her, other than to note she was calling the James Pack again. Which meant she’d reached out to them, though she obviously hadn’t waited as I’d ordered her to. She and I were going to have another long talk when this was over.

My mate groaned, pulling my full attention to her. I nudged her shoulder with my snout then licked over her cheek, getting another taste of her blood. Soon, we’d mate. When she was stronger, healed.

She blinked her beautiful, blue eyes up at me. Eyes clouded with pain. I growled low in my throat, the sound vibrating through my chest as anger surged anew within me. She reached for me with her good hand while the other lay cradled along her stomach. Her lips opened and closed several times before she managed to force out a word.

“You…” The single word rasped from her throat. I laid my muzzle over her lips to silence her and felt the kiss she gave me all the way to my soul.

I shifted, taut skin and bulging muscle replacing fur until I crouched beside her. I wanted to lift her in my arms, to carry her away from here to a safe place where she could shift and let her wolf heal her. Instead, I reached for the chain, snapping it open with my bare hands. They’d chained her like a fucking animal.

“Shh,” I urged when she tried to speak again. “We’ll get you out of here. Let you shift.”

“Can’t.” Short, staccato, and filled with pain.

“You can,” I assured her. “You’ll have to.”

It would be the easiest way for her body to begin mending. The activation of our wolf DNA triggered advanced healing. It hurt like a bitch, but it worked. Some injuries took longer than others to heal. Some even a wolf couldn’t repair. Those wolves were usually close to death.

My mate was injured but not about to die. Makers had kept his promise and left her bruised, bloody, and beaten, but my mate had returned the favor. I glanced over to make sure Makers was still unmoving before returning my gaze to my mate.

Christ! I didn’t even know her name yet.

Belinda.

The name filled my mind, and I knew she was telling me. How was it that I could hear her in my head, even though we hadn’t mated? I’d never heard of a couple creating a link before they’d fully bonded.

“Han…”

“Hannibal Craig,” I gave her my name “But most people call me Beast.”

“Mate…”

“Yes,” I agreed. “You’re my mate. I’ve been searching for you.”

“Han, the guy you left outside by the door isn’t there any—”

Cici’s words were lost as she screamed. I jerked my gaze from Belinda’s face to focus on my sister. Mullins, the wolf she’d claimed was missing, had her by the throat, feet dangling inches above the floor. She clawed at his hand as he moved farther into the warehouse with her.

“Benji! Where are you?” Mullins was as naked as I was, and I knew he must have forced a shift to begin healing the damage I’d done to his knee. I’d forgotten about him. I’d been so lost in my mate that I’d neglected to ensure the safety of my sister, and in doing so, I’d put both women at risk.

“Let her go!”

“Not a fucking chance,” he snapped, giving her a shake for emphasis. She choked for breath, her face flushed with color as she struggled.

I took a step toward them, and he wrapped his other palm at her belly, claws fully extended.

“One more step and I’ll gut her and let her bleed out while you watch.”

I forced myself to stay put, afraid he’d carry through on his threat.

“Benji!” he yelled again.

“Let her go, and I’ll let you take Makers and leave,” I offered.

“Bring him to me,” he commanded, the order making my wolf quiver with the need to rip out his throat.

I strode over and grabbed Makers by the leg, tugging his unconscious form behind me as I moved toward my sister.

“Wait!” the wolf yelled. “Is he alive?”

“For the moment,” I offered.

“Better hope he stays that way or your human dies.” He sliced through the front of Cici’s T-shirt, exposing her tanned belly. She kicked, managing to nail him above the knee with her boot. It was the same one I’d taken out earlier. He grunted and dug in one claw hard enough to draw a drop of blood. I watched it trace a path down her stomach and gritted my teeth in a bid to hold back my growls.

I’d fucking told her to stay away. Not because I didn’t trust Cici but to prevent something like this from happening. To protect her. As much as I bitched and groused, she was the only sibling I had, and I treasured her.

“Careful,” I warned, lifting Makers by my grip on his calf. “I could return the favor.”

“Looks like you already have,” he snarled. “Maybe, I should be returning the favor.”

There was no holding back the growl then. He paled, and the hand braced on my sister’s belly shook slightly. I found no comfort in his fear, though. Fear often made people stupid, and stupidity could be dangerous.

“You’ve been following us,” he said, watching my movements like a hawk as I dragged Makers closer. “Why? Who the fuck are you?”

“A very pissed off wolf,” I warned, letting my growl saturate the room. Enjoying the way his fear permeated the air. One glance told me the other wolf I’d left alive was still out cold, and the woman was either dead or had passed out. I felt sorry for her, but there wasn’t anything I could do for her. My focus was already split between my mate and my sister. I couldn’t splinter it any more.

Cici gave me a wink, and I felt a chill go down my spine. I wasn’t sure what she was up to, but I already knew it was a bad idea. I was shaking my head when she moved. She kicked him again, somehow managing to pull up her foot so she connected with his groin this time. At his cry of pain, she thrashed against his hold then gave a cry of her own when he jerked his hand from her belly to land several punches along her temple.

I roared then, ready to spring forward as he let her fall unconscious to his feet. Before I could reach him all hell broke loose. Six shifters burst into the building. If I wasn’t mistaken, I was looking at the James Pack, my mate’s pack. Finally. One immediately ripped out Mullins throat then bent to sweep my sister into his arms, inhaling deeply before turning and heading out the door.

“Wait!” I bellowed. “Where are you taking her?”

The one holding her glanced toward me with a look of loathing. I saw him exchange words with the man holding open the door. Then he was gone. The others fell on Makers and his remaining friends, securing the one still breathing, while another checked on the woman. I wanted to go after my sister, but I had to trust the James Pack wouldn’t hurt her. I’d heard they could be brutal, but nothing I’d discovered made me think they’d kill an innocent. I also knew none of them would answer my question.

“Belinda!” the one at the door yelled as he moved inside. My gaze briefly snagged on his. Rage, barely controlled, poured from him. This was the alpha. Bastion James. I didn’t need an introduction to know that. And my mate was important to him.

“No!” he screamed as he shoved his way around me.

I automatically turned to follow his gaze. I’m not sure what I expected, but the sight before me almost knocked me on my ass. Where my mate had been, there was nothing but a trail of blood and the broken chain. She was gone.

“No!” I roared, shoving James out of my way. A heavy blow struck the back of my head and put me on my knees. I shook my head as a second blow fell. Why were they attacking me? Hadn’t Cici told them I’d be here?

I struggled against the arms that held me, attempting to focus as I took more hits. Darkness flickered at the edge of my vision. I fought with a desperation I’d never known, doing my best to deflect the hits while landing a few of my own. These guys weren’t Makers and his ilk, though. They wouldn’t be easily dealt with. I should have called James when I’d first arrived here. There would have been no misunderstanding then. No fighting amongst each other.

Even mid-blow, my mind was fully engaged on only one thing. My mate was gone. Who the fuck had taken her?

Chapter Five

~Belinda~

“Wake up, Bee! I need you to wake up!”

My body was on fire. I didn’t think there was an inch of me that didn’t hurt. One minute I’d been lying on the warehouse floor, fading in and out of consciousness, then I’d heard the whispered warning of someone as they tugged at me. Someone had half-dragged, half-carried me outside. It wasn’t my mate, though.

“Bee! Wake up! Your brother is seriously losing his shit right now, and frankly, so am I.”

Raina. It was Raina’s voice beside me as she ran skilled hands along my body.

“Wrist is broken, but everything appears in place. I’m going to have to set your leg. When I do, I need you to work on not passing out. Focus on your wolf and allowing the shift to occur. Focus, Belinda. We’ve got to get you healed up before Bas starts killing people. Starting with that big bastard in there.”

“Mate…” I forced the words past my lips.

“Yeah,” Raina agreed, obviously not understanding what I said. “My mate is seconds from burning this place to the ground. Good news is he might be more pissed at me than anything else. He ordered me to stay put as if I wasn’t coming to help you.”

I tried to shake my head, but knew I barely moved. Still, it was enough to grab my sister-in-law’s attention.

“What is it?” she asked. “Did they…” She paused, visibly swallowing as she looked over my body again.

“My…mate…”

She gave me a confused look, then her brows lifted high on her forehead. “The big guy? He’s your mate?”

My expression must have been enough of an answer for her.

“Fuck, Bee! They were beating the hell out of him.” She glanced around. “Fuck! If you want to keep him alive, we need to get you healed. I’m setting the bone in your leg. Don’t pass out. His life might depend on it.”

I gritted my teeth as her fingers moved along my leg. I had to get back to Hannibal before Bastion allowed something bad to happen to my mate. I needed to—

All thought left me as Raina’s soft hands sent blinding pain ripping through me. Had my vocal chords been willing to cooperate, I would have screamed. But everything seized in that moment.

“Now,” Raina ordered. “Let your wolf free, Bee.”

I fought my way through the haze of pain. My wolf nudged me, ready to step in and take over. I let her, saving what remained of my strength for the brutality of the oncoming shift.

