A Broken Bond (6 page)

* * * *

Rylie had remained silent during the drive back to Cody. The scent of Layne’s rage was enough to keep her quiet. What she had done was the highest betrayal to werewolves, and she had even upped the ante since her mate was an Alpha.

There was no doubt in her mind she deserved what was coming to her. Her father had raised her within these rules. She knew this could have been her fate when she’d left. She accepted that. That was not what stole her thoughts. It was Cash who kept her mind reeling. It was wrong of her to let herself believe there was more to his feelings for her than just pity over her situation. The way he’d looked at her, how he’d made love to her…she had believed he cared. Obviously, that assumption had been wrong. He had l
et her leave without a moment’s hesitation¯not a single word to stop it.

And it broke her heart into a million pieces.

Now, surrounded by the pack of Wyoming, she sat at Layne’s feet on the cold grass and never had she felt so alone. She’d committed the unthinkable and the disgust on every face and in the words spoken here only proved it.

Layne raised his hands for the crowd to quiet. They responded immediately. “We all know why we are here. Rylie has condemned herself for her betrayal of me and her pack.”

Loud shouts of agreement ran through the field next to what had once been her family’s home. Layne had taken it as his own now. A stone bungalow that had seen five generations of her bloodline. Now, nothing of that happiness resided here.

“Rylie.” A scream cut through the cheering crowd. Rylie raised her head to find Devan restraining Chloe. “You can’t do this,” she shrieked. “Stop this now.”

Layne growled at Chloe. Devan instantly covered Chloe’s mouth with his hand and dragged her from the field to vanish from sight as she screamed and cried, kicking madly.

Rylie gulped. Chloe, she would miss. But her fate was written. No one could save her now.

Or so she thought.

“I agree, this is going to stop,” a deep voice rang out. “Now.”

The crowd, including Rylie, snapped her head toward the voice. Cash, Blaine, and some others of the Montana pack were striding toward them.

“Blaine,” Layne roared. “What is the meaning of this?”

Blaine shook his head, grinning. “It is not for me to answer.”

A
moment later, Cash reached Rylie. He cupped his hands under her arms and pulled her up. Then, he took her into his arms and kissed her. Her breath was lost as his lips came with force, almost in a show of strength. Meant as an apology¯one she heard loud a
nd clear.

“He should not have taken you. That will never happen again,” he growled against her lips.

As he backed away, she couldn’t wrap her head around this. “You’re here...for me?” Her voice was as shocked as she felt inside.

Cash arched a brow and smiled. “You are my mate.”

Tears filled her eyes. The one line spoken from his lips filled her with so much joy she could only cry in response. Her heart grew with enough love she thought it might burst wide open.

Suddenly, Layne shouted, “Release her!”

Cash placed Rylie into the arms of Blaine, who wrapped both arms around her tightly as if to protect her. She immediately sank against him, feeling the safety only found in a man. Her body trembled from a thousand emotions she still couldn’t get a grip on. Too much had happened for her mind to keep up.

Cash turned to the crowd, which included Layne. “I challenge Layne for Alpha of Wyoming.” Whispers of shock and disbelief ran over the crowd.

Layne’s gaze narrowed. “Is that so?”

Cash’s nod came harsh. “Do you accept my challenge?”

“I do,” Layne declared, and he stepped forward. His shoulders rose to show his size. He shifted, as did Cash.

In the wake of two men were two strong wolves. Layne was black and deathly. Cash, a mixture of sand and white. Both powerful in height and weight, ears pinned to their heads, eyes glowing, and teeth barred in a growl.

As if hit by cold water, Rylie awakened to the realization of what was about to happen. Her heart may have been overwhelmed by his claim of her, to know she was not alone in these feelings of love, but now Cash was in danger. “No, you have to stop him,” she shouted at Blaine. “He could die.”
Die for me.

Blaine tightened his arms around her. “He won’t.” His voice held strong and sure.

She would have said more, argued more, demanded that this stop, but the fight had already begun.

Fur.

Teeth.

Growls.

Blood.

Rylie couldn’t watch. She spun around into Blaine’s hold and he held her tighter. His body was tense, trembling as if he was holding himself back from stepping in and assisting his friend.

Howls of pain made her raise her hands to her ears. Cash looked strong enough to defeat Layne, but then again, so had her father, and he was now dead. If his life was lost here, she couldn’t bear to watch him die. Never had she needed anyone as much as she needed him.

