New Year with the Cartel (Nightshade Wolves #8)

Chapter 11

Gustall

I woke to Fendwyr's agitated movements beside me, his massive frame twitching and turning in a way that seemed completely at odds with his usual composed demeanor. What was going on? I asked myself. I was worried. It was unlike him to behave like that.

Soft grunts escaped his lips, his face contorted in what looked like confusion rather than distress. Strange—I'd really never seen him like this before.

"Fendwyr," I called out, placing a hesitant hand on his shoulder. Though we'd already spent more time together, I didn't know how he was going to react. He remained a dangerous person, after all.

His skin burned hot beneath my touch. "Wake up."

His eyes snapped open, instantly alert in that unnerving way alphas had. For a moment, he stared at the ceiling, processing something I couldn't see. Then his gaze shifted to me, carrying an odd weight I couldn't quite interpret.

"Well," he drawled, his voice rough from sleep but already regaining its usual smugness, "if you wanted my attention so badly, little omega, you could have found more creative ways to wake me."

I rolled my eyes. "You were having a dream. A rather intense one, from the looks of it."

"Observant, aren't you?" He propped himself up on one elbow, studying me with that predatory gaze that still made my skin prickle. "It was... unusual. I was in some grand manor, dressed in clothes that belonged in one of those period dramas you pretend not to watch."

"I don't-"

"The strangest part," he continued, ignoring my protest, just as I thought he would, "was how real it felt. The weight of the fabric, the smell of leather and old wood. There were servants, and they kept referring to someone called 'Master.' And then there was you."

My breath caught. "Me?" What was I doing in his dream?

"A version of you. Same golden hair, same defiant look in your eyes. But you were different somehow. You knew things about me—about some necklace I was supposedly wearing when I arrived there. Silver, with a locket bearing strange symbols."

Something stirred in my memory—my mother's voice, sharp and dismissive as always, lecturing me about the 'curse' of omega biology. "Fated mates," she'd said, "are nothing but a fairy tale. Though some say they share dreams of past lives, memories that transcend time itself. Ridiculous notion, of course. As if anyone would want to be bound to an omega through multiple lifetimes. I know I wouldn't want that."

As if triggered by the memory, images began flooding my mind: elaborate tapestries hanging from stone walls, the click of boots on marble floors, and the weight of formal clothing from another era. The vision was fragmented but vivid—I could smell the burning wood from massive fireplaces, and feel the tension in the air as servants whispered about their mysterious new guest.

Why were those thoughts surfacing in my mind?

"I don't know what's going on, but whatever you dreamed, I'm starting to remember something similar," I whispered, my voice sounding distant to my own ears. "The manor, the servants... you appeared out of nowhere, confused and agitated. You were wearing-" Why was I only remembering this now? I should have remembered it before, when I met Fendwyr for the first time.

"A silver necklace," Fendwyr finished, his expression darkening with interest. "How fascinating." He reached out, trailing a finger along my jaw. "It seems the universe has quite the sense of humor, binding us together not just in this life, but in others as well."

I drew back slightly, processing the implications. What he was talking about was a first. I never thought something like that was even possible.

"You're saying we're-"

"Fated mates?" His laugh was low and dangerous. "Oh, I've known that since the moment I found you in that alley, little omega. I was simply waiting for you to catch up."

"You knew?" Anger flared in my chest. "And you didn't think to mention it?"

"Would you have believed me?" His thumb brushed against my lower lip, the touch both possessive and calculating. "You could barely trust me to feed you, let alone accept that we're destined for each other across time and space." And one of the most striking things about this was how he was taking it. He wasn't as surprised as I was. It was more like a confirmation to him of what he already knew was true.

I wanted to argue, but he had a point. Instead, I focused on the lingering images from the shared vision. "What happened to us in that life? Why were you there, wearing that necklace?"

"And so, that life..." Fendwyr's fingers continued their lazy exploration of my face as he spoke, "was far more complicated than our current situation. I remember arriving at that manor with no memories, just the necklace and an overwhelming sense of purpose. It was different, and I couldn't quite make sense of it."

