Chapter 20 – Ryktus
Chapter Twenty
Ryktus
T he sobs coming from Emerson have my cock painfully hard. She's mostly covered by the tight black dress, and Arsyn and Laithe are strategically hiding what’s not blocked by fabric.
They've played their parts nicely.
An alpha must participate in a public mating to claim their bonded. However, I know Dread isn't the type to revel in the ceremony like so many other alphas would.
I'm sure some part of the hound is quite smug to finally be sinking inside his mate. Dread too, from the look on his face, but I know he'd much rather be bedding her in private.
If it was me, I would have ensured the first time was at home or at least somewhere without an audience of fifty plus monsters.
It's not my call, so I carefully watch the crowd for any signs of trouble. At least half of the audience is currently engaged in their own public debauchery. The other half seem to be trying to determine if they want to die today.
Dread might be soft for the human and her pup, but I'm fairly sure he could rip out a few throats with his cock still inside her. He's by far the most alpha of the shifters in the club.
There are a few that could give him a solid battle, but the kraken is content with his friends-with-benefits arrangement with Vivie. The bigfoot wouldn’t try, because he doesn't desire physical affection in general. I'm the third, and I'd never fight Dread for anything.
Our friendship has grown into a strong familial bond. Although, I wouldn't mind sinking inside Emerson's tight little body myself. Which is so far outside of my character that I shake my head, attempting to rid myself of the ridiculous thought.
Then again, we are essentially our own pack.
Packs share.
At least, family packs.
Communities of shifters also call themselves packs, but those types of groups are made up of multiple smaller units.
Dread stands with his cock still inside Emerson and walks her to the half wall that looks down over the club. He pulls himself free of her body and sets her on her feet. Then he spins her around, directing her hands to hold on to the railing, and thrusts back inside her savagely.
“In case there was any doubt,” Dread growls.
The hound is front and center. The entire area in front of them glows red from his eyes and blue from his flames.
“I've met my mate. Emerson Parker and her daughter Ember are mine .” The last word rolls through the audience with a level of dominance that sends shifter and monster alike to their knees.
“You have the right by our customs to challenge for the chance to take her from me.”
He shifts even further.
Emerson whines and thrashes about. “Holy fuck, you're huge,” she moans. “Are you trying to rip me in half? Actually, I changed my mind. Keep going, that feels great .”
“She really is perfect,” Laithe chuckles, appearing at their side.
Dread snarls and finally finishes, “I'd highly fucking recommend against it, unless you want to die today.”
Laithe ignores him, dropping to his knees and scooting between the glass and Emerson. Then he pulls up the front of her dress and buries his face in her cunt.
“Just like that,” Emerson begs. One of her hands leaves the railing and fists in Laithe's long hair.
I zero back in on the crowd, focusing on those I think might choose to be problematic. There are a few who hate Dread, several others who would risk their life to have a human sex toy, and a few who are just plain too stupid to live.
Dread pulls Emerson's hair to the side as he ruts into her with deep snaps of his hips against her ass.
She might be his mate, but she's still human, and they're extremely delicate creatures.
I know I can't intercede. It would undermine the show he's putting on. Perhaps they have a plan for Laithe to heal her after this spectacle is over? I sigh.
With a smirk, Arsyn comes up to stand on Dread's right, nodding for me to take my place. A quick flap of my wings has me airborne and headed for Dread's left.
It's when I see the crowd parting as a group makes their way through the club that I suck in a sharp intake of breath.
“Claim her now,” I hiss as low as my voice will go.
“Dread, holy shit. Just like that,” Emerson sobs. “Laithe...”
“Who does this pussy belong to?” Dread growls, pulling her head back and kissing over her neck.
“You,” she sobs.
“That's right, dirty girl. I own your sweet cunt.” Dread's voice vibrates with his dominance, but Emerson only whines louder for it.
“Now, Dread,” I snap as our visitors come into focus. I get it. He's high on the rush of finally claiming his mate, but we've got company, and not the good kind.
Dread snarls. He slams into Emerson several hard times and strikes. The hellhound's mouth fits easily over her entire shoulder. She'll have fully visible bites on the front and back. Two deep canine marks directly below her clavicle, from the looks of it.
What a hell of a way to lose his virginity.
Emerson trembles, barely holding up her top half as Dread snarls, finishing inside her. His tail flicks out over his jeans, which are still around his thighs. It wraps around Emerson's curvy frame, holding her to him. It's rare to see it when he's not fully shifted into the hound.
“What the fuck is the North American Alpha doing in Venom?” I hiss to no one in particular.
I glance at my packmates. “No one has an answer? Great,” I grumble.
“Well, shit,” Emerson says in a breathy tone. “I think my problem just showed up. Damn, Lai. I'm too sensitive for all that.” She yanks his head from under her dress, and an impressed sound escapes my chest.
This little human is pure, goddamn trouble.
Dread immediately pulls his cock from her body and tucks it away. Although, if shit is about to get real, then I don't know why he bothers. He'll be shredding those clothes before any of us can blink.
Laithe pops up, crudely licking his lips. “You're more entertaining than I ever guessed. It seems like the party is just getting started.”
“Alix,” Emerson hisses, leaning over the railing. “Oh, that motherfucker better?—”
Arsyn laughs, tossing a hand over Emerson's mouth. “Let's not prematurely start a war with the North American Alpha.”