Blaine reached up, cupped her head, and brought her as close to him as he could. He was protecting her, just as an Alpha should one of his wolves. Men shouted, encouraging the fight. Rylie wanted this to be over. Cash had come here to protect her, had come to prove himself as her mate.

Something she had longed for had finally happened. She belonged to someone she wanted, someone who loved her, and who’d die to keep her. But now, she could lose him.

Loud howls shook right into her soul. She hadn’t known Cash long enough to recognize his howl. One of the wolves was growing weaker. She couldn’t tell if it was him. The mate bond held strong, but that meant nothing. It would only diminish at the moment of death.

Needing to know, she turned her head away from Blaine’s chest. Blood drenched the grass, as well as pieces of wolf. As her gaze followed along the ground, relief came instantly. Layne was panting, his back legs dragging behind him as Cash circled him, stalking, his lips raised to show bloody teeth.

A second later, it was over.

Layne was dead.

Cash shifted. His voice came out powerful and demanding. “Acknowledge me as Alpha.”

The pack of Wyoming shifted, the magic shedding their clothes. Rylie followed bowing down in submission to her Alpha. But soon after, a finger under her furry chin brought her gaze up. Cash had a smile that sent desire, love and a lifetime of happiness through her. “My mate will never submit to me or to anyone.”

Her shift came instantly. Tears spilled from her eyes. “You saved me.”

Cash reached up, cupped her cheek, and ran his thumb across her skin. “Our bond may not have been destined, but it holds just as true¯two souls j
oining to save each other.” He lowered his mouth to hers and whispered against her lips, “And you have saved mine, Rylie. For that, my heart will always be yours.” With his mouth still on hers, he lifted her into his arms. Her legs straddled his waist as her arms wrapped around his neck.

Here, was safe.

Rylie felt Cash’s muscles tremble beneath her hands while she felt her way along his strong shoulders. She could hardly believe how this had all played out. He had come for her. She still wasn’t sure if she accepted this as true. But she ignored her disbelief and focused on him. And just how happy she was at this moment.

Layne, the man who had killed her family, was dead. She was no longer in his clutches and she had Cash.

His mouth was firm and demanding against hers, unlike the sweet touch she had experienced before. And that was perfectly fine with her.

Suddenly, though, a scream tore through the air around her. Cash released her mouth and glanced to the side as he continued to stride forward. Chloe ran toward them with Devan in tow. Tears tracked down her cheeks.

“You’re okay...you’re here.” She finally plowed into them. Her arms wrapped around Rylie’s back so she hugged Cash, too. “What happened...how did this happen?”

Cash chuckled. “The how would be me.”

“The new Alpha,” Devan said as he approached. Once there, he bowed his head in a proper way. “My allegiance is with you.”

“Appreciated,” Cash responded.

“He came for me, Chloe.” Rylie couldn’t hide the happiness in her voice, and she didn’t want to. “He fought Layne.”

“And Layne’s dead?” Chloe’s eyes went wide.

“He is,” Cash responded with a nod. “And if you all wouldn’t mind, I’d like a moment alone with my mate.”

“Your mate?” Chloe’s eyes grew even wider. Her tears dried up instantly and a smile crossed her face.

Rylie rejoiced in all of this. When she’d first run from Chloe’s car toward the unknown, she never would have expected this outcome. Everything had become a dream and one she didn’t want to wake up from. “His mate,” she whispered, staring into Cash’s gaze.

Cash’s eyelids sank, and the lust nearly oozed from him. Instead of saying another word to her, he placed his lips back on hers. She felt his need in the greedy way he kissed her. But the most obvious thing was the hardness that rested in his pants.

The wind rushed by her body as he began to walk forward to leave a chuckling Devan and Chloe behind. She gripped his shoulders and tightened her legs around his hips as he ravished her mouth.

The front door to her bungalow opened as he breezed through and slammed it behind them. The scent of home came around her and she sighed into his mouth.

Cash broke the kiss to grin at her. “This is your home, as it’s always been. Now we’ll make a life for ourselves here.”

“And what a good life it’ll be.” She smiled in return. Glancing around, she saw all the familiar items that brought her comfort. The hardwood floors, the wood paneling, all the plush furniture that her mother loved. Tears couldn’t help but form in her eyes at the memory of her parents. She still had yet to deal with their deaths, and maybe because so much had happened she’d forgotten her pain.