"The necklace had symbols," I added, the memory becoming clearer. "They kept changing, shifting like smoke. When I tried to touch it-" I flinched at the sudden sharp recollection. "You grabbed my wrist so hard it bruised."

Fendwyr's lips curved into that infuriating smirk. "Protective of my possessions even then, it seems. Somethings never change."

"I wasn't your possession," I snapped, though I wasn't sure which lifetime I was defending.

"No?" His hand slid to the back of my neck, firm and controlling. "Then why do I now remember you following me around that manor like a shadow, insisting on helping me recover my memories? Always so concerned about my wellbeing, little omega, across every lifetime."

More fragments surfaced—hushed conversations in candlelit corridors, the rustle of expensive fabric, the weight of secrets pressing down on both of us. "There was something we were both concerned about," I said slowly. "Someone was looking for you. The 'Master' everyone kept mentioning..."

"Yes." Fendwyr's expression hardened. "A collector of sorts. He wanted the necklace, and by extension, me. But you..." His grip tightened slightly. "Now, I'm beginning to remember more. You helped me escape. Quite the rebellious little thing you were, organizing a distraction while I slipped away through the servants' quarters."

"I died." The words came out before I fully processed the memory. "He found out I helped you, and he-" My hand instinctively went to my throat, remembering the phantom sensation of steel against skin. I never wanted to remember it again.

"Which is precisely why," Fendwyr's voice dropped, "I won't let anyone touch you in this lifetime. History has a way of repeating itself, but not that part. Never that part."

"The necklace," I pressed, trying to ignore how his possessiveness made my omega instincts purr. "What happened to it?"

"That's what's been troubling me." He sat up fully now, his massive frame looming over me. "In the vision, I knew its importance. It wasn't just jewelry—it was a key of sorts, meant to unlock something significant. But I woke up before I could remember what."

I frowned. "You think it still exists? In this time?"

"Oh, I know it does." His confidence was unnerving. "And I have a fairly good idea where to find it. The question is..." His thumb traced my bottom lip again, more demanding this time. "Are you ready to help me recover it, knowing how the last attempt ended for you?"

The smart answer would have been no. But as I looked into his eyes, dark with centuries of accumulated purpose, I knew I'd follow him into danger again. Who would have thought that waking up when I did would change my life so dramatically?

Maybe that was the curse of fated mates—or maybe it was just who we were, in every lifetime.

"Tell me what you need me to do," I said, even as part of me wondered if I was making the same mistake that had gotten my past self killed.

Fendwyr's smile was all predator. "That's my good omega. First, we need to visit an old acquaintance of mine who deals in ancient artifacts. And this time," his grip became possessive, "I'll make sure no harm comes to you."

As Fendwyr's words hung heavy in the air between us, I felt a shiver run down my spine. There was an intensity to his gaze, a promise that sent heat rushing to places I tried to ignore but couldn't. I licked my dry lips, tasting something I wished wasn't there.

"What's the rush?"I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me."If we've got eternity together, surely we can take our time figuring this out."

Fendwyr chuckled, the sound rumbling through his broad chest."Eager to savor every moment, are we?"His hand drifted lower, tracing the line of my collarbone, dipping into the hollow of my throat."I suppose I can indulge that desire... for now."

He understood exactly what I wanted. I didn't have to say anything else.

And so, he leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear."But make no mistake, Gustall. Once I have that necklace, once I've unlocked whatever secret it holds... The next thing I'm going to do is make you happy. In every way imaginable."

My heart stuttered at the blatant hunger in his tone. I swallowed, trying to formulate some witty retort, but coherent thought eluded me under his scorching fingers. Instead, I arched into him, craving more contact even as my mind screamed at me to pull away.

It kept telling me that we should be sleeping, but I didn't want to. This was exactly what I wanted.

