Secret Seduction: BBW Werewolf Romance (Wolf Pack Protectors Book 1) (13 page)

Chapter 20

Diana stared down the tunnel into the hazy light. A slight figure stood outside Ryker’s room. As she drew closer, Diana recognized Gwen.

“Is it true? Is Zane dead?” Gwen asked.

“Yes, he’s dead.”

Relief flooded the young woman’s face. “I haven’t felt safe since he attacked me. Maybe now I’ll be able to sleep at night.”

Diana hugged her. “We’re all safe now that he’s gone.”

“Are you staying in the den?” Gwen asked.

Diana chewed the inside of her lip. “I don’t know. Ryker’s called a meeting in the great room to try to convince the pack to let me stay.”

“I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you.”

“What about the rule?”

“Ryker created that rule years ago in a moment of grief. I think he was trying to protect his heart after Trista died. Maybe he doesn’t have to protect it anymore. I see the way you two look at each other. Are you in love?”

A smile stretched across Diana’s face. “We’re in love. I just wish wolves married. I always wanted a big wedding.”

Gwen laughed. Diana hadn’t ever seen her even crack a smile before, so to see her laughing filled Diana with gratitude. She was glad the man that had caused so many members of the pack so much pain was dead.

Gwen said, “We don’t get married in the traditional sense, but we do a life-mate ceremony. It’s rare for a wolf to declare one life-mate, but it happens from time to time. A few years ago at Phantom Lake, Lonato, from our pack, and Doli, from their pack, were married. The celebration was attended by all the wolves from the three packs in the area. Well, everyone except Stryde. Anyway, we don’t get together very often, but when we do, it’s for one of three things: a life-mate ceremony, a funeral, or a council meeting.”

“There’s so much I still don’t know about your pack.”

Gwen smiled. “If Ryker takes you as his life-mate, you’ll have the rest of your life to learn about us.”

Diana hoped Ryker could convince the pack to let her stay. She couldn’t imagine life without him. She’d waited so long and dated so many jerks. To finally find someone and then to lose him would rip her heart apart.

Gwen gave Diana’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m sure Ryker will be able to convince them. Don’t be so worried.”

“Maybe you could go to the meeting, just in case he needs another voice on his side,” Diana suggested.

Gwen stilled and her gazed dropped to the floor. “I don’t know. I still get really anxious and large groups make things worse. I’d rather be alone most of the time. I don’t know if I could handle the group.”

“I know you’ve been through a lot, but you can’t stay scared forever.”

Gwen raised her head and met Diana’s encouraging smile. “You’re right. But can you come with me?”

“I don’t know. I think Ryker would prefer it if I stayed out of sight while he talks to the pack.”

“We can stay in the tunnel. You can hear everything and not be seen,” Gwen said.

“All right, as long as we’re not seen, I think it will be okay.”

Diana followed Gwen down the tunnel back toward the main part of the den. Gwen was right. Diana could hear everything happening in the great room as clearly as if she were standing in the center of it.

Ryker’s brisk tone echoed down the tunnel. “I made that rule years ago when things were different. There’s no reason why we can’t change it, or at least let Diana stay.”

An older female wolf said, “You can’t just change the rules on a whim, Ryker. What good are rules if they’re easily changed?”

“This isn’t a whim. Diana deserves to stay with the pack. We’ve become close and I want her here.”

A young male yelled, “I want delivery pizza, but I’m not getting what I want either.”

Some of the wolves snickered until Ryker silenced them. “Very funny, Bran.”

Diana recognized the next man’s voice. Clyde said, “Jokes aside, having that human here got my boy killed. It’s better if we stay separate from the humans. We’re two different kinds and we’re not meant to mix.”

As the crowd murmured their assent, Diana snuck closer to the opening to the great room.

Ryker sighed. “I’m sorry for your loss Clyde, but that wasn’t her fault.”

Trent spoke up. “He’s right. Diana was just trying to get home when Zane attacked us. She didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. Heck, she even helped me with that damned toothache I’ve had for months. She seems like a nice person and Ryker vouches for her, so I think she should be allowed to stay.”

“I agree.” Akila stepped out of the crowd and made her way to the dais where Ryker stood.

