18. Lila
18
LILA
K age must’ve ordered a grocery delivery, which wasn’t usually available in my area. I couldn’t even order a pizza for delivery.
I had to stay inside while Weylin ran out to the car, which was instructed to stop at the end of the driveway, to collect the groceries. I could have argued or ignored him and went to help, but I was informed that, during my heat, if either his or Kage’s wolf felt I was in the eye of another male, they would kill that male. No hesitation, no second thoughts, no waiting and talking it out.
So, I stayed inside…sort of.
The sound of Max yipping in the backyard caught my attention, and I decided I wanted fresh air. It had been a couple of days since Max and I had gone for our morning walk.
I stepped into my slippers and went outside, not in the least bit bothered by the cold night air. Even though I didn’t feel it yet, Weylin had said I was getting close to the next wave, and perhaps that’s why I was comfortable standing outside in leggings and a tank top.
Kage stood in the middle of the yard while Max jumped around him. Getting close to Kage, moving away from him, and then turning and running laps around the yard like the maniac Max was.
“I don’t understand what he’s doing,” Kage grumbled. Max ran at him, skidding to a halt and jumping around again before taking off running once more.
I smiled. “He has the zoomies.”
“Zoomies?”
“Yes, he wants to play.” Kage crossed his arms over his chest, making me snort. “Don’t tell me you’re so defective that you don’t know how to play.” I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Playing is for pups. It serves no purpose for adults.”
“Except getting the stick out of your ass,” I mumbled to myself.
“Excuse me?”
“Hm? Me? I was just saying you should give it a try.” I batted my eyelashes at him, but he gave me a look that let me know he wasn’t buying it. I let out a huff of air. “Give it a try, play.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly not in the least bit amused. I picked up one of Max’s many tennis balls in the yard and tossed it over to Kage. He caught it in one hand, his massive palm making the tennis ball look small in comparison.
At the sight of the tennis ball being tossed through the air, Max’s attention went right to Kage, who held the ball in his hand, staring at it.
“You know, at the K9 academy, they highlighted the importance of play with the dogs.” I said, trying to break his trance.
“Pups. Pups play, adults—”
“Send memos and host meetings?” I said in a serious tone.
Kage turned the ball over in his hand a couple of times before raising his arm and throwing it into the woods. I gave the order, and Max took off after it. “Will he find it?” Kage asked.
“Oh yeah, that’s nothing for him.” Unsure whether it was the oncoming wave, or if I just wanted to mess with him, but I threaded my arm through Kage’s. I could obviously see how muscular and thick Kage’s arms were, but holding on to them was something completely different. My arm looked like a child’s in comparison. His skin was cold and hard, but I couldn’t resist running my hand up the thick coils. I could feel Kage going still next to me, tensing up.
“This benefits him?” he asked, his eyes focused on where Max ran into the woods.
“Yep. Not just physically or mentally, but play also helps them socially. It helps strengthen the bond between dog and handler.” He was beyond tense, practically ignoring my touch, but I knew he was forcing himself to ignore it. I could tell by the twitching of the muscles, the goose bumps along his skin.
Letting go of Kage, I took a step to the side. I thought I caught a glimpse of disappointment in his eyes when he glanced down at me, but he was quick to cover it up.
I kept my eyes on his as I began undressing, and he watched my every move, not once telling me to stop. I pulled the tank top up and over, holding it out for him. Kage took my shirt without hesitation. The leggings were next, which he caught as I tossed them up.
I caught the slight tilt of a smile from him, and it did something terrible to my heart. I moved to shift and was taken by surprise at the ease in which I changed to wolf form. It still took longer than it did for the guys, but it was the quickest shift I had ever done.
As my first order of business, I pushed my nose into Kage’s palm, rubbing my head into his hand before arching my wolf’s back and allowing his fingers to brush through my fur. I gauged his interest; he didn’t pull away.
So, I nipped at him.
“Fuck,” he breathed, snatching his hand away. A noise escaped me while I shook my head. “Did you just laugh?” he asked, watching me with the curiosity of a child. He’d never seen a grown wolf act like this. It was a shame. Playtime was the best part of being a wolf, and now it was my mission to show him that.
I gave a pup-like growl and jumped away from him, as if to run. Kage took a quick step forward, and I thought he was about to chase me, but he stopped himself. I ran a little way ahead, stopping and facing him, my front legs splayed out, giving the invitation for him to play.
Kage raised an eyebrow before looking back to the house.
Ugh, was he so clueless?
I ran at him, smacking into the backs of his legs, taking him out. The big boy fell like a tree, though he caught himself. I quickly rolled under him and began slathering his face with the sloppiest, messiest of kisses.
Kage laughed. It was low and short-lived, but it lit me up inside. I nipped his shoulder, and before he moved to grab me, I scrambled out of his reach.