I heard Bas’ voice, and Raina’s snappy retort, but it was distorted as if carrying through a thick molasses. That’s the thing about shifting. It’s not easy, and the pain is something that takes time to adjust to. Your bones literally break and reform as you go from human physiology to wolf. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s excruciating the first few times you go through it. Some black out during their first shift. I’ve always been made of sterner stuff. Plus, my brother would have never let me live it down if I’d passed out. And Bas’ opinion mattered to me.

The problem with shifting when your bones are already broken is twofold. The first part of the shift is to repair the damage to my human side. Imagine getting the equivalent of surgery with no anesthesia. Bone and muscle and tendon knitting back together. It’s an unimaginable hell. Then, when you can finally breathe, everything is breaking again and reforming as your wolf steps forward. That’s when the final stage of healing occurs. The blood of my wolf flowing strong in my veins, strengthening me from the inside out.

I took a few tentative steps, getting my feet under me. I felt the echo of the damage Benji had inflicted, then I was free. I was ready to turn and sprint when I saw them, Taylor and Gabe, dragging my unconscious mate between them. Dragging him as if he were unworthy of lifting. I moved before I was fully aware, snapping at Taylor’s hold then turning to do the same to Gabe.

“What the fuck, Bee?” Taylor shouted, losing his grip and letting Hannibal fall to the ground.

He was bleeding. They’d beat the hell out of him. This man who’d come to save me. My mate. I lunged at Gabe again.

“Enough,” Bas ordered, and I did something I’d never done in my life. I turned and growled, my teeth inches from his fingers. “Bee, enough!”

I shook my head and positioned myself over my mate, front paws spread wide, muzzle lowered as my growl filled the air. I wouldn’t let them touch him again.

“Bee…”

I didn’t know what else my brother planned to say because Raina stepped up to him, drilling her finger into his chest.

“Don’t yell at her. I told you he was her mate. I told you, and you still let them drag him out here as if they were taking out the trash. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Raina.”

My sister-in-law cared as much for his warning tone as I did.

“I’m two seconds away from shifting and standing guard with her.”

He growled, frustration pouring off him.

“Do the right thing,” Raina commanded, and I wasn’t surprised when he moved. Bas was the alpha of our pack. His word was law. Except to Raina. She called him on his shit and went toe-to-toe with him. And my brother would do anything to please her.

“Go inside and make sure Cyan and Michael have everything else covered,” Bas ordered, and Taylor and Gabe headed in without another word. “Move, Belinda.”

I stared at him for a long moment, baring my teeth.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt him. I promise.”

I took a step to the side but remained close enough I could intervene if needed. Not that I had any clue what I’d do to protect Hannibal if Bas decided to hurt him. I knew I’d try, though. I’d do anything to protect my mate. I’d die for him.

Bas bent and moved Hannibal, so he could lift him over his shoulder. He stood, holding my mate as if he weighed nothing. Then he turned to Raina.

“Why don’t you shift and run back to the house with Belinda. She could use the run to finish healing up.”

I growled. He wasn’t separating me from my mate.

“He’ll be fine, Belinda. Promise. When he’s awake, we’ll talk. Figure this out.”

There was nothing to figure out. He was my mate, and he’d be staying. Or we’d leave together. That thought caught me by surprise. I’d never considered leaving my brother. I’d known my mate was looking for me, but I’d always planned to stay here with him, as part of the James Pack. I’d never once considered a different outcome.

Raina nudged me with her nose as Bastion walked away with Hannibal.

“I won’t hurt him!” Bas yelled over his shoulder as if he knew the question filling my mind. I’m sure he did. Not only was he my alpha, but he was my brother. The only person who’d always been there for me. No matter what. I’d trust him on this. He’d always done right by me.

I took off with Raina tight behind me. If I beat Bas there, I could make sure Hannibal was all right, make sure no one laid a hand on him. I started to blame myself, but that wasn’t true. This was all Benji Makers’ fault. Simon and Gabe should have let Taylor kill him when he’d had the opportunity. Then again, if Taylor had, maybe I’d have had to wait even longer for my mate to find me. Why was life so damn complicated?

The run felt good. Any other time, I would have luxuriated in the feel of the wind, the crush of dirt and debris under my feet. Instead, Hannibal filled my thoughts. Was he okay? Would he hate me for what my brother and our pack had done? Would he regret the woman the universe had chosen as his mate? Refuse the mating? Walk away from me? I couldn’t let that happen. He was mine, and I wasn’t giving him up without a fight. Even if it meant leaving Bas.

Even at top speed, my brother beat us back to the house. I shifted as soon as we hit the porch and burst through the door. Normally, Simon would have popped out from somewhere, holding a blanket or towel or one of his shirts, but he wasn’t there this time. Bas was. He tossed me a blanket then crossed and jerked one of his shirts over Raina’s head as she entered behind me. Her laughter tickled the air.

“Where is he?” I demanded, glancing at the pack members who remained in the house. My gaze narrowed on Gabe. “Where’s my mate?”

He glanced toward Bas as if to ask his permission before saying anything to me. I knocked him on his ass.

“Damn it, Belinda!” Bas snapped.

“Where is he?” I faced my brother, blanket held loosely in front of me. I didn’t care if I was naked. I’d learned to be comfortable in my own skin a long time ago. Just as I’d accepted that no matter what I said or did, no matter who my brother was or wasn’t, some wolves would never accept me. “Never mind. I’ll find him.”

I opened my senses, homing in on Hannibal’s scent. I turned and headed toward the basement. He’d taken my mate to the basement? That was where interrogations and punishments were meted out. What the hell!

“Belinda, wait!”

I heard Bas moving behind me, but I didn’t stop. I tore down the stairs, blanket dropped somewhere on the steps. I shoved my way past Taylor, no easy feat as he was almost as massive as my mate. It probably helped that Bastion snapped orders behind me, telling them not to lay a hand on me. I dodged Cyan, who would have snagged me for my brother.

My eyes were on the prize now. Hannibal sat in a chair on the far side of the room. He wore nothing but a pair of snug briefs someone must have given him. He was tied securely to the chair, but I’d watched as he broke the cuff from my ankle. I knew the only thing holding him to the furniture was me. My mate had merely been waiting for me.

When I was close enough, I launched myself at him. I knew the truth when he easily freed his arms to catch me and help me settle astride his lap.

“That’s quite an entrance, mate,” he whispered, drinking me in with his eyes.

“You…you came for me.”

He nodded. “I’ll always come for you. You’re my mate.”

His hands cupped my buttocks, urging me closer to him, shielding my ass from the rest of the room while pressing my breasts against his chest.

“Why is she here?” someone whispered, making no attempt to hide the animosity they felt for me. I knew it for what it really was, though. Fear.

Hannibal’s chest vibrated against me as a deep growl left his throat. All conversation stopped. My brother, Cyan, and Taylor stepped forward.

“Lay a hand on her, and I won’t hold back,” Hannibal warned.

“No one’s going to touch my sister,” Bastion snapped. “Including you.”

Hannibal’s gaze moved to my brother. “You’d try to keep us apart? Knowing what we are to one another?”

“Until I know why you’re in my territory, unannounced, and how you happened upon my sister and her captors, yes, I am.”

I saw red. No one was taking him from me. I slid one hand up the side of Hannibal’s face, caressing his skin until I reached the thick black locks of his hair. He was beautiful. I met his gaze for only a second before I struck, sinking my teeth into the base of his neck and letting his blood fill my mouth.

Hannibal wrapped around me, groaning as I claimed him. Then he tilted his head to the side, leaned in, and returned the favor.

Chapter Six

~Hannibal~

She was mine. That was my first thought as Belinda and I exchanged mating bites. There would be no denying me. No taking her from me. Not that I would have let that happen even if the minx hadn’t jumped on my lap and bit me.

God, she was beautiful. My first glimpse of her had been one of her hurt, bruised and covered in blood. She’d healed. Long, dark hair reached nearly to her waist. Thick and full. I wanted to wrap it around me, to bury my hands in it and hold tight while I rode her hard. She smelled like cinnamon and spice, a taste I’d never craved but would now for the rest of my life. But it was her eyes that held me captive. So light a blue they appeared to glow. They mesmerized me. She mesmerized me.

“I brought you some clothes, Bee.”

Bastion James immediately turned from glaring at me to glaring at the woman.

“Raina,” he snapped.

“Don’t Raina me, mate,” she snapped back at him. “Taylor, Cyan, Gabe, and Michael stay. The rest of you clear out. Now.”

The alpha’s gaze narrowed, but he nodded. She paid no attention, instead focusing on Belinda and me.

“Bee, clothes.” She shook them beside my mate’s head. “The sooner you dress, the sooner Bas gets answers, and the two of you can disappear to your room.”

Belinda licked the wound she’d left on me then hopped off my lap, grabbing the clothes from Raina and jerking them on. Then she marched up to her brother and shoved her hands against his chest. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t move.

“You honestly thought it was okay to keep us separated?” Her furious tone made me grin.