Now it returned.

As tears trailed down her cheeks, Cash set her on her feet and brushed the droplets away with his thumbs. “We’ll deal with this pain in your heart. But I swear to you, from this day forward, life will get better. We’ll remember your family with the honor they deserve.”

A sob escaped her mouth, but before she could say a word, Cash took her lips again in the most demanding of ways. His strength poured around her and she drank every bit of it in. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed her up against the wall.

She gasped as her back connected with the flowery wallpaper. He ravished her mouth as his hands ran along her cheeks in a fierce show of territory. All she could do was follow his movements and bask in this glorious man.

Suddenly, he tore himself away. His gaze focused on hers and it left her breathless. How incredibly sexy he looked. Arousal so scorching hot, it was like a molten flow through her. “I must warn you.” He panted slightly. “I am not in control of myself now.”

That was music to her ears. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

He drew in a long, deep breath. Then a growl that was much more wolf than human sounded low in his throat. “You’ve got no idea what you just unleashed.” He grabbed her shirt, pulled it over her head, and made quick work of her pants so she was only left in her panties and bra.

His gaze stayed focused on hers, so intense it made foreplay unnecessary. She was soaked beneath those panties and knew by the burn in his eyes he was aware of it. He gave a little grin before he placed his mouth against her neck and began to lick, bite, and make his way all over her upper torso.

At her breasts, he squeezed tightly, earning a little squeal as her need for him multiplied. His thumbs ran over her already hard nipples and he rolled the tight knots beneath his touch.

He ran his hands down her midsection as he devoured her neck with his mouth. Nothing was gentle about the way he came at her, and nothing in her wanted him to be. She was panting, moaning and running her hands through his hair to keep him close to her.

Just as he reached to give her breasts a final squeeze, he pulled her bra down to expose them and kissed the top of each breast. As her breasts sat atop her bra, exposed, he latched onto a taut knot and circled his tongue around it before he sucked deeply. Rylie nearly lost her mind. The throbbing between her legs thumped harder and the wetness spread immeasurably.

This was good, but she needed more, and squirmed against him to show him as much.

Taking the hint, Cash ran his hands over her hips and gripped her ass. Then, he lifted her up around him. He carried her to the staircase where he sat her down on the third step and spread her legs wide.

He didn’t waste a second as he tore her panties off, then lowered his mouth to her warmth. Her head fell back. A sigh poured from within and a shiver erupted in her that touched her very soul.

* * * *

Cash could spend a lifetime between his mate’s thighs. The taste of her was incredible and her scent drove him mad with desire. Every squirm she made, the sounds that came from her mouth, tested his control.

She didn’t hesitate to let him hear her pleasure. Moans, gasps, pants¯it all just came free from her mouth. Every time he met her clit with his tongue, she quivered beneath his mouth, and it made
his cock jump.

The strain against his pants became almost unbearable and he wanted nothing more than to free himself.

Apparently, Rylie had the same wish.

She put her foot on his chest and pushed slightly to back him away. “I need you now. No more waiting.”

“Enough said.” While he removed his shirt, she unbuckled his belt and got to work on the button and zipper of his pants. Once free, he kicked his clothing away and stood naked in front of her. Her hand latched around him and gave a few steady strokes.

Now it was he who let his moan free.

Her small hand worked him in a way that was meant to make him come. But he wouldn’t have that now. No, he needed to be deep inside of her when he deposited his seed. And by that smoldering gaze of hers, she was just as needy.

He pulled away from her hand and grabbed onto her arms so that she stood with him. He let his cock press against her stomach so she understood what she did to him. How she made him go wild with desire.

His mouth came against hers, as he needed to kiss her again. The way he planned to take her wouldn’t give him access to her mouth and he wanted to indulge himself for a little while. She melted against him, so willingly, and that made the wolf inside him howl in response. So responsive. So giving to what he asked. He couldn’t have found himself a better mate to spend his days with. And he could hardly wait to show her just how grateful he was to have found her.

After a few more swipes of his tongue, he backed away to see a lustful woman before him. Her eyes were so hooded with desire, he was sure she would comply with anything he asked of her now.

“Turn around.” His voice came out rough and full of huskiness.