Max came running into the yard, ball proudly in his mouth. When he saw that I had shifted, he dropped the ball before me, tail wagging, and began to bark as he pawed me. Max was used to playing this way with me. Kage was not.
Kage’s shift occurred within a blink, and in the next, he had Max pinned to the ground. The large black wolf was a thing of nightmares, lurking in the shadows, poised and ready to attack its targets. I thought targets and not enemies because a wolf like Kage had many enemies but none worth a moment of his time. Their threat was miniscule. And at this moment, he had my dog, my best friend, pinned under him. There was nothing playful in his snarl, but more gut-wrenching was the yelp and whimpering from Max.
I reacted before I had time to think about what I should do. I threw my body at the wolf before me and tackled him, snarling and snapping. Kage was so tense with the prospect of attacking that he spun on me, grabbing my neck between his teeth. I wouldn’t let him have this, though.
Stand down . Kage’s voice echoed in my mind.
No. I stood my ground, our bodies rolling until I was the one standing over him, teeth bared in his face. You are on my land. This is my pack. You have no power over us. Here, I am alpha.
I stared into his eyes, saliva dripping down my teeth, ears pinned. He had to know—I had to show him—it was not okay to treat Max like that. I refused to allow it. The idea to bite him raced in my mind. To take him by the neck and bite hard, to shake him. Shake him. Shake him. Shake him.
Kage’s lips relaxed, his ears perked up, and he tilted his head before leaning forward, licking my teeth. Yes, alpha. My apologies.
I stepped back, completely caught off guard. I was afraid, not by Kage, but by my own reaction. Shake him? Why? I began slowly backing away, watching Kage get up to all four paws and shake himself. His thick fur puffed out, and the white along his muzzle and chest made him seem wise, older.
I don’t understand , I said. I wanted to show you it wasn’t okay to go after Max. Instead, I…almost hurt you.
You did not hurt me, mate. You set a boundary, which I respect. You have the heart of an alpha. Maybe you needed a challenge, so it could come out.
No. I didn’t like it. I didn’t want it. I didn’t want to harm anyone.
Kage walked up to me slowly, dipping his head below my chin and bumping it high.
Don’t. I turned away and walked over to Max, sniffing him and ensuring he was okay. He got up, tail wagging.
Kage walked back up to me, sideswiping me with his massive body, and I stumbled to the side. Enough! I almost hurt you.
He stared at me. So serious .
I nearly laughed. Rich, coming from you.
Perhaps, mate, you are merely upset because you prefer to have someone dominate you.
He bumped me again, and I snapped at him, just missing his hind quarters. He sat down, glancing at Max, who had retrieved the ball once more, and then back at me.
Perhaps, you wish for someone to show you what a real alpha would do. He walked by Max, and I positioned myself, ready to protect my own again, only Kage didn’t attack like he had before. Instead, he released a low and quiet growl from deep within his chest, very controlled.
Max dropped the ball before lying down, his head on the ground as he looked up at Kage, waiting for a command. Kage then shifted his body in a way that had Max standing up with his head down, backing up, and then lying down once more.
Kage turned and walked slowly to me, his head low, his eyes focused, the perfect amount of control that had him exuding confidence.
If there was any alpha in me before, it had ghosted me now. I began backing up slowly. He slowly released the same sort of growl he had with Max, and I froze, my wolf listening to the hidden message.
My head wanted to lower, my body begging to lie down. My wolf telling me that now was the time to submit.
So, I turned and ran.
The benefits of being home was, I knew the layout of this entire forest. I heard nothing behind me, not a snap of a twig or a rustle of a leaf, and thought for sure I had outrun him. Still, I went further, just to be on the safe side. Bouncing off rocks, running along fallen logs. I headed towards a stream, thinking I could cause him to lose my scent in the water.
Before I reached the stream, I slowed to a walk and looked behind me. Nothing. I was fairly proud of myself.
I turned back to the stream and came face-to-face with Kage’s black wolf. Stumbling back, I nearly tripped over my own paws as that low growl vibrated through him again.
My wolf begged to submit, but as I stared into his eyes, I realized I wanted to do anything but. I wanted to toy with him, to play with him.
I shifted.
Kage began circling me, his muzzle tipped up to the sky as he took deep breaths through his nose. I didn’t have to guess at what he was smelling; I could feel the heat rolling down my back. The flush spreading across my cheeks.
He shifted back into his flawless human form, and when I said flawless , I meant it. Every inch of him was sculpted to perfection. His erection was thick and proud, standing upward with a slight curve. Every single part of him screamed alpha. “You didn’t listen, you didn’t submit.” His voice was a rumble, rolling through me, right to my pussy.
I didn’t want to listen . That very thought brought on a smile that had Kage narrowing his eyes at me.
“Come, shift back, so we can leave. Weylin will help you,” he said.