“I wouldn’t keep you from him indefinitely, Belinda. But I need answers. I need to know why he was there with Benji and his buddies, why they took you, and what the end game was.”

“Then ask me,” she demanded. “I was there, and Hannibal wasn’t with them when they took me. Cammy was.”

“I checked with the clinic on Cammy while I was dressing and grabbing clothes for Bee. Cammy was hurt pretty badly,” Raina told us. I’d known that when I’d glanced at her on my way to Belinda. “We’re not sure her wolf will be able to heal her.”

“She knew one of Benji’s friends. She called him Hutch.”

“I know his buddies,” Raina interjected. “Hutch, Mullins, and Jacob. Jacob’s last name is Mullins too, which is why they called him by his first name, I guess. All assholes. They made Rebbie’s life hell when my brother wasn’t around. When he died, I’m sure they continued.”

The biggest of them, Taylor, I think she called him, growled at the mention of Rebbie. I guessed she was his mate, and Makers had harassed her.

“I should have killed the son-of-a-bitch when I had the chance,” Taylor snapped.

“You should have,” I agreed.

“Why do you say that?” James demanded.

“You obviously had him in your hands and banged him up pretty good. I’m guessing his buddies got him out. Then they found a place for him to stay while he healed. With an elder female shifter from a different pack. I don’t know what story they fed her, but she took care of him. Once he was healed, they returned her kindness by slitting her throat and raping her granddaughter when she came to check on her.” The thought of what they’d done to those women still made me sick to my stomach.

“Jesus fuck,” Taylor growled.

“Your family?” the one Raina had identified as Cyan asked.

“No.” But the question reminded me of my family. “Have you heard from your man who took my sister to the hospital?”

“Simon,” Raina offered. “He’s staying with her. He’ll bring her back here as soon as it’s safe. I’m a nurse. I can keep an eye on her, if needed. How is it that you have a human sister?”

I grinned. “My mom mated with Cici’s dad. He’s also human.”

“Then she’s not really your sister,” James stated.

“My mom, her dad. Hello, sibling.” I repeated Cici’s logic as to how she was my sister. The only thing keeping me from finding her right now was the fact Belinda was here and I’d yet to fully bond her. It relieved me to know Cici had one of Bastion’s top wolves with her, keeping an eye on her. Simon would have his hands full with my sister.

“Why was she there?” Raina asked.

“Why were either of you there?” James questioned.

“The granddaughter came to me. She wanted me to hunt down Makers and bring him back for her pack to deal with.”

“That’s not happening,” Taylor growled. “He’ll die here.”

“He will,” I agreed. “But not by your hand. By mine.”

“No,” Belinda disagreed. “He goes back to her pack.” Her gaze moved between her brother, me, and Taylor. “She deserves to spill his blood more than any of us. We won’t take that justice from her.”

Raina nodded. “She’s right. We have to take him to her.”

“That’s what he’s here for.” James tipped his chin toward me then turned back to his sister. “Now, I know why he was there. How’d they get you?”

“Cammy wanted to go out to a bar where the James Pack doesn’t hang out. I agreed.” She shrugged.

“Why would you do that? Why would you put yourself at risk? You’re my sister!” James roared, and I came to my feet, splintering the chair around me as I moved to stand protectively at my mate’s back.

“Because sometimes, it’s nice to go where nobody knows me or judges me.” She reached back and patted my chest as if that would calm me.

“You’re a part of this pack, Belinda. Period,” he snapped.

“You can’t make people like me,” she whispered softly. “You can’t make them not be afraid of me.”

“Can and will,” he countered.

“No, you can’t,” Raina agreed with Belinda as she moved to his side and leaned into him. He automatically wrapped his arm around her, dropping his nose to sniff her hair. “But we can try to show them there’s no reason for their fear. This is your fault, you know.”

The alpha’s head jerked up. “How is any of this my fault?”

“You’ve protected her too well. Your pack knows you keep her close, and you’ve shared nothing about her special talents with them. All they know is from the rare times someone has witnessed one of her visions or the embellished stories that circulate,” Raina admonished.

“It’s my job to protect her. It’s always been my job.”

Not anymore. Now, it would be my job. One I looked forward to.

“You’ve shielded her too much, Bas. You’ve kept her from them because you feared how your pack would react. And your inner circle takes their cues from you.” Raina’s gaze moved to light on every wolf in the room save me. “You all shield and protect her, which sets her up to be shunned. The only person who doesn’t treat her as either a freak or a fragile flower is Simon, and I’m sure that’s because he’s fancied himself in love with her.”

I growled at that. “She’s mine.”

“You both made that clear earlier,” James growled irritably, obviously still not happy about our mating. Then his gaze moved to Belinda, and he became blind to everyone else in the room. I saw pain, raw, emotional. “God, Belinda. I never meant to… I only wanted to protect you. Always.”

“I know that.” She moved into her brother, hugging him close. “I know. You and me against the world.” The last was murmured softly, and I watched his arms tighten around her as he dropped his head over hers, turning so his cheek cuddled against the top of her head. “I love you, Bas. I’ll always love you.”

Their closeness reminded me of my relationship with my mother. She’d always been there for me, always protecting me. That’s what Belinda had with her brother. He’d always been there for her. And I think part of him was afraid of losing her. Even to her mate. I wasn’t sure I could stay here, with the James Pack, or even if they’d want me to. But I’d try, if that was what she needed to make her happy. I’d do anything for her.

“You have Makers and the other one here somewhere?” I asked, breaking the spell the room had been under.

“They’re offsite,” Cyan answered. “We keep the wolves who’ve broken pack law someplace else. The ones we keep alive.”

“Simon took out Mullins’ throat,” Taylor offered, apparently not sure if I’d witnessed that or not. I seriously doubted anyone in the room, or the James Pack in general, cared one way or the other if any of the four attackers survived.

“I took out James’,” I informed them in case they thought someone else had. That left only Makers himself and his good buddy Hutch alive for transportation to the woman and her pack.

“I’m going with you.” Taylor crossed his arms over his chest as if daring me to argue. “I want to watch Makers die.”

I understood. Makers had been after Taylor’s mate, had planned to take her, and I doubt he’d meant a happily ever after for her. I merely nodded, letting him know there’d be no argument from me.

“Sounds good. You and Gabe and Michael can go. Help get them to the woman’s pack with no incident. Belinda can stay here. Raina, you’ll help her plan a ceremony. Sound good?” Bas gave me a glare at the rumble I couldn’t hold in.

“I’m not staying here,” Belinda argued before I could even say anything. “And I don’t need a ceremony. I just need my mate.” The look she gave me was carnal and had me fighting the erection I barely held in as it was.

“I’ll need to wait until Cici is all clear before I leave,” I told them.

Bastion and Raina shared a look.

“Is everything okay?” I demanded. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“No, your sister is still at the hospital. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything new from Simon.”

James nodded at Raina’s words. “He’ll bring her back here as soon as he can. She’ll be safe with us. We’ll treat her like one of the pack.”

They shared another look, but Belinda moved into me, wrapping around me and pulling my train of thought firmly back to her. Mostly to getting her under me or over me or on her hands and knees before me. I was open to all of them. Then I took in our size difference. She was over a foot and a half shorter than I was, and I had at least a hundred and seventy, possibly one eighty pounds on her. Hell, I was nervous about making love to her.

“We should go,” she whispered. “I could use a shower. You?”

“Point the way,” I whispered back, sweeping her up into my arms. I’d waited long enough for her. Cici was okay. Two of the four I’d been hunting were captured and would be headed to justice soon enough. The other two had already been served justice as far as I was concerned. For the rest of the night, I planned to have my mind preoccupied with one thing only. My mate.

Chapter Seven

~Belinda~

He carried me all the way upstairs toward my bedroom, and all I could think was that he’d be buried inside me soon. Deep inside me. Every long, thick inch of the erection I’d felt. All mine. Would it seem too greedy if I yanked the briefs someone had given him down his thighs and yelled gimme at the top of my lungs?

It would be juvenile. Unbecoming of the alpha’s sister. Definitely not what a virgin should do. But god, my want for him was like a physical ache deep inside. I’d wanted him since the first time I’d sensed him, somewhere out in the world searching for me. That want had turned into a visceral need over time. I needed him like I needed air to breathe.

“That room.” I pointed to my bedroom door then grabbed the handle and pushed it open, so he wouldn’t need to put me down.

I glanced around, trying to see what he saw. The bed wasn’t big enough. We’d need something bigger eventually. Mine would have to do for now. My dresser was cluttered, just as the counter in my bathroom was. I had clothes tossed on the chair in the corner. Shoes scattered across the floor. I was messy but not horribly so. Then I glanced back at Hannibal to see what he was thinking, but his gaze was solidly on me. I don’t think he even saw anything in the room.