“Why?” Clyde asked.

“She’s done nothing to hurt the group. She was running for her life when Ryker found her, and in time they got to know each other. The threat to our pack, Zane, is dead. I see no reason why we can’t allow a human into the pack.”

Some of the wolves murmured in agreement.

Akila continued, “And besides, we all know what Ryker went through when Trista was killed—”

“But that’s exactly my point,” Clyde interrupted.

Akila put her hands on her hips. “What point?”

“Humans are weak. She’d only slow us down and cause problems. Ryker would be too busy protecting her and not doing his duty. An alpha protects the pack above all else. She’ll just distract him and put us all in danger.”

Trent said, “I disagree. Ryker will be an even better protector with her at his side. He’ll have more to protect.”

Akila’s strong voice carried across the room. “Is she your life-mate?”

The bickering wolves stopped yipping. Diana swore she could have heard a pin drop as everyone in the room waited for his answer.

Ryker responded instantly. “Yes. She’s my life-mate and I intend to marry her.”

“Does she know this?” Akila asked.

Diana stepped into the room. “I do now and I love him too. I want to stay in the den and be his life-mate. I know some of you are afraid to have a human in the den, but I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to make sure I don’t put anyone in jeopardy.”

A thick silence coated the room. To break the tension, she used a joking tone to say, “I don’t usually have serial killers chasing me with silver bullets in their guns.”

The younger wolves laughed while the older wolves whispered amongst themselves.

“We should vote,” Clyde said.

Ryker nodded slowly. “I agree. Everyone in favor of allowing humans into the den, raise your hand.”

Diana studied the ratio of raised to unraised hands. About seventy percent of the pack was in favor of allowing her to stay.

“Who opposes it?” Ryker asked.

A few hands slowly inched up.

Akila frowned. “I know everyone didn’t vote. We’re not leaving this room until it’s unanimous. What if we compromise? What if every time someone wants to bring a human into the den, we have to hold a vote? If we aren’t unanimous in our agreement, the human won’t be allowed to stay?”

Gwen shuffled into the room. Until now, she’d been hiding in the tunnel. She raised her head slowly and looked around the room. Her gaze stopped on each wolf.

Finally, she spoke. “Diana saved my life and I think she saved Ryker too. I never told anyone what happened to me when Zane attacked me, and it doesn’t really matter now that he’s dead. But I never thought I’d want to live again, until now. Diana brings me hope. She should bring all of us hope that the darkness we had to fight is behind us. I want her to stay. I need her to stay because even though I haven’t known her very long, I consider her part of our pack.

“Clyde, I know you’re directing your grief at her. You blame her for Jax’s death, but that was Zane’s fault, not Diana’s. Your misplaced blame is going to cost Ryker his life-mate. Do you really want that? Do you want to destroy another man’s happiness because of your grief?”

Clyde shuffled his feet. “No.”

Gwen said, “Then accept Diana. Even if you don’t want any other humans in the den, accept her. She’s given us more than she’s taken away.”

“But my son…” Clyde’s voice cracked.

Ryker stepped down from the dais and put his hand on Clyde’s shoulder. “If I could do anything to bring him back, I would. I’d give anything to have him back, but we can’t change the past.”

Clyde sniffed and wiped moisture from his eyes. “I’ll agree, but only for Diana. I don’t want any other humans coming into the den.”

Akila approached him. “Can you also agree that we vote anytime someone else wants to bring a human into the den?”

Clyde glanced at the other wolves. “As long as everyone agrees, I can go along with it.”

Diana pressed a hand to her stomach. A thousand tingles of happiness sparked in her belly. She beamed as Ryker approached her. The love reflected in his eyes was more than she ever hoped for.

Akila clapped her hands together. “Then let’s revote. All in favor of making Diana a member of the pack raise your hands.”

Every hand shot up except for Clyde’s. As he slowly raised his hand, Diana breathed a sigh of relief.

Ryker dropped to one knee in front of Diana. “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you and I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t have all the trappings of modern life to give you, but I can give you my heart. Will you join me as my life-mate?”

“Yes.” She threw herself into Ryker’s arms and laughed as he spun her around.

The pack clapped and yelled in approval.

