Alpha Pack 4 - Hunters Heart (20 page)

let them in.

“Make love to me?”

“With great pleasure.” His gaze burned into hers. “You

don’t know the hell I went through back there, battling that

monster. Do you have any clue what was going through my

mind?”

“Um, if I die at least I’ll be free of the old ball and

chain?”

He laughed at her pitiful joke, but his blue eyes

glistened with tears. The sight melted her heart, warming a

path clear to her toes.

“No, baby. Not even close. I was thinking, What if she

never forgives me? Then it wouldn’t have mattered if I

was dead or not. I’d never again have a chance to do this.”

Ryon cupped the back of her head and lowered his lips

gently to hers.

Electric.

Daria’s mouth moved under his, loving his soft lips. She

twined her arms around his neck and pulled him closer,

inviting him. His tongue swept inside, stroking, and she

reveled in his warmth.

His hands skimmed her shoulders and down her arms.

He helped her off with her shirt and bra, and she arched

against him. The puckered tips of her nipples brushed the

material of the shirt covering his chest, and a bolt of heat

shot straight to her sex.

“Sweet, so sweet. I’ve gone to heaven.”

Daria buried her hands in his hair, suddenly the

aggressor. She sucked at his lips, exploring his mouth at

will, making love play with her tongue. Her knees

threatened to buckle.

Helpless, dying for this. For you. God, I want more.

He broke the kiss, panting. “If I don’t stop now, I might

not be able to.”

“So don’t stop.”

He didn’t need more encouragement. Pulling her to his

bedroom, he pushed her gently to the bed and removed the

rest of her clothing. Then he positioned himself between

her thighs, began to ease inside. Holding her close he

started to move, whispering words of passion in her ear,

stoking the fires until they were both straining toward the

precipice. It was raw, tender, honest. All too soon they

cried out, hurtling over the edge together.

As he held her close, she pretended they were safe, that

the danger was over. And for a while, they were given a

reprieve.

It was a beautiful fantasy while it lasted.

• • •

There probably wasn’t a more delicious sight than a bunch

of shifters playing baseball. Or playing anything at all,

really, but today they happened to be wielding bats and

gloves.

From Daria’s spot on the grass, sprawled on a blanket,

she sipped a beer and eyeballed the tight tushes as they

bounced around in an assortment of jeans, athletic shorts,

and baseball leggings. She had to admit, when they blew

off steam the results were lovely to watch.

All of that glistening male flesh, sweat dripping off the

ends of their hair. Broad chests heaving, muscles bunching

in exertion—

“Do you even have a clue who’s winning?” a voice

asked from her right.

Glancing over, she grinned at Micah. Forbidden from

playing while he recovered, he was convalescing in his

lounger. “Winning what? Is there a game being played

right now?”

He snorted. “Figures. You’re just like the rest of the

lovesick mates around here.” He jerked his head at the

other mated women who were observing their men just as

avidly as Daria had been.

Then the word
lovesick
lodged in her brain, and her

smile dimmed some. The other women loved their mates

to distraction. The emotion was etched on every one of

their glowing faces, and shone in their eyes.
And Ryon is

my mate.

Do I love him? Can I, when I’m still not completely at

peace with what I’ve become?

“Hey, did I say something wrong?”

“No,” she assured him. “Just thinking.”

“You looked really preoccupied for a few seconds.”

“Oh, it’s just . . .” She tried to think of how to explain.

“I know how hard this must be for you,” he said softly.

“Believe me.”

Studying this man who’d been through such hell, she felt

ashamed. “How did you deal with it? When you were

turned, how did you cope?”

“I just did. I had no other choice. I woke up in a military

hospital and I was changed. I had known for some time

that I was a Dreamwalker, but now I was more than I’d

ever been, with a wolf living inside me. I wanted to crawl

out of my skin, or rip it to shreds with my claws, trying to

get at the new beast that wouldn’t let me rest.”

“That’s how I feel, too. She wants to run, to hunt.”

Daria gazed at her new friend, and saw complete

understanding. “She wants to be free, and it’s so hard to

rein her in. It’s weird and scary to have all of that

wildness inside me. Not to mention ironic, considering my

job.”

His brown eyes were sad. “As difficult as it is,

remember you have a mate who’s a fine man to help you.

We didn’t, and learning all of that alone was tough. I

mean, we’re like brothers and we’re there for each other,

but it’s not the same as having someone special to comfort

you at the end of the day.”

Her heart went out to him. “I
am
grateful for Ryon. He’s

been nothing but wonderful to me and I care about him

very much.” She paused. “You’re going to have someone,

too, one day.”

“Who’s going to want me?” he questioned, gesturing to

the ruined side of his face.

“That’s not who—”

“Who I am? Is that what you were going to say?” He

laughed, the sound hollow. Aching. “Even if my mate

could get past how I look, it’s what’s on the inside that’s

really fucked up. I don’t remember much about my time in

that shithole with Bowman, but from what the doctors tell

me, that could change anytime. The point is, I’m more

messed up inside than out. No mate deserves to be stuck

with me.”

“I won’t believe that for one second,” she said firmly.

“You’re going to meet your special someone, and then

you’ll eat those gloomy words of yours.”

“Wanna bet?”

Before she could respond, Ryon came jogging over,

looking sexy as sin in his tight athletic shorts and sweaty

tank top. She almost swallowed her tongue as he beamed

at her.

“Hey, good lookin’! Some of the guys suggested going

out to the Crosseyed Grizzly in a bit. Want to go hang

out?”

“Sure, sounds like fun. Anywhere, as long as I’m with

you.”