He stopped at my bed and lowered me until my knees kissed the mattress. Even then I barely came to chest level. My mate was big. Immense. And my eyes hadn’t moved above his waist yet. Until his hands dropped to grasp the hem of my shirt. My gaze followed, and as he lifted, I raised my arms. He tossed it aside and immediately cupped my breasts. His thumbs stroked over my nipples, drawing them to tight points that begged for his lips.

“Please,” I cried, reaching for his shoulders.

Hannibal groaned as he lowered his head to my chest. His lips skimmed across the tops of my breasts while his thumbs still circled the tips.

“Hannibal.” My voice had a whimpery pleading tone I wasn’t used to.

“Shh,” he crooned reverently. “I’ve waited so long. Let me love you.”

He took his time with my breasts, and I let him. Each touch of his lips, the flick of his tongue, set fires within me that only he could put out. His touch was slow and methodical, driving me wild. I didn’t think my nipples could get much harder. His touch was so soft, reverent. I was close to begging again when his lips brushed lower, tracing the upper edge of my nipple. I moaned and arched my back, pressing closer to his lips.

He took the invitation, using his fingers to guide me to his mouth. He wrapped his lips around a good portion of my breast and sucked, using his tongue to lash my nipple against the roof of his mouth. I came with a guttural growl, soaking the pants I’d so recently pulled on.

I threaded my fingers through his dark hair and held him to me. Each hard pull rocked my core and sent more liquid to lubricate my sex and coat my thighs. Preparing me for the slide of him deep within me. Releasing his hair, I reached down and made quick work of undoing my jeans and pushing them down my thighs. Hannibal refused to release my breast, and I was unable to work them lower.

“Hannibal.”

He growled around my nipple, and I felt that vibration everywhere. His eyes glowed as he met my gaze, and I knew his wolf was close.

“I need you…inside me.”

He released me with a loud pop, and the next thing I knew, I was tumbled back onto the mattress. He grabbed my jeans, and I heard the denim rip as he stripped it from me. I was ready for him to do the same and join me. Instead, he leaned over me, pinning me to the bed with one of his massive arms draped over my stomach. He used his broad shoulders to spread my thighs wide, and I was momentarily embarrassed by how slick they were. Then he inhaled, drinking the scent of my need into his lungs. His eyelids fell to half-mast while his cheeks went ruddy. His expression was…carnal. Hungry. A feeling I equally reciprocated.

I was ready for him to pounce. To stake a claim. And he did. With his mouth. No slow and easy this time. He dove for my sex, running his tongue around my clit then gliding it down through my folds to flick at my opening. Then he thrust as far as his tongue could go, and if not for his arm anchoring me, I would have shot up off the bed. He fucked me with his tongue, widening it then curling it in and using it like a digit or a faux penis. He placed his thumb on my clitoris and rubbed tight circles over it. I came again quickly, and Hannibal licked every drop and kept going.

I thrashed and moaned, begged and pleaded, and he continued to gorge himself as if I were his last meal before dying. My fingers dug into his hair again and alternated between pressing him closer and trying to push him away. I came a third time, screaming his name so loud every wolf around had to have heard me. And I hadn’t even felt his cock inside me yet.

“Fuck me,” I pleaded.

He gripped my legs and jerked, bringing my ass to the edge of the mattress before shoving down his briefs and palming his cock. My mouth watered. I wanted to taste him the way he had me, but I got the idea he wouldn’t be on board with that right now.

He stared between my thighs, running his hand up and down his length. I wasn’t sure what he intended. It looked like he wasn’t, either. He might jackoff on me, marking me with his scent, and the thought turned me on. I wanted to watch him come, to see it spurt from the tip of his cock and coat me. I wanted to rub it into my skin so there would be no doubt I belonged. To him. With him.

Then he stepped into me and used his hand to swipe his glans through my wet folds. He used me to lube his cock, gliding up and down my slit, coating every inch of his shaft before letting it lodge in my opening. His gaze flicked up to hold mine as he pressed his hips forward, and I swear we both held our breaths as he slowly edged his way inside.

“You’re so fucking tight,” he groaned as he pulled back then eased in a little farther before doing the whole thing again. His face contorted as if he were in immense pain.

“You’re too big,” I countered, wiggling my hips as I tried to adjust.

“Do you want me to stop?”

My eyes had to bug out of the sockets at that. “Hell, no. I’m a virgin. I’ll stretch to accommodate you. I swear.”

He swallowed. “You’re my first, too.”

“I—What?”

He paused as he worked his length in me. “You heard me. You’re it for me. My first. My last. My only. I’m all yours, Belinda. Now and forever.”

Tears pooled in my eyes and slowly, dripped down my face. The only thing that prevented him from jerking out of me was the fact I quickly wrapped my legs around his waist and held on.

“You’re not hurting me,” I whispered, knowing exactly what he thought. “You’ve given me the best gift in the world.”

He stared at me, trying to see inside me, and I opened up, letting him know what I felt. I knew from the way his gaze softened that he felt it. Love. I was in love with my mate. Hell, I think I’d fallen for him before I even knew who he was. Definitely before I’d laid eyes on him. When I’d only sensed him. When I’d known, really known, that he was out there, looking for me.

“I love you,” he swore, leaning down to kiss me, and I used his distraction to sink my fingers into his ass and pull him in while I pushed up until every inch was buried inside me.

I swear my eyes rolled back in my head. Pretty sure his did, as well, but as I stared at the back of my skull, I couldn’t be sure. Okay, maybe, it was the back of my eyelids. Either way, I came again. My sheathe fluttered around his cock, pulling growls from his throat.

“I need—”

His voice cut off on the guttural growl that resonated through me.

“Yes,” I agreed. “Take what you need. Anything.”

One hand fell to my hip, curving around so he palmed my buttock. The other one pressed against the bed beside my head, holding his weight off me. I loosened the grip of my legs, and he began to ease out then back in. He took it slow, each glide smooth as he filled me. I lowered my legs so they gripped his hips, allowing more distance between us and giving him a better range of motion on each stroke. I turned my head toward the palm next to me and kissed over his fingers, his wrist, any part of him I could reach.

His cadence sped up, each thrust coming faster, hitting harder, deeper. My body rose toward another orgasm. Everything inside me tightened as if I were on the precipice of shifting, but I’d somehow gotten locked in my human skin. As if I were going to tear through my skin. I needed something, but I wasn’t sure what.

Then he was gone.

“Hannibal!”

“Over,” he commanded. “Hands and knees.”

I complied as quickly as I could, turning and glancing at him over my shoulder. He caressed my ass, smoothing his hands over me before pressing one palm between my shoulder blades until my nipples brushed the comforter. He plunged inside me in one hard thrust and set a frantic pace. He covered my hip with one hand while gripping my hair with the other. It was rough and primal and appeased the wolf inside me.

He bent over my back, using his grip in my hair to turn my head to the side, baring my neck and biting me again. My mouth fell open on a soundless scream as even my vocal chords seemed to have seized. It was the second time it had happened, and I briefly wondered if I should be concerned. Then I was flying, flung high in the pleasure that washed through my body, taking my tight muscles and turning them to liquid so I puddled beneath him. He released my shoulder, letting me fall to the bed while he held my hips up for his continued thrusts, riding through my orgasm and somehow, forcing it higher.

“Mine,” he growled as he came. “Finally.”

I nodded, and little mewling sounds left my lips in lieu of the words I couldn’t form. He collapsed atop me, and I shuddered beneath him, reaching back with one arm to hold him to me. I liked his weight on me. It was comforting.

“I’m crushing you,” he murmured and pushed up with his arms.

“No, please. I want to feel you against me.”

He grunted as he withdrew then rolled, tugging me until I was sprawled over him. His big hands cupped my ass cheeks, lifting and squeezing as he slid his cock back into me. I gasped when I realized he was still hard. He urged me to sit up, and another mewl spilled out at how deep he was in this position.

“Ride me,” he ordered, giving tiny pumps of his hips that lifted me higher onto my knees.

I took the prompt and, bracing my hands on his rock-hard abdomen, lifted and lowered myself on his cock. He reached for my breasts, pinching at my nipples before leaning up to take one in his mouth and suck greedily. We rocked together, finding our rhythm. At some point, my hands gripped his shoulders and his mouth moved to mine. There was something about staring into each other’s eyes that made it seem more erotic, that added another level of intimacy to our lovemaking. Our breathing synced. Everything synced, and when we came again, it was together.

Chapter Eight

~Hannibal~

I woke up with Belinda’s head on my chest. She had one thigh thrown over mine, and her arm lay low across my stomach, precariously close to my morning wood. She made a mewling sound I’d noticed during our lovemaking, and her hand dipped even lower, her fingertips brushing along my shaft. That mewl made me even harder. Her fingers had my cock bobbing up to say hello. She wrapped her small hand as far around me as she could and gave me a firm stroke as her tongue peeked out and licked over my nipple. My hips shot up from the bed, and I almost came.

I started to roll over, wanting to be inside her again more than anything.

“No,” she whispered giving me another squeeze. “It’s my turn.”