The celebration came to an abrupt halt when the wolf who’d been standing guard announced, “There are humans outside, and they have guns. One of them claims to be the sheriff of Full Moon Bay.”

Chapter 21

Ryker jumped to his feet. “Clyde, grab a group of wolves and follow me. Diana, go to my room and wait for me.”

“No, I’m staying with you.” Diana insisted.

His jaw clenched. “Fine, but stay behind me until we figure out what they want.”

Ryker stalked to the front of the den. Ten humans dressed in nearly identical uniforms formed a semi-circle at the entrance. Diana’s sister Luna stood behind the group.

Ryker recognized Sheriff Watkins with a nod. “I thought we’d agreed to wait to talk until we could call a council meeting.”

The sheriff hooked his thumbs in his gun belt. “I changed my mind. I think it will be best for everyone if you and your pack stay out of my town.”

Ryker narrowed his eyes. “And what about keeping your people out of my woods?”

“I can’t ask the townsfolk to stay out of the woods. They’re hunters and entitled to kill anything they want here,” Watkins said.

“So men can run into the woods with guns and shoot up the place and there’s nothing we can do about it?” Diana asked.

“It’s their God-given right to own guns,” Watkins said. “Who am I to stop a man from hunting
animals
? We don’t have licensing restrictions like they do in other towns.

Diana glared at the sheriff. “I thought you wanted peace. Are you telling me that those men aren’t going to get in trouble for trying to kill us?”

“They weren’t shooting at you,” the sheriff said. “They were shooting at animals.”

“We do want peace, but wolves and humans shouldn’t mix,” Luna said. “It’s not right. It’s time for you to come home, Diana.”

Diana looped an arm around Ryker’s waist. The possessiveness of her claim to him made his heart soar.

“I am home. Ryker and I are getting married.”

“That’s insane. You’re going to marry a wolf and be his breeder? What do you think he really wants you for? A warm bed and a woman to bear his children.”

Ryker snarled. “Why are you so narrow-minded? Diana and I are in love. Why can’t you accept that?”

Luna ignored him and appealed to her sister. “Come home with me now and we can forget all of this nonsense. There are plenty of good men who’d love to marry you. You don’t have to settle for a beast.”

Diana shook her head. “I pity you, Luna. You’ve always claimed to want the best for me, and now that I have someone to love, you want me to leave him. How can you ask me to abandon the man I love?”

“He’s got you brainwashed. You need a shrink and time away to get your brain back on straight.”

Diana said, “No. I’m exactly where I belong. If you can’t accept that, then I’m sorry.”

“If you don’t leave right now, you’re dead to me. I won’t have a sister married to an animal,” Luna yelled.

Diana’s tone came out low and controlled. “I’m sorry you’re making me choose, but I choose Ryker. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. And as for you, Sheriff, you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re supposed to uphold the law. The pack might not be fully human, but they should be protected by the same laws as humans.”

The sheriff grimaced. “I can’t force everyone to stay out of the woods. Some of the younger men have a vendetta against the wolves. It would be impossible for me to send men to patrol the woods in addition to patrolling town.”

“You can’t force them,” Ryker said, “but maybe you can pass a law that makes it illegal to hunt wolves.”

“It would take a two-thirds majority vote. I don’t know if I could convince enough people.”

“If you want peace, you’ll find a way to convince them,” Diana said.

The sheriff nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Ryker stepped forward and offered his hand. “I think we can work together to maintain peace between our people.”

The sheriff shook his hand. “We’ll see. And one more thing, thank you for saving Luna, she means a great deal to me.”

Ryker wrapped an arm around Diana. “Have a safe trip back.”

He touched the brim of his hat. “Good luck to you.”

Luna cast one last disappointed look at her sister before looping her arm through the sheriff’s and walking away.

***

It hurt to watch Luna turn her back on her, but Diana wouldn’t let it wreck her happiness.

Concern marked Ryker’s face. “Are you going to be all right?”

“As long as I have you.”

She stood on tiptoes and kissed her future mate. He returned her kiss with unbridled passion and soon swept her into his arms and carried her over the threshold into the den.

In his room, he carefully laid her on the bed. “I’ll never be able to get enough of you.”