Sensing my surrender, Fendwyr took full advantage. Strong hands gripped my hips, pulling me flush against him until I could feel every hard inch of his body pressed against mine. He nipped sharply at my earlobe, growling softly as he ground himself against me.

"You respond so beautifully,"he purred, his fingers splaying across my stomach."Your body knows you've always belonged to me, and now you do too. There is not a single part of you that denies it."

And as much as I didn't want to say it, I knew he was right about that.

Shame heated my cheeks at how easily he read my reactions, but arousal chased it away. I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to maintain some semblance of control, even though it wasn't working so well."Don't get cocky,"I gritted out."Just because we might be fated doesn't mean I'm going to roll over and submit whenever you snap your fingers. It's not going to be like that."

Fendwyr laughed, the sound dark and sinful."Oh, Gustall. If only you knew how much that defiance turns me on."To punctuate his point, he rolled his hips, letting me feel exactly what effect my resistance had on him. And I wasn't surprised. I knew he was going to react this way.

Desperate for some leverage, I tangled my fingers in his hair and tugged, forcing his head back. Golden eyes flashed with surprise and lust, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Good, I thought. Let him see that I wouldn't be so easily dominated. It wasn't going to be like the other times.

"Less talking, more touching,"I demanded, channeling every haughty omega archetype I'd ever seen."Unless you're all bark and no bite?"

Challenge accepted, apparently. With a feral snarl, Fendwyr flipped us over, pinning me beneath his bulk. He attacked my neck with lips and teeth, marking me as his own personal conquest. Pleasure spiked through me like lightning, drawing a choked moan from my throat.

"There we go,"Fendwyr rasped against my skin."Let me hear you. I want everyone to know who makes you sing like that."

His mouth trailed lower, laving attention on every sensitive spot he seemed to magically map. I writhed beneath him, overwhelmed by sensation, drowning in the heat building between us. And deep in my mind, I registered the wet sounds he was making, the filthy praise falling from his lips...

Lost in the heat of the moment, it took me a moment to realize he'd maneuvered us such that he loomed above me, knees bracketing my hips, pupils blown wide with unchecked lust. My dick strained urgently against his abs, smearing sticky trails of pre-cum on his skin.

"I'm going to ruin you even more than you've already been,"Fendwyr promised, one large hand wrapping around both our lengths and squeezing."By the time I'm done, you won't remember anything but the feeling of my knot splitting you open."

The vulgar words should have disgusted me. But trapped in the intense heat of the moment, I found myself aching for the depravity he described. I needed him inside me, filling me, claiming me until I couldn't think anymore. The rest of the world faded away until there was nothing left but the two of us, lost in rutting.

"Please..."I keened, too far gone to care about pride or dignity anymore."Need you... please..."

With a triumphant roar, Fendwyr surged forward, sheathing himself fully inside me in one brutal thrust. Pain and pleasure exploded behind my eyelids, stealing my breath. I convulsed around him, inner muscles clenching as if to hold him deep.

"Fuck!"Fendwyr barked, still buried to the hilt."I never get tired of how tight you are."

And then, I thought that maybe this was where I was meant to end up all along—split open on my alpha's cock, begging shamelessly for more.

As if hearing my thoughts, Fendwyr began to move, setting a relentless pace that rocked me to my core. Each powerful thrust struck something deep within me, sending shockwaves of ecstasy radiating outward. I clung to him, nails scoring down his back, urging him harder, faster...

Our coupling turned frantic then, a desperate race towards completion. Sweat-slicked skin slapped against sweat-slicked skin, our mingled cries echoing off the bedroom walls. Pressure built steadily at the base of my spine, coiling tighter and tighter until I swore I would scream from the intensity.

"Perfect,"Fendwyr grunted, angling his hips to hit that perfect spot inside me dead-on."Come for me, Gustall. Now!"

I shattered without making much noise, vision whiting out as rapture crashed through me like the biggest wave that there had ever been. Then, I felt Fendwyr swell impossibly thicker before erupting, flooding my insides with his seed. We shuddered together, riding out the aftershocks.