She kissed her way down my body, and I tensed with anticipation. She’d wanted to use her mouth on me several times during the night, but I’d been greedy. I’d told her she could, then I’d gone down on her instead. Once I had her taste on my tongue, had swallowed one release after another, it was only natural to slide up her body and thrust inside the wet and warmth of her sheathe. I hadn’t meant to deny her. She made me insatiable. I planned to gorge on her taste for a lifetime.

I nearly lost my mind at the first shy brush of her tongue over my glans. Then she came back for another taste and another. I reached down, gathering her hair in my fist so I could watch her. Light blue eyes met mine for a brief moment. Then she dropped her gaze and opened her mouth, engulfing my tip and sucking so hard her cheeks hollowed.

She had to feel the tremor that went through me, the racing of my heart, the way my stomach muscles contracted as I fought to remain still beneath her exploring touch. These sensations were all new. I hadn’t lied when I’d told her she was my first. I’d always been big for my age. Man-sized when I was only a boy. And there had always been my mother to protect. As a fully-grown man, most woman had shied away from me, and those who hadn’t, hadn’t interested me. Then I’d felt the pull of my mate, and I’d known she was out in the world somewhere, waiting for me to find her. Belinda James was worth every bit of the wait to find her. Worth a thousand lifetimes of waiting, though I was extremely glad it hadn’t come to that.

“Mmm,” she moaned around my flesh, and I felt the vibration of sound everywhere.

“That’s enough,” I groaned, tugging at her hair. I wanted her under me or over me or any way she wanted to be as long as I could thrust inside her tight sex.

“No.” She took her mouth away long enough to deny me. “It’s my turn to taste you. My turn to use my mouth to bring you pleasure. Please, Hannibal. I want to taste you.”

Those pleading blue eyes would be my undoing. I’d never be able to deny her anything. All she had to do was look at me with that needy expression on her face and I’d fold like a cheap table. I’d give her the world if she asked, or at least every part of it I could. Her lips curved up in a soft smile, and I almost groaned again. Her smile would prove my kryptonite, too. I’d do anything to see it always gracing her lips. Then her head dipped back down, and I almost swallowed my tongue as she deep-throated a good portion of my length.

I forced my eyelids to stay open so I could watch her. She knelt between my sprawled thighs. Both palms wrapped around my girth, and she moved her hands from my base to her lips as she worked her mouth down from my tip. Then she squeezed and twisted, emptying my mind of everything but what I was feeling. Each sensation ripped through me, tightening my balls with the need to give her what she hungered for.

“Belinda, baby. I’m going to come,” I warned, but she only increased her tempo and sucked harder.

I rocked my hips into her bobbing mouth and reached down to wrap my free hand around both hers on my shaft, tightening her grip and giving myself a rougher touch. She flicked her eyes up to meet mine, and I came so hard I was afraid of drowning her. I watched her face, scrutinizing as she swallowed every ounce I gave her and continued sucking for more. I swear she took my soul down her throat, as well.

I tugged, and she moved back, daintily licking my crown several times for any remaining seed before nuzzling against my groin then going lower to give my scrotum a kiss. Her fingers rubbed lazily over my abdomen, tracing circles over my skin while I caught my breath.

“I’m going with you when you leave.” She glanced up then, seeking my gaze and trying to read my thoughts.

“Come here.” I patted my chest, and she crawled up until she lay her head over my heart. “I won’t leave you.”

She nodded but didn’t look up at me.

“Belinda, look at me.”

She glanced up again, and I knew this was a conversation we couldn’t have lying down. I scooped her up and moved so she sat on my lap, my back against the headboard.

“I won’t leave you,” I swore. “Promise.”

“I…” She paused, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes for a long moment. “My parents couldn’t handle my gift.”

“The visions you have?”

She nodded. “I was six when I had the first one. Or at least, the first I remembered. I saw one of our pack getting attacked and killed. When it happened, the ones who knew about the vision said I was a witch. They wanted me sent away.” She shrugged. “Or killed.”

“Jesus,” I whispered, wrapping my arms more securely around her as if I could protect the six-year-old girl she’d been.

“Bastion was there. He was ten when I was born and was always more of a parent than a brother.”

That explained why he’d wanted her to stay with him and his pack. He’d been protecting her for a long time. But remaining with the James Pack would be my mate’s choice and no one else’s. If she wanted to stay, I’d find a way to earn her brother’s trust so we could. If she wanted to leave, we’d go wherever she wanted. Travel the world if that was her desire. I’d been smart with the money I’d earned. My investments were solid, more so with the sound advice my mom’s mate had given me. I had more money than Belinda and I could ever spend.

“What did he do when he found out what people were saying?”

“We left that night. Bastion should have been the next alpha, but he walked away. For me.”

I easily read the guilt she felt over that. I cupped her cheek and couldn’t resist leaning down to brush a soft kiss over her lips.

“Hate to break it to you, but your brother is an alpha.”

“Now. Do you know how hard it was for a sixteen-year-old boy to go on the run with a six-year-old who had visions she couldn’t control? Visons that called attention. Attention was the last thing we needed.”

“It seems like he handled it okay,” I assured her. “When he looks at you, it’s easy to see the bond you two share. The love. You know what I don’t see?”

“What?” she asked.

“Regret or blame. Your brother loves you, and I bet, even knowing the struggle he’d face, he’d do it all again. Because you matter to him. Makes me like him.”

“I want you to like him. I want you to…” She broke off, and uncertainty filled her gaze.

“What do you want?” I nudged her.

“I know we have to leave for a bit. And I want to meet your mom and her human mate. But…this is my home.”

“Even though your brother’s pack isn’t accepting of you?” That bothered me. A lot.

“They don’t know me. Not really. And despite what Raina said, it’s not all my brother’s fault. I hid away. I could have been more outgoing. People fear what they don’t know or understand, but when did I ever give them a chance?”

She rubbed her hands together in her lap, and I covered them with one of mine, squeezing them before taking one with mine and bringing it up to cup my face.

“If you want to stay, then we’ll stay. But you need to understand I won’t tolerate any negative comments about you. Period. I don’t care who makes them. They treat you with respect, or they face me. No exceptions.”

“You can’t beat up everyone, Hannibal,” she admonished.

“Can and will,” I countered, firming my tone to let her know I meant it.

“Now, you sound like my brother,” she countered with a laugh, reminding me he’d said the same thing when Raina had told him he couldn’t make people like or accept his sister.

Her lips tipped up into that lush smile of hers, and my heart beat faster just looking at her. Did this woman have no clue I’d worship the very ground she walked on?

“I think your size alone would be enough to make them cower,” she murmured.

“Does it bother you?”

“Your size?” At my nod, she shook her head frantically. “Never, Hannibal. I love your size. Every inch of you.” Her gaze dropped to my lap. “Some inches more than others on occasion.”

I growled, and she giggled. That giggle lit my heart aflame. I tumbled her back to the bed, spreading her thighs with mine and slid home inside her. She caught her breath as her eyes glazed with passion. I laced my hands with hers and pinned them to the bed over her head.

“I can’t believe, less than twenty-four hours ago, I wasn’t sure I’d live long enough to meet you.”

My chest rumbled in denial of that statement, but it was a reminder I needed to check on Makers and Hutch.

“I’ll make arrangements to take them back, once I can leave your body alone long enough to get out of this bed.”

“You’ll like my brother’s inner circle once you all get to know one another,” Belinda assured me. “They’re great guys.”

“If your mind is on other men, I must be doing something wrong.” I followed my words up with a hard thrust that pushed every inch of my cock deep.

“What men?” Belinda moaned.

I chuckled, lowering my head so I could nip along her jaw to her lips. She opened, her tongue slicking across her bottom lip, and I followed it back inside her mouth with mine. We were making up for all the years of waiting to find one another. We’d had sex no less than six times the night before, and I was still as hungry for her as I’d been that first time. Every time was somehow better than the time before. Plus, there was something about smelling my scent on her, smelling her on me. It spoke to my wolf, calming the beast inside me.

We dozed on and off all day, waking only to reach for each other and make love again. It was a wonder neither of us were sore, but apparently, the marathon sex was in our nature. She was slick with need every time I reached for her, and my cock hardened at the touch of her fingers or lips. God, her lips. It turned out my mate had as voracious an appetite for my cum as I did for hers. I knew at some point we’d have to leave the room for another source of nourishment, but for now, she was all I needed.

Chapter Nine

~Belinda~

Three days. We spent three days naked in my bed. Raina had knocked on the door and left food for us, which Hannibal grabbed and brought in, feeding me from his fingers. I’d wondered at some of Raina’s food choices. Chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Then Hannibal had drizzled some chocolate onto my nipples, and we’d gotten very creative after that. God bless my sister-in-law.

Bastion broke the spell on day three, beating on our door and demanding our presence downstairs. Hannibal and I took our time in the shower then spent another half hour on the bed before finally tugging on clothes. Thankfully, someone had gone to get Hannibal’s truck and brought up his bag. Though, I really did prefer him naked.