Diana chuckled. “Well don’t give up trying.”

With a mischievous grin, he said, “I don’t intend to.”

He slid onto the bed and pulled her on top of him. His hands cupped her butt then slid to tease the backs of her thighs.

Diana tried to shift her weight off of him, but he held her tightly against him. “I love the feel of you on top of me. I get to be lazy and let you do all the work.”

“All the work?” She arched a brow.

“Well, maybe only half the work.” He nibbled the curve of her neck.

She giggled and trailed her fingers across the fine hair on his chest. “I wouldn’t ever call this work.”

“Enough talking.”

He kissed the soft flesh between her breasts then gently licked the ultra-sensitive skin around her nipples. She shivered and pressed her chin against the top of his head. She couldn’t believe she’d get to spend the rest of her life with this man.

As he’d teased her nipples into taut peaks, she moaned. Intense pleasure radiated down every nerve ending in her spine.

She grabbed his hands and pinned them next to his shoulders. As she crawled down his body, she licked and nibbled the edges of his six-pack abs and brushed her lips across the edge of his pelvis.

“Don’t torture me,” he begged.

She licked the edge of his hardness then took him into her mouth. His earthy scent invaded her senses. He tasted like a wild summer thunderstorm. The way his back arched when he went rigid filled her with power. She had him exactly where she wanted him. The rapid rise and fall of his chest signaled a surge of his desire.

Damp need spiraled up to dissolve her control. She couldn’t wait a second longer. She climbed up and positioned herself over him.

He groaned as she slowly lowered herself onto him. The tight, perfect fit made her knees tremble. The inside of her thighs ached, but she couldn’t stop moving in perfect rhythm with him.

Love filled the room. Ready to burst, she gasped when he sat up slightly and pulled her legs behind him. She’d never sat in his lap like this before and the increased friction destroyed her.

The rush of her orgasm hit her so hard she had to cling to him to keep from falling off the dais. Through half-closed eyes, she watched as a triumphant smile spread across his face. She lurched forward as waves of release racked her body. She bit the edge of his shoulder and held on as he arched deep inside.

His moans became feral and dark. Intensity washed over his face as he made one final deep thrust. He buried his face in her hair and quivered through his release.

He held her like that until his breath slowed. She’d never felt more cherished in her life.

When he finally released her, she slid into the crook of his arm.

“That was amazing,” she whispered.

“It only gets better each time we’re together,” he murmured.

Content, she lay next to him for several minutes. The scent of their lovemaking hung in the air. She smiled and wondered if they’d make love again in the river. They sure as heck needed a bath.

Ryker rolled to face her. As he twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers, a serious expression knitted his brows together. “What do you think about kids?”

“What about them?” She held her breath.

He stammered. “Would you like to have them?”

“Yes.”

“With me?”

She grinned. “Of course. Why are you acting so strange?”

“I’m not acting strange. I just wondered…”

She propped her elbows on the bed and rested her head in her hands. “Why wouldn’t I want kids?”

“Some women don’t.”

“I want a child, but let me get through the first one and decide if I want more than one.”

The tension in his features eased. “I’ll give you as many children as you want, and if you only want one, that’s fine too.”

She leaned forward and kissed him, then lowered her ear to his heart. The thumping rhythm filled her with a sense of wonder. Together, they could make another person. They could create a child together. But the idea also scared her a little. Giving birth to a human child was hard enough; what would it be like to give birth to a half-human, half-werewolf?

“Would it hurt more, you know, because his father’s a werewolf?”

Ryker stroked her cheek. “Not any more than a human birth.”

“And the child would be a werewolf?”

“There’s a fifty-fifty chance. We won’t know until he or she is born.”

“What if we have a human? Could you love him the way you’d love a werewolf child?”

Ryker tilted her head up to look into her eyes. “If we created a child, I’d love him no matter how he came out.”

Diana took his hand and placed it on her belly. “He may already be in there.”

Ryker grinned wolfishly. “I think we should keep practicing until we’re sure.”

She shrieked as he pinned her to the bed. As she looked into his eyes, she knew she’d found her perfect mate and that they’d live a long and happy life together.

~The End~

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