“He's Ember's father,” Dread snarls.
“Well, fuck ,” Laithe says, laughing behind his hand. “Which one, little human? I'll be sure to rip his heart out for you.”
“The one on the far left,” Emerson snaps, yanking Arsyn's hand away from her mouth. “Alpha Brayden, I'm so glad you found him. I assume you're here to say I'm absolved of the debt because you located the problem?”
“That son of a bitch has been with him the entire time,” Dread snarls, pulling Emerson into his side. He gets close and goes on in a tone only we can hear. “That's Carson. He's the alpha's younger brother.”
“Gods,” Arsyn murmurs. “Not only was he trying to extort money out of you...” He looks utterly disgusted. “I imagine he's now considering taking his niece as a mate.”
“I'll kill him myself before I let that happen,” Emerson mutters.
“You won't have to, love,” Dread says, kissing her temple. “I intend to do it for you.” He pulls her mouth to his before gently shoving her into my arms. “Collect the pup and get them...” He trails off, but I understand without needing to hear the words.
I'm to collect Emerson, go for Ember, and get them safely to our house.
“No,” Emerson grunts, trying to struggle against my hold. “I've got a few choice words for that piece of shit.” She points over the railing. “ You're a total asshole!”
Carson has the good sense to look apologetic, but I have doubts that remorse will save him from a painful death.
Dread vibrates with fury. That piece of shit wolf defiled his mate's honor by lying to her about his identity and leaving her with a child to support on her own.
I'm fairly sure Carson will die today, but that's not my focus.
“We'll meet you there,” I tell Dread.
My wings extend, and I take off for the landing I always exit through. Emerson struggles against me, cursing under her breath.
“She really is my goddamn dream girl,” Laithe says, grinning as he watches Emerson fight against my hold. “Don't worry, little human. I'll rip his heart out for you.”
“Do you want to fall nearly four stories?” I snap, swatting her ass with my free hand.
Emerson gasps.
“No, I didn't think so. Stop fucking fighting me,” I growl close to her ear. “I'm to protect you and the pup. To get you both somewhere secure. Allow your mates to handle the trouble you've brought to our doorstep.”
We exit the warehouse window I leave open for a quick way in and out.
“Shit,” Emerson says, shaking her head. “Is he a big deal?”
I scoff. She has no idea the level of a problem that asshole is.
Legally, he can't touch Emerson or Ember now, but he's not the type to honor common decency.
I pull my phone from my back pocket and text one-handed.
Likely, it's mostly incoherent, but my flight will respond immediately.
I text Dread's oldest brother and one of his stepfathers, too.
“Do you think Ember is okay?” Emerson asks as I shove my phone back into my pocket.
“Meena and Nadia are both with her. That house is locked down with protection wards. She'll be fine until we can collect her.”
The strange churning in my stomach gets more potent the farther we get into the flight. The adorable pup will be just fine because I'll see to it.
Meena's house comes into focus. I immediately zero in on the four shifted wolves circling the protection barrier.
“I'm going to land on the second-story balcony and get you inside,” I say, running my hand over Emerson's head. “Once I've handled the mutts, I will collect you. Try to pack a bag of clothes and things the little one needs.”
“Okay,” she whispers, nodding her understanding.
The old witch opens the French doors as soon as I land in a crouch. While Emerson struggles forward on her heels, I give Meena a nod and shoot up into the sky.
The growls and snarls from the wolves only succeed in deepening my anger. They're here under orders , I remind myself. It doesn't make me want to rip out their spines any less.
I dive-bomb a gray wolf, who's squatting down, watching through an opening in the curtains of the living room. I successfully break his neck and have to force myself not to rip his head right off his body. Decapitation would be a final death for these low-level shifters.
A vicious snarl breaks the air as teeth dig into my wing where it meets my spine. There's an eighteen-inch piece of connective tissue that holds each wing to my body.
This wolf is old or knowledgeable about my kind, because he immediately rips, trying to sever the wing.
It takes less than half a second before I'm turning to stone.
It doesn't repair the injury, but it does really fucking hurt his fangs from the sounds of it.
I instantly change back, swinging a solid punch to the side of his face.
Once he's down, I stomp his head into the ground.
That might be a killing blow.
In my defense, he really fucking pissed me off. The tissue connecting my wing to my body is damaged, but I know from experience it's not severe enough to keep me from flying.
No longer playing around, I fly to the roof of the house next door and watch as the two remaining wolves head to check on their fallen packmates.
I dive toward the wolves with little concern if I kill them. Warm blood drips down my back with each flap of my wing, and a jolt of agony rips through my system as I land.
My wings attempt to pull close to my body.
It's an instinctual reaction to steady myself when landing.
A bellow escapes my lips as the wolf on the right lunges for my face. My hand wraps around his lower jaw, ripping down until it unhinges. The whining yelp that comes from the wolf causes mild discomfort.
I might be a protector, but I'm not a psychopath like Laithe.
I don't revel in causing pain to other living beings.
I toss the wolf to the side and turn for the fourth and final animal, but he's currently sprinting away at full speed.
Good.
Apparently, that one has some brain power outside of following alpha orders.
My wing and back burn with an intensity that takes my breath away. Yet, I still stomp up the steps to collect Emerson and the pup.