“If we’re staying here, we’re getting our own place,” Hannibal groused as he held open the door for me.

“There’s a place up the road we could look at. It just came on the market, and Bastion was going to look at it, anyway. For the pack.”

“Do you want it?”

“I’d love for us to look at it. There’s a huge pool in the back that looks like a private lagoon with a waterfall. And they have a mother-in-law cottage. In case, your mom ever wanted to visit.”

He cupped my face and dropped a kiss on my lips. “She’ll definitely want to visit. Thank you for thinking of her.”

I’d left my mother as a young girl, and though Bastion had seen to my every need, there was no feminine side to him. I didn’t remember what it was to have a mother, but I knew Hannibal was very close to his. He’d spoken of her often in our conversations. I really hoped she liked me, even a little bit.

“We’ll go look later today. Do you have a number, so we can set it up?”

I nodded. “I can get it from my brother or Raina.”

“Make the call.” He held out his hand to me. “Ready?”

“To show off my amazing mate to the pack? Absolutely!”

“I think that’s my line,” he murmured, giving me another kiss. Before it could get too heated, I pulled away, tugging on him to follow me downstairs. I knew my brother, and his appearance this morning said he wasn’t waiting any longer. I figured part of it was checking on me, to make sure I was happy. That Hannibal was treating me right. I didn’t think Bastion wanted to know how right my mate was treating me, but I’d make sure he knew I was ecstatically happy. And I’d talk to him about my mate and me staying, being a part of the James Pack.

“He’s in the den,” Raina said as we reached the main floor. Then she raced over and caught me up in a hug. “I’m so happy for you. God, you’re glowing. And you!”

She moved right into Hannibal and gave him a solid squeeze. My mate didn’t seem to know how to respond to that. He sort of patted her shoulder and looked toward me with a bit of panic on his face. It was obvious he wasn’t used to near strangers hugging him. But Raina was my sister-in-law, and once she decided she liked someone, she was openly affectionate. It drove my brother nuts. She was so good for him.

“Go on in. I’ve got to go check on a patient, but I’ll be back soon. Maybe, we can hang out and have some girl chat.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me and laughed as she headed out the door.

“She’s a whirlwind,” Hannibal stated with a shake of his head.

“She’s fierce and loyal and the perfect match for my brother. I knew she was meant for him when I saw her picture on Bastion’s desk.”

“Her picture?”

“The old Rigton Pack came to my brother and asked him to take them in. Even suggested Raina as a potential mate to sweeten the offer. One look at her and my brother was in love. Said she would be his mate or no deal.”

“And she fell in line with that?” Hannibal questioned, his expression clearly one of doubt.

I shook my head. “Complacent isn’t in her description.”

We walked into the den, hand-in-hand, smiling at each other. I was surprised to see Bastion in there alone. Usually Cyan or Taylor were with him. Or Simon. Simon was almost always with him or lingering somewhere nearby. He was my brother’s private guard, though most didn’t realize that. Simon gave off a bookish, non-threatening vibe, but he was as lethal as any of the inner circle, equally deadly in human or wolf form.

“Glad to see you’re both alive,” my brother muttered, bracing his elbows on his desk as he took visual inventory of us. “Have a seat and let’s talk.”

Hannibal went to lead me to the chairs facing Bastion’s desk, but I shook my head and pointed toward the sitting area on the other side of the room by the fireplace.

“I saw Raina on her way out,” I offered as I took a seat on the couch and pulled Hannibal down next to me.

“She’s gone to check on our guests,” my brother stated, standing and coming around his desk to join us. “Something we need to discuss. Makers and Hutch are ready for travel. You can leave in the morning. Longer than that, I can’t guarantee they’ll be alive for the trip.”

“We’ve got plans this afternoon, but we can be ready to go by morning,” Hannibal replied.

“You. Belinda can stay here. There’s no point in dragging her with you when you’ll be heading right back.”

“Belinda goes with me,” Hannibal stated softly, but there was no missing the edge in his voice.

“We’re going to look at that house that just went up for sale. We’ll need our own place and—”

“You’re staying with the pack?” Bastion questioned.

I nodded. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I heard the relief in his voice, and it nearly broke me. “You can live here. You don’t need to move out.”

“Not happening,” Hannibal said with a laugh.

“Fine, if that’s the place you want, we’ll go look at it. Put a bid on it.”

“Belinda and I are going to look at it. Alone. If my mate wants it, then I’ll get it for her.”

Bastion rumbled at Hannibal’s words, and my mate growled right back.

“Let’s get something straight, James. Belinda is my mate, and I’ll be the one taking care of her from now on. She loves you and would like to remain a part of this pack, and I want to give her everything she desires. I can bring a lot to the pack, or I can sleep here and keep doing my own thing. That choice is yours. I’ll abide by whatever you decide. What I won’t do is make Belinda choose between the brother she loves and the mate she’s been waiting for. I love your sister. She’s my priority.”

Bastion lowered his head for a moment and forcefully blew out his breath. “I know she’s been waiting for you, but I don’t know how to let her go. I don’t…” He swallowed and glanced up at the ceiling.

“Then don’t let me go,” I whispered, coming to my feet and crossing to him. “I’m right here. I want to stay right here. But I need you to accept Hannibal. I need him to be welcome here. I need that.”

Bastion pulled me close and hugged me tight. His cheek rested atop my head for a long moment, and I felt the press of his lips before he let me go and shooed me back toward Hannibal.

“First off, you’re welcome here, Hannibal. You’re family. I’d like to go with you to look at the property, as well as having Anthony go with us. I’ll want him to check out the layout from a defense standpoint. If her kidnapping has taught me anything, it’s that there are those who aren’t afraid to use her to try and get to me.”

I recognized it for the olive branch it was and held my breath as I waited to see how Hannibal would respond.

“Makes sense. Protecting her is essential, especially if I have to head out for a job. I need to know she’s safe.”

“Wait. I’ll be going with you,” I interrupted.

“What exactly is it you do?” Bastion asked.

“I hunt down rogue wolves and bring them back to face the consequences of their actions,” Hannibal answered.

“By yourself?” Bas asked.

“That’s generally the idea. Where is my sister, by the way?”

“Cici took off for your mom’s.” Bastion cleared his throat. “Simon went after her to make sure she arrived safely.”

Oh, that was interesting and explained Simon’s absence. Had Bastion done it because she was my mate’s sister? Maybe, as a way of showing Hannibal he belonged? God, I hoped so.

“We’ve been looking at ways to diversify and bring in more income since our numbers have grown,” Bastion continued. “Would you be interested in letting the pack help on your cases? We can work out a cut on whatever your fee is.”

“We can do that. I have no problem contributing to the pack. I’ll need to remain the point of contact, for now. I’ve made a name for myself among the packs. They know me. Know I’ll get the job done. I’ve proven I deserve the fee I charge.”

“I want to be involved,” I said again since neither of them had responded earlier. “I want to go with you.”

Hannibal nodded and linked our finger together, bringing my hand to his mouth and placing a soft kiss on the back.

“My mate goes where I go.”

“Then we’ll get some of the others trained to takeover. Let you oversee things from here. Unless you want to be on the road a lot,” Bastion offered.

“No, I can oversee most of it from here. Unless it’s a job that requires traveling to the pack first, so I can get a feel for the situation. I’ve been called to locate a few runaways, who needed to remain gone. You can’t always know that through email or a phone call.”

“Understood,” Bastion agreed. “What about your family? Do you think your mother and her mate will want to move closer with their kids here?”

“Their kids? I doubt Cici will stay here,” Hannibal said with a laugh.

Bastion paused for a moment. Opened his mouth then shook his head with a sigh. “Do you think she’ll let you out of her sight that easily? Cici followed you here to begin with.”

Hannibal laughed. “You might want to rethink it if she stays. Cici has a way of stepping in and taking over. She’s a bit of a mother hen that way.”

Bastion swallowed and shook his head. “Then we’ll have to figure out something to put her in charge of. If she stays. What exactly does your sister do when she’s not chasing after you?”

“She teaches self-defense.”

“Cici?” Bastion questioned.

“She’s little but fierce,” Hannibal defended.

“We’ll find a place for her,” Bastion stated. “As well as your parents, if this is where they want to be.”

“The house we’re looking at has a mother-in-law cottage on the property,” I offered.

“When are you looking?” Bastion asked.

“I have to get the number and call first,” I admitted.

“I’ll take care of it,” Hannibal said, giving me a kiss then standing. “I have some calls to make anyway. I’ll be right outside while I give you two a few minutes together.”

He squeezed my hand and gave me a wink before he left. Bastion and I sat in the silence for a moment. Comfortable with one another.

“All those visions that he was coming, and you never realized how fucking big your mate would be?” Bastion huffed.

I laughed, and my brother cracked a smile and opened his arms for me. I went, wrapping myself in his hug. He’d been my rock since I was six years old. No, before that. Long before that.

“You and me against the world, kiddo,” he murmured.

“Well, we might have to include Raina and Hannibal and the rest of the James Pack now, but yes,” I agreed.