I hitched my chin up and looked him in the eye. “No.” I wasn’t a task, I wasn’t a job, I wasn’t some item on a list he could check off.
Kage stopped before me, looking like he was ready to throw me over his shoulder and carry me back, but before he could, I reached out and took his cock in my hand. That’s when I saw it.
His lips parted, his pupil dilated, and the hitched breath he took in told me of both his shock and need. Kage had control of every aspect of his life, except I wasn’t something he could control. In that glimpse, he had momentarily lost control.
But he was a master, catching himself before catching my wrist and pulling my hand away. “Don’t.”
I licked my lips. “I thought you were going to show me what a true alpha is,” I said, goading him.
He was too much in his head, no doubt trying to figure out how to collect and deliver me. It wasn’t happening.
I grabbed him with my other hand, ready for his momentary lapse in control, before leaning over and running my tongue along his sack. I moved so quickly, I didn’t have time to think; the only thing I wanted was to make Kage become completely undone.
I had to get up on my knees to take him, but even then, his legs were so long, I pulled his dick down to me. With the tip of my tongue, I licked the tip, following the curve and contours, tasting his veins along the side.
He let go of my hand, his head falling with a shuddered breath. I took the opportunity to guide him by the hips to the tree at his left, pushing him until he leaned against it. Slouching slightly, he provided me better access.
I swirled my tongue around the tip of his cock a few more times before easing my mouth over him, not sure if I could fit him fully. I let my saliva flow down his shaft, lubing it up while my hand covered the gap I couldn’t deep throat.
Kage moaned, the sound sending thrills through my body. I did that. I created that feeling within him. When I glanced up, his dark eyes met mine, his pupils completely blown and expression filled with adoration as I sucked his cock.
I popped off, looking away from his gaze as I kissed, licked, and sucked my way down to his base. Flicking my tongue back and forth over the veins while my hand pumped him up and down. His thighs quivered, his hands balling on top of them, clenching and releasing as he tried to control himself.
No . No control with me was allowed, not when we were like this.
I slowed my hand motions along his cock while reaching up with my other hand, cupping his balls and gently massaging. A vibration through his chest told me he enjoyed that. I tugged softly, just enough to pull the skin taut, bringing his balls further from his body before taking them into my mouth, only able to fit one at a time.
The shudder that coursed through his body caused him to slide slightly further down the tree as he threw his head back and took deep breaths, as if reminding himself to breathe.
No . I didn’t want him to regulate his breathing. I wanted him utterly breathless and gasping.
I cupped his sack once more, licking and suckling my way up the underside until I reached where the skin met the back again. I let his balls fall against my cheek, drawing circles along the sensitive spot, clenching my hand down on his shaft and watching as pre-cum coated the tip of his cock.
Kage couldn’t breathe, his whole body shaking. A few more swipes of my tongue, and he snapped.
His hand left his thigh, and he grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling me up so I was face-to-face with the enraged head of his cock. I was ready for him, I saw the feral look in his eyes. He didn’t pause, no time to think, as he drove his cock into my waiting mouth, thrusting up while pulling my head down. I could feel him at the back of my throat, and further still, with each thrust.
I breathed through my nose as best as I could to let him have this. I so wanted him to have this. To take me, choke me, drown me, consume me.
I braced myself with my hands on his thick thighs, tears streaming down my face while I fought against my gag reflex.
And then he exploded.
Throwing his head back and releasing a roar that shook the trees, Kage shot his cum down my throat, pulsing against my tongue. The scent of spiced alcohol filled my senses, and the sight of goose bumps coating his sweat-slicked body was something that would forever burn in my memory.
Kage was my mate. I owned every moment of his unsuppressed emotions. He was mine .
Gently, completely at odds with how he had been pulling on me, Kage tugged me off his cock. He gathered me in his arms and lifted me against his wet chest, still breathing raggedly. Burying his nose into my neck, he took deep breaths. He wasn’t calming himself down; he was soaking in my scent, a purr vibrating his chest and relaxing me.
“Why did you do that?” he asked. “Why do you make me feel so—”
“What?” I asked, my voice raspy, my throat a little bruised.
He pulled away, gazing at me as if I was his entire world. “Real.”
A hot flash rolled through my body, the cramping in my belly grabbing hold of me with a force that had me crying out.
“You need me,” Kage said, slipping his hand between my thighs. My pussy throbbed with heat, my thigh slick and covered.
“No!” I cried out, because I didn’t need his fingers. I didn’t want them. My body had tasted his cock, and that was all I wanted. I wanted the hot, pulsing liquid to coat my insides this time. But the pain was so intense, I couldn’t form words.
Come to me , a voice called. My wolf, lost in the haze of the heat, took over. Come to me, mate . I stumbled from Kage’s arms and shifted, my wolf in complete control. In her mind, I saw the one she sought out. The one she knew would end the torture and take her. In my mind, I saw red glowing eyes.