“Aww, how sweet.” Leaning over, he gave her a big,

sloppy kiss as Micah made a choking noise. Ryon pulled

back and winked at his friend. “Jealous?”

“Not on your life.”

But Daria knew the truth. Ryon missed the flash of pain

on his friend’s face, but she didn’t. “Micah, are you

feeling up to coming?”

Nick’s voice broke into their conversation. “That’s not

a good idea. Micah needs to stay here and finish healing.”

Micah frowned at the approaching commander. “Don’t I

get a say in the matter? I’m not ten years old, for cryin’ out

loud.”

“Of course you do.” Moving to stand by the lounger,

Nick laid a hand on the other man’s shoulder and gave him

a kind smile. “But I have to discourage you.”

“Why?”

“Because it isn’t time.”

“I won’t drink if that’s what you’re worried about,

boss. I know better than to do that when I’m still on

meds.”

“That’s not it.” The commander sighed. “You know I

don’t interfere with free will, but I’m suggesting you to

stay here, just this once. You’re not supposed to be at the

Grizzly tonight.”

Those cryptic words gave everyone pause. Nick was

creepy like that sometimes, making statements that gave

the hint that he knew much more than he was saying.

Micah stared at the older man for a couple of seconds.

“Fine, I’ll stay here,” he said slowly. “Want to tell me

what will happen if I go?”

“No. It doesn’t matter now. And since we’re both

staying in, how about I trounce your ass on the Wii?”

“You’re on, old man.”

“Who’re you calling old, pup?”

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

The commander smiled, the tips of his canines showing.

“More than you know.” He gave Micah a hand up, then

turned to Daria and Ryon. “Have a good time.”

“We will,” she said. “See you later, Micah.”

“Later.”

As the two men headed back to the building, Ryon gave

her a predatory look. “I’m all sweaty, and we’re going

out.”

“So?”

“So, I need a shower first. Want to wash my back?”

A thrill went through her. “You don’t have to ask

twice.”

Grabbing her hand, he took off, dragging her behind him

as she laughed in pure happiness.

Nine

Ryon decided there was a lot to recommend slippery,

soapy shower sex.

Pressing his mate into the tiles, buried balls deep in her

while hot water streamed over their bodies, was just about

the best feeling in the entire universe. Any way he could

have her was fine by him. How had he ever lived without

this? Without Daria?

Groaning, he emptied his seed inside her as she

shuddered under him, squeezing every last drop from his

length. Then he kissed the nape of her neck and nuzzled the

soft, wet skin there.

“Am I forgiven?” She tensed, and he instantly regretted

bringing up a tender subject. Too late now. He eased out

of her and backed off some, allowing her to turn and face

him.

“It’s not about forgiving you,” she said evenly. “In fact,

what I’m going through is not about you at all.”

Hurt stabbed his chest. “I disagree. We’re in this

together. You’re my mate, and what causes you to be

unhappy does the same to me.”

Her expression softened and she touched his cheek. “I

get that. And I don’t blame you for what happened to me

because you would’ve given me the option to be turned if

you could have.”

“That’s true.” He kissed her forehead.

“What I’m saying is you can’t magically make me happy

with being part wolf.” Pausing, she searched his face.

“Think back to when you were turned. Was there anything

anyone said that made you accept it? Or did you just need

time to get used to having your life turned upside down?”

“I needed time,” he admitted. “But I hope that getting me

as part of the deal isn’t what’s making you unhappy.”

“Oh, Ryon,” she breathed. Softly, she took his mouth in

a lingering kiss, twining her arms around his neck. “I am

not
unhappy with you. On the contrary, I feel pretty darned

good about us. Can’t you tell?”

In truth, he’d been shutting off his awareness of their

connection, afraid of being inundated with her scorn. Her

anger. But her words encouraged him. Opening his senses

tentatively, he found the golden bond stretched between

them, thrumming with life. Some anxiety threaded through

her emotions as she struggled with her wolf.

But much stronger was her affection for him, growing

steadily into a richer connection. Every minute, she was

falling deeper for him, and it both surprised him and took

his breath away.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I can tell. I feel the same way.”

“Give me time to accept my wolf?”

“Anything you need.” Quickly he rinsed away the

evidence of their loving. Stepping out of the shower, he

grabbed two towels and handed her one. As they dried off,

an idea occurred to him and he grew excited. “How about

we go for a run tomorrow, in our wolf forms?”

“I don’t know . . .” Her brown eyes were worried.

Through their bond, he sensed her fear of the physical

pain and hurried to reassure her. “The first shift hurts like

a bitch, but it’s never like that again, I promise. The more

practiced you get, it’s like breathing. And when you let

your wolf out to run, the rush is like nothing you’ve ever

experienced.”

“Really?” She began to show some genuine interest.

Letting his towel fall to the floor, he pulled her to him.

“Yes. We’ll be together, too. It’ll be fun, you’ll see.”

She bit her lip. “All right, you’ve talked me into it.”

He gave her a sound kiss. “You won’t be sorry.”

“What about the creature that’s out there, and the white

wolf?”

“We’ll keep an eye out and be cautious.” He thought

about the other wolf. “I don’t think the white wolf meant to

harm you when she pushed you.”

“She did a good job of it anyway, even if it was an

accident.”

“She led me to you, after you shifted and were in pain,”

he said thoughtfully. “I think maybe she was trying to

protect you the other day.”

“From the creature?”

“It makes sense.”

“But what’s she doing here in the first place? If she’s a

shifter, why doesn’t she simply approach the compound

and request entry?”

“I don’t know. But I have a feeling we’ll find out,

sooner or later.”

“You’re probably right.”

Padding around Ryon’s place, they took their time

getting dressed. Daria enjoyed picking out his clothes,