“I look at you, and I still see the tiny girl with ponytails, skinned knees, and big, blue eyes. When did you grow up on me?”

“When you weren’t looking,” I offered.

He shook his head. “I’ll always watch over you. No matter how old you get.” He gave me another squeeze then stepped back. “I’m glad you’re staying here. It’s where you belong.”

Home. After all our years on the run, Bastion had built a home just as he’d always promised when I was a kid. A home for us and the families we’d make.

“I love you, too, Bastion,” I whispered then left my brother’s side and headed to my mate.

Chapter Ten

~Hannibal~

We spent the rest of the afternoon with my mate’s brother, and I watched him grow more at ease with me as the day wore on. I figured it was buying the house. Belinda fell in love with it when we walked through, and I loved her. I offered a cash bid for the full asking price, so I doubted we’d encounter any issues.

Belinda hadn’t been there for that moment, but Bastion had. He hadn’t said a thing, but I didn’t have anything to hide when it came to my money. It was a big house, bigger than I’d anticipated, but I could easily see it spilling over with children’s laughter and the sound of their running feet. Our children. Part of me hoped she was already pregnant. I had every intention of keeping her that way until she said otherwise.

“What are you thinking about?” Belinda asked when we finally made our way back upstairs to her room. I’d need to have my mom get movers to transport my bed here. It had been special-made for a man of my size, and I missed it.

“Children,” I answered honestly.

She dropped her hand to cup her stomach, and I paused at the top of the stairs.

“Are you?”

She shook her head. “Not yet, but soon. There’s going to be lots of babies soon. Our first one’s a boy.” Her eyes got wide. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”

“Why not?” I asked her.

“In case, you wanted to be surprised.”

“I’m good with knowing.” My gaze dropped to her belly. “A boy, huh?”

She grinned. “There will be a surge of new life here soon. Everyone’s finding their mates. We’re going to flourish and grow.”

“Vision?” I wanted to learn more about that side of her. I was still curious about the connection we’d made.

“Yes,” she admitted. “A good one.”

“They’re not all good?” I continued as she led me back down the hallway toward her bedroom. “Of course not. I’m sorry. You told me about the one when you were six. I’m sure seeing someone die wasn’t a good vision.”

“No. I’ve learned, though, and my brother has helped me. I know how to lock in and look for hints as to when and where. It helps if there’s someone there for me to talk to as I see things. I don’t always remember every detail afterwards. They’re always what could happen. Every choice made can alter the outcome.”

“And the connection we made. Have you ever had that happen before?” I held open her door then closed and locked it as we stepped inside.

“No. Never. I…” She shook her head. “It caught me completely by surprise. It felt as if you were looking through my eyes, speaking through me.”

“I was. It, uh, it was unnerving. Left me disoriented for a minute.” I cupped her face. “It was also one of the most amazing moments of my life. To have that kind of connection with someone. Not just someone. My mate. My other half. There’s nothing like it. I hope we’re able to do it again, though I’d prefer it never be in a situation like that.”

“Me, either,” she admitted with a grin. “And I wanted to thank you for making my brother so comfortable today.”

“He was afraid of losing you,” I whispered, cupping her face and lifting it to mine. “It’s a fear I understand.”

“You’re not going to lose me. You didn’t have to agree to stay here, but you did. For me. Do you need to go back to your pack and let your alpha know?”

“I don’t have a pack or an alpha. It’s just me.”

“And Cici and your mom and her mate,” Belinda replied.

I nodded. “We’ll visit them as often as you’d like, but I don’t think they’ll decide to move here. My mother and Cain will stick close to Cici.”

Belinda gave me a look.

“What?”

“Bastion’s right. Your sister followed you here. Why wouldn’t she stay if she knows she’s welcome?”

I shook my head, giving a chuckle. “Trust me when I say there’s no understanding Cici. She’s always doing what I least expect.”

Belinda laughed. “She sounds like a fun person to be around.”

“No,” I muttered. “When you meet, you won’t let her talk you into any of her crazy schemes.”

“I’ll do my best to hold out against her.” She smiled. “Of course, that’s assuming she even likes me.”

Her words trailed off as she looked at my face. I could only imagine what she saw in my gaze. “Baby, Cici’s going to love you. As will my mom and Cain. Promise.”

“You can’t know that for sure,” she countered.

“They’ll love you because I do. My mother… She’ll adore you. One look at how happy I am with you, and you’ll be her favorite person.”

I saw the hope in her eyes and realized how hungry for acceptance my mate was. It made me want to beat every wolf who’d ever made her feel otherwise.

“Did you get a hold of Cici earlier?” she asked, distracting me from my plotting.

“Texted. She’ll call me when she gets home.”

I’d called and left a message for her when I’d left Belinda alone with her brother. Cici hadn’t called me back yet. She’d sent a text saying she was driving and would talk to me later. After a few more texts, where she assured me she wasn’t currently driving but stopping for gas and road snacks, she’d said she was sore, tired, but physically fine. She hadn’t said anything about the James Pack, and for some reason, I hadn’t thought to tell her Simon was following her. I’d have to remember to share that information when she finally called.

I’d already decided I’d check on her when I stopped by mom’s on the way back from delivering Makers and his cronies. I wanted Cici to see Belinda now that she wasn’t beaten all to hell and chained at the ankle. Just the memory of my mate like that made me want to go to where the James Pack was holding Makers and Hutch. It should satisfy me that Makers arm wasn’t healing. Instead, it hung loosely at his side. He’d raged and threatened. Bastion had threatened to open his cell and let me or Taylor in to finish him off. Makers had paled when we’d told him where he was going in the morning and the justice that would be served. I knew Bastion was sending Taylor as he needed to watch Makers die as much as I did.

“Hey.” Belinda slid her body against mine. “What are you thinking of?”

“You.”

I reached down and cupped her ass, lifting her higher so I could kiss her like I wanted. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I moved until she was caught between the wall and me. She ground her sex against my erection as I ate at her mouth. God, I could drown in this woman. Every inch of her. Right now, we had far too many layers of clothing between us.

I braced her weight on my hips and used my hands to jerk her shirt over her head. She was already working on her bra while I tossed her shirt to the floor. I cupped her breasts, lifting them as I dropped my mouth to cover one swollen tip. She tunneled her hands through my hair, her nails scraping lightly against my scalp, and I swore my cock was going to break my zipper.

I moved to her other breast, giving it the same gluttonous treatment. I could spend hours sucking her nipples. Days. Years. Then I caught the scent of her lust, and there was something far more tantalizing I wanted to eat. I dropped her to her feet and went to my knees before her, making quick work of her pants and shoving them down her legs until they caught on her shoes. She was keening and moaning, when I finally managed to get one leg free and lift it over my shoulder.

God, the scent of her made my mouth water. I dove, licking from her clitoris down to her opening and back up to suck the taut bud into my mouth. She pumped her hips into my face, craving what I could give her. I pressed one arm over her hips using my fingers to hold her folds open, so I could see every luscious pink inch of her. I used my other hand to play, rimming her opening with my finger while I sucked her clit.

“Put your finger inside me, Hannibal. Please.”

I thrust the digit deep. Then did it again while I continued sucking. Her hips pumped in time with the thrust of my finger, and I added another. I brought her to orgasm then moved my mouth lower so I could drink her down, pressing my tongue inside to consume every drop. I took my time, making her come again and then a third time before my cock made me pull my mouth away.

I made quick work of removing her other shoe and finished stripping her. Then I scooped her up and tossed her into the middle of her bed. I watched her bounce in all the best ways as I jerked my shirt over my head. I tossed it aside then went to work on my jeans. Belinda was putting on quite the show while I undressed. One hand petted between her thighs while the other played with her nipples. I stood there, shaft in hand, stroking while I watched. She crooked her finger and motioned me forward.

I crawled up the bed until I covered her body, my hips forcing her legs wider until I could settle against her. Her mouth crashed up to mine as I rubbed my crown up and down her folds, coating myself in her slick juices. Our tongues dueled as I thrust deep and hard, pulling that sweet mewl from Belinda’s lips again. There was something about the sound that wrapped around my balls and gave them a squeeze.

I rode her hard, each stroke into her depths rocking me from head to toe. You’d think we hadn’t spent all last night making love in this very bed. Our need for one another was that desperate.

We rolled across the bed, switching positions at whim, discovering what each of us liked best. I think both of us seemed to prefer her on her hands and knees with me covering her from behind. Maybe, it was a wolf thing. It certainly spoke to the animal in me, and from the yelling she did, it spoke to hers, as well.

“Harder,” she panted out between breaths, and I did my best to comply.

I was learning what she liked as quickly as she decided she liked it. She’d issue a command, and I’d follow through until I knew exactly what she wanted. Harder didn’t always mean harder. Sometimes, it meant moving my body so I hit the exact spot inside her where she needed me. I didn’t just listen to her words. I followed the signals her body gave. Listened to what brought out that delicious mewl and had her hands fisting in the blankets beneath us.

