SHADOW
No one should have experienced what kind of hell I’d been through at a young age. I lost everyone I loved that night, the only family I considered in that attack, and I hadn’t succeeded in killing the one responsible for that bloody slaughter.
And now I just lost my identity- I didn’t know myself. I didn’t know who I was anymore. I missed my old life. I missed Kent and hadn’t spoken with him unless my prohibition was lifted.
“I’m not. It’s the truth. Every pack needs connections because we’re not in a very peaceful world. The attack from envious packs is imminent, and it’s good to have friends and good relationships with other packs is a great help. Alpha Califf needs everyone’s loyalty.”
“Are we talking from experience?”
“Before my parents died in that horrible attack, we lived in peace and harmony. We’re not as big as this pack, but everyone is happy with working with humans. The Alpha was married to not of our kind. She left where she came from and gave up everything to be with him.”
“Oh. Was she human?”
I shook my head. “The Alpha was her soulmate. Despite the mix-mating, they respected the Alpha. He was powerful but didn’t want trouble, so he refused alliances because they were not fighters. They just want to live in peace. Until they were attacked, no matter how powerful he was, he couldn’t save everyone or fight all the attackers. He watched his pack tear one by one, including his mate. He fell to the ground. And I watched the werewolf shift to human form and ripped the Alpha’s spine from his body.” My wolf sobbed. I hadn’t told anyone aside from Kent. It felt good to let out those bottled-up emotions once.
“Do you remember the face of that man?”
I looked at Kindra. “How could I forget who killed my parents, Kindra? One day, we will meet, and I will kill him with my bare hands.” When tears threatened to fall from my eyes, I walked away from her, out of the beautiful ballroom floor. Everyone seemed happy with the party, but they faded into the surroundings.
I found a peaceful spot behind the well-trimmed bushes. I took off my shoes and sat on the grass. It always felt good against the soles of my feet. I wanted to cry because it broke my heart every time I remembered that night. It shattered me to pieces. I watched my father fall onto his knees before his dead body’s mate. I didn’t want that to happen to me.
I couldn’t watch him hurt, and it might be better to suppress my feelings and deny he already existed.
“I thought I found you here.”
I quickly wiped my tears that I didn’t know were there. My skin hummed as he took the liberty to sit next to me without invitation, because why he needed when he owned this spot, the house, the land, everyone, including me.
“What do you want?”
“I can feel your emotions.”
“Then I should stay away if it bothers you.” I didn’t even bother to look at him, but I felt his eyes burning through me. “You can’t help me. So just go.”
“I’ve met everyone and said hi. I’m bored, so I considered joining you in your little reverie.”
“I just wanna be alone right now.”
“Me too, so I came here.” He took off his jacket and put it on my shoulder. The next thing he did was unexpected. He lay his head on my lap.
“What the hell?” I tried pushing him off my lap. Instead, he lifted his head, cupped my face, and kissed me hard, taking the gasp into his mouth. Before I realized what he was doing, he already slipped his tongue, swirling through my mouth, taking a taste of his property.
I could taste the smoky bourbon he drank. Every wall I built for years crumbled down. His kiss was a wildfire in my body, making me ache for his touch.
My wolf celebrated in delight. This little traitor critter just betrayed me.
Califf didn’t disappoint me as if we shared thoughts, guiding me on the glass. He traced his hand down my bare back and rolled us over so he could be on top of me while his mouth kissed me with such hunger that made me ache to the bone.
Every touch sent a shiver down my spine. Every delicious stroke of his tongue zinged an intense ache between my legs. He moved his hand to my chest, cupped my breast, and kneaded it.
My body had betrayed me, too. A moan slipped through my throat, which fueled him to a higher intensity. The moment he pinched my nipple, my fingers traced through his thick dark hair, kissing him back like a starved animal just found its most delicious meal. My moan grew louder, breaking his mouth from mine.
My body was a little disappointed, but he certainly knew what he was doing. He planted kisses on my jaw before dragging his mouth down my throat, laving his tongue through the length of my neck, sucking and nipping my skin.
“Califf.” I moaned his name. Goddess, I wanted more. My body was on fire, and my core throbbed to be touched.
“Shadow, I need you.” He groaned in response until I felt sharp teeth on my neck. I realized what he was about to do.
“No.” My eyes flew wide open. He didn’t stop. In each scrape of his teeth against my skin, he followed it with licking. “Stop. Stop!” I pushed him away.
He narrowed his glowing eyes at me. “What?”
“Are you really going to bite me?” I stared at him in disbelief. My heart was hammering. I could still feel the tingle in my lips from our kisses. I could still feel the throb in my core.
“Not right now, but yes,” he answered without hesitation. His admission just gave me a chill with dread.
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“You know why.” He didn’t have an ounce of regret in his voice, and he was undoubtedly unapologetic about what he’d done. “Stop pretending you don’t feel the pull. Your wolf doesn’t lie. Only you, Shadow. Stop fighting it.”
“I don’t want any of it,” I was still fighting it despite everything being clear between us. But why him? I just wanted an average person who would respect and love me unconditionally. Not this man before me- an arrogant, controlling, feral ruthless son of a bitch Alpha.
“I’m not going to force you. I’m giving you time.”
“I don’t want time. I don’t want you either.”
“That doesn’t convey how you kissed me back and moaned like how many times. And I can smell you’re wet for me, my little mate.”
My nose flared. My chest heaved. My rage boiled inside my body, making me want to explode. “Well, take this, Alpha. I, Shadow Raven Hawks, omega of Night Stalker Pack-”
“Shadow, what the fuck are you doing?” He was fast to cup my face as his eyes began brewing the pain.
“Rejecting-” I wasn’t finished when he slammed his mouth against mine, stopping me.