She immediately responded, which only made his Alpha applaud her obedience. With her soft back against his chest, he reached forward to cup her breasts in his hand and tweaked her nipples in his fingers. As good as this was, his hand yearned to be somewhere else.

He ran his hands down to her hips and moved them toward her pussy. He swore he could feel the heat from her body as he drew nearer. When he reached her clit, it was scorching hot. The throb she suffered could be felt on his fingertip and that only delighted him.

“You’re so close, aren’t you?” He swirled his finger, pushed against her clit, and earned a whole body shudder from her.

“God, yes, don’t stop.” Her breath gasped as her head fell back against his shoulder.

“I won’t. I never will.” He lowered his head so that her mouth was right by his ear. This was something he wanted to hear, needed to remember. The sound of her climaxing by just his simple touch.

His other hand closed around her hip to steady her as he felt her wobble slightly. Her legs trembled as he continued to circle her clit. She was close, yet he knew she needed more to bring her over the edge. So, he gripped her hip tighter, gritted his teeth, then went as fast as his hand would allow over her clit. His quick movements had her screaming out and shaking all around him.

Then, her voice froze. Her muscles tightened and Cash rejoiced in feeling her climax beneath his hand.

He cupped her warmth while she came down from her release. Her breath whooshed from her mouth as she turned to jelly in his arms. Now, she was ready for him. He was going to draw on the orgasm she’d just had and amplify it.

Truth was, he couldn’t wait himself.

His cock was rock hard, pulsating for him to have his own release.

When her breath returned to normal levels, he released his hand from her pussy and raised it up so it came to her thigh. He grasped her leg and placed it on the second step so her foot was flat on the wood and gave him the access he was looking for. His other hand lifted to her back where he pushed her gently so her hands rested on either side of her foot on the stairs.

With her in the right position, he brought his hand to his cock to guide it toward her entrance. Knowing she was still new to this, he was gentle when he entered her. Gave her time to accept him.

He pushed through her silky skin and was elated to feel how wet she was. His cock was drenched in her juices and his groan echoed how marvelous the sensation was.

“This is my home,” he said in a purr. “Right here is where I belong.”

Her only response was a shuddering sigh.

It was the sign he needed as an indicator that she wasn’t in pain and that she was ready for him. Without further hesitation, he gripped her ass in his hands and gave a hard thrust against her. Rylie squealed, her back arched, and Cash grinned.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her naked shoulder. A sweet embrace before he showed her just what he was capable of. She sighed as she turned her face toward him. He raised himself up and kept his gaze focused on her expression that looked slightly uncomfortable. “Are you all right?”

“No, why are you waiting?” Her voice came out full of impatience.

He wouldn’t make her wait another second.

His hands, which were presently on her delectable ass, lowered to grip the back of her thighs. Then, he slowly brought himself out of her pussy, every inch of him gripped by her wet flesh.

With a groan, his fingers dug into her skin as he delivered hard thrusts.

Skin smacked against skin.

Sounds of their pleasure roared through the house they would now call home. Her pussy began to pulsate around him. Her inner walls began to clench against him. His movements weren’t as fluid because she wouldn’t allow it. He needed to thrust in hard, use more of his strength to come at her since her body made it more difficult to enter her.

“I’m going to come,” she shouted unnecessarily. He felt her pussy clamp down on him, freeze with her impending release.

He was right there with her.

“Do it then,” he growled. “Give it to me.”

And she did.

But she wasn’t the only one lost in the throes of complete satisfaction. As she shuddered all around him, his balls drew up tight against his body. His shout ricocheted off the walls, his growl rumbling low as his come spewed from his cock. Blessedly, her release hit her and her pussy eased up on the pressure against him. The moment it did, his orgasm hit, and he roared.

He kept himself seated deep within her while his cock pumped out. And he finally let out a deep breath as he relished the slow ebb of his own climax.

A few moments later, Rylie squirmed against him and it drew Cash back to the moment. “Wow.” She laughed, breathless.

He leaned down over her, to protect her, to shelter her. All that lived within him. “Wow is right.”

“So, that’s what I have to look forward to?”

“That, and so much more.” He kissed the soft part on her shoulder, and declared the promise he would forever work to live up to. His duty was to her, to the wolves he now lead, and to the life he’d been given as a second chance.

Here, was happiness.