“Hannibal! Hannibal! Oh, god, Hannibal!”

I drove through her orgasm, my breath pumping from my lungs as I held off my own release long enough to ensure she enjoyed every moment of hers. Only when she went boneless beneath me did I give in to the lure of pleasure. I held up her hips and pumped every inch as deep as I could go. I wanted that little boy she saw in our future. I wanted to fill our new home with all the children we could. A home, a family, all with my mate. My bellow shook the walls as I came so hard I overflowed her channel.

My hands were rough on her hips. My shaft buried deep, trying to get every drop of seed where it needed to be. After long moments, I took us both down to the bed. She loved the weight of me atop her, but I made sure I withheld a good portion of said weight. Then when I’d caught my breath, I rolled off her, collapsing at her side with one arm thrown over my eyes. Belinda immediately turned to me, placing a kiss on my chest before lying her head there.

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you happy,” I swore.

“I know,” she whispered, propping her head up on her fists to meet my gaze. A grin split her lips. “I already saw it.”

Epilogue

~Belinda~

Fifteen Months Later

I stood in the doorway, watching Hannibal cradle our son against his bare chest. My mate was incredibly gentle. He’d been afraid to even hold Oliver at first. My husband was a big man, and Oliver looked tiny in his father’s hands.

“Planning to stand there staring, or are you going to join us?” Hannibal’s gaze met mine, and I swear my heart sighed. There was something about seeing Oliver curled on his dad’s chest. I’d never get tired of it.

“I’m enjoying the view,” I murmured, not leaving the doorway.

Hannibal moved toward the crib and carefully lay Oliver down. I moved closer then, staring down at my son, the spitting image of his father except for one thing. When awake he had my light blue eyes. My mate pressed his finger to his lips and tugged me out the door and into our adjoining bedroom.

“How long do you think we have?” he whispered, making quick work of his jeans.

I wanted to giggle, but I wanted him more, so I stayed quiet, shedding clothes as quickly as Hannibal did. We both knew it could be anywhere from ten minutes to, hopefully, a few hours. Oliver preferred to be held when he was sleeping. Now that Hannibal’s mom, Leslie, and her mate Cain lived in the mother-in-law cottage on our property, Oliver was held a lot. Spoiled rotten and I loved every moment of it.

I’d been worried about whether or not she’d like me, but Hannibal had been right. She loved me. So much so she’d told me to call her mom. Hell, she’d proclaimed herself the mom of the whole pack, and this wayward band of misfits and bastards had soaked up her motherly love and attention.

All thought left my head as Hannibal reached for me. We came together in a crash. I’d barely lasted the six weeks Hannibal had made me wait after giving birth to Oliver. I kept telling him that was for humans not wolf shifters, but he hadn’t bought it. Now, we were back to having trouble keeping our hands off each other, and my husband’s hands were amazing. Especially the way he used them between my thighs right now.

I sank my teeth into my bottom lip to stave off my moan. I knotted my hands in the covers beneath me, while Hannibal skimmed his lips down my body to join his hands. The things he did had my eyes rolling back in my head as I arched my spine and clenched my thighs around his shoulders. I grabbed the pillow and pulled it over my head, smothering my cries as I came then came again.

Hannibal moved back up my body with a low chuckle, stopping briefly to softly kiss my nipples before tugging away the pillow and claiming my lips. I wrapped my legs around him, rubbing my sex wantonly along his shaft.

“You want that, baby?” he murmured at my ear.

“Mmm,” I agreed, ready to beg, but he didn’t make me. He slid slowly into me, taking his time.

“I love you.”

I’d never grow tired of hearing him say that to me. Never. Those three words were the best in the world, though “I want you” held a close second.

“I love you.” I framed his face with my hands and brought his lips back to mine.

We made love as if it were our first time all over again. Slow and easy interspersed with fast and hard, moving across the bed as we switched positions at a whim. We’d explored and learned what we liked. It still stunned me that this perfect man had waited for me, that I had been his first and only lover. I’d never once thought about my mate coming to me that way, but knowing it did things to me, emotionally. Knowing I was the only woman in the world who’d ever touched him intimately, made love with him. I’m sure it was similar to how he felt knowing he was my one and only, too.

He brought me to pleasure three more times, and I barely managed to muffle my cries. I was on my hands and knees when the last orgasm hit me, leaving me in a boneless puddle on the mattress. Hannibal held my hips up while he thrust toward his release. He came with a grunt, and as his seed hit my womb, the vision hit me. I mumbled into the pillow, but my words were hidden from my mate. It wasn’t until he collapsed atop me that I turned my head, and he got a look at my pupils. He immediately rolled off me, pulling me onto his chest while one big hand stroked soothingly up and down my spine.

“What did you see?”

I smiled, dropping my lids closed as I nuzzled into him.

“Bee?” he prompted when I didn’t answer immediately.

“It was a good one,” I promised.

“Can you share?”

I appreciated him asking me that. Sometimes, I had visions about those around us, and some of them could be personal in nature to those people. Not that I’d kept any secrets from my mate, but I loved that he always asked. And he never spoke of what I shared with him.

I propped my chin on my hands and stared at him. “How many kids did you say you wanted?”

He gave me a strange look but answered. “As many as you want. Why?”

“I’m pretty sure Oliver’s going to have a sibling in another nine months.”

“What?” Hannibal immediately sat up and pulled me into his lap, palming my belly with wonder. “You saw a baby?”

“Do twins run in your family?”

“Twins?” He swallowed as his gaze bounced between my face and my belly.

He’d worried himself almost sick during my pregnancy with Oliver. Driving me and everyone else crazy as he made sure I had everything I needed or wanted and some things I’d never even considered. He’d tried to coddle me and even carried me around whenever he’d decided I’d been on my feet too long. It had been funny at first. Romantic even. Then it had gotten on my nerves. His mom had stepped in several times to help me keep my sanity.

“Boys,” I answered his unspoken question.

“Three boys.” I saw the excitement on his face stray toward worry and felt the need for a subtle reminder.

“Hannibal.”

“Anything you want, baby. Name it, and it’s yours.”

“I love you more than anything in the world.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

“But if you pull half the stuff you did when I was pregnant with Oliver…” I stopped midsentence and shook my head. I already saw the plans forming in his mind. He was going to drive me absolutely crazy again. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Want to know what happens next with the James Pack? You can find more at laceythorn.com

About the Author

Lacey is a hyper blonde, bouncing through life with her magical bracelets of positivity. A die-hard gamer (she refuses to call it an addiction), she resides in Oklahoma, mom to three awesome children, one mini goldendoodle, and a black cat. She has a passion for life and romance. She writes possessive, alpha heroes who demand everything from the women they love. Her stories reflect her strong family ties, friendships that showcase how some family consists of those we choose, and a goofy sense of humor that helps keep her laughing through all life’s ups and downs.

She loves to chat with anyone and often does to the annoyance of her children who are always in a hurry. If you want to talk books, television, movies, actors, World of Warcraft, prepping for the zombie apocalypse, or music (she loves music!), drop her a line at laceythorn2007@gmail.com.

Lacey’s Booklist

Awakening Pride Series

Their Wild One (Prequel)

Waking the Beast

Tempting the Tiger

Freeing the Feline

Saving the Beast

A Jaguar's Touch

The Liger's Mark

Unleashing the Beast

Eyes on the Pride

Cry of the Pride

Awakening Pride: The Holloways

His to Bear (comes between The Liger's Mark and Unleashing the Beast)

Claimed by the Grizzly

Rumble and Growl

Kodiak’s Heart

James Pack Series

Alpha's Unwilling Mate

Beta's Virgin Bride

Wolf’s Wild Woman

Bee’s Enraged Beast

Knight's Watch Series

Prequel: Beautiful Dreamer

Jagged Hearts

Craving Sin

The Billionaire’s Knight

Bare Love Series

His Bare Obsession

Bare Confessions

Bare Seduction

Something More Series (Previously Girls Night Out Series)

More Than One Night (Previously Jack's Dee-Light)

More Than Friends (Previously What Friends Are For)

More Than I Do (Previously Marital Bliss)

Pleasures Series

The Greyson Sisters Trilogy:

Cuffed for Pleasure

Heated for Pleasure

SEALed for Pleasure

Pleasures Anthology: The Greyson Sisters

The Angel Investigations Trilogy

Guarded for Pleasure

Roped for Pleasure

Arranged for Pleasure

Pleasures Anthology: Angel Investigations

The Foster Sisters Trilogy

Cured by Pleasure

Faithful in Pleasure

Agents of Pleasure

Pleasures Anthology: The Foster Sisters (coming soon)

Stand Alone Pleasures Stories

Bewitched for Pleasure

Hammered with Pleasure

Wrapped in Pleasure

Alpha Enforcer Squad Trilogy

Enforced Love

Love by Command

Breaking Into Love

Stand Alone Books

Chaps and Lace

Finding Home

Grave Magic

Santa Maybe

One Good Man (with Cindy Spencer Pape)