Chapter 18
Erick
Kylian pulls off her sweater and reaches between us, stroking me through my jeans while our lips are locked, tongues searching for dominance.
My mate loves me, her bear is accepting mine, and I’ve been a fucking asshole that owes Cricket and the rest of my pack an apology.
Telling my story and having the words leave my mouth was painful while also unbelievably therapeutic.
I’ve never told my story before and I honestly never thought I would.
But something about being here with my mate—that I never thought I would have—pulled the story out of me and I didn’t care if Cricket and his mate heard every sordid detail.
I come here every September for my birthday and spend a few days trapped in the past, never thinking about my future.
But now I have my future in my arms and whether or not Kylian knows it, she's giving me a different memory of this cave.
Not one to replace my old memories but a new one not tainted with blood, pain and sorrow.
My family’s death isn’t my only memory here.
Ten years ago I sent my uncle a letter with only the words he said to me and my brother, sparking his curiosity.
As an Alpha, he couldn’t ignore the challenge and came here to find me alive and well trained.
There was no conversation. I killed him and then threw his body off the ledge into the ravine below.
Then I claimed my father’s land in Broken Falls and built a home and conversely a pack—some of whom I’ve sold parcels of acres to so they could build their own homes.
Yeah, I’m an asshole.
My mate gasps as I grip her ass and pull her against my cock, helping her grind down on me. “Do you think we have time for a quickie before Cricket and Doralee come back?”
“I think Cricket is mad enough at me he’ll be feasting on his mate for a while,” I growl and trail my tongue down her neck to her nipples poking through her camisole.
I love this top and am going to buy her every color she doesn’t already have.
Actually, I’m going to buy her a closet full of dresses so I can play with her pussy and stroke her g-spot whenever I want.
“Makeup sex,” she moans.
“What’s that?” Lifting Kylian off my lap, I set her on her knees and turn her to face away from me, placing her on all fours with her ass in the air.
She wiggles her butt and looks over her shoulder. “Something Doralee said.”
“Mmmm.” I get on my knees behind her and unbuckle my belt with one hand while cupping her damp pussy through her leggings with the other. “Wet for me already, mate?”
“I need you,” she says while grinding against my hand.
“Yes, you do.” I pull her leggings down to her knees and slide my fingers inside her slick cunt. “Fuck, this is a view I’d like saved in my phone.”
“What?” Kylian half-giggles, half-moans as I pump in and out of her.
Bending down, I replace my fingers with my tongue, plunging in as deep as I can while humming, “So fucking pretty.”
Her taste explodes on my tongue, Kylian’s body becoming more responsive with every touch.
Our mating bond, my serum running through her veins, helps too.
I free my cock, shoving my jeans down to mid hip and line up the head with her soaked entrance.
My mate pushes back and I grip her waist, matching her need with a thrust of my hips.
She cries out as I fill her tight cunt, her pussy gripping and milking my cock with her instant orgasm. Kylian smacks the floor with her hand. “So good.”
“Yes, you are, babygirl. So fucking good. Such a good girl. My good girl.” I growl low in my throat and continue to pump my hips, dragging my cock in and out through her climax.
Her body grips me perfectly, every nerve ending along my spine tingling and shooting signals straight to my balls.
Leaning forward, I press kisses to her soft skin, licking her spine and scraping my teeth against the muscles bunching in her back as she moans and writhes underneath me.
“Say it, Kylian. Say you’re mine.” A guttural sound escapes my lips and I pump harder into my mate.
“I’m yours,” Kylian moans, her arousal squirting down our thighs with every thrust.
“Louder. Scream it, mate. Burn it into the walls. Tell everyone who you belong to.” My bear is suddenly agitated, possessive and territorial and a deep need to make sure everyone in a hundred-mile radius knows she is mine causes my balls to tighten up and cum to shoot out of my cock.
“Mine!” I roar and toss my head back while holding her ass flush with my hips as my cock jerks and shoots my load deep inside her cunt.
“I’m yours!” she screams.
My fangs descend and I bend forward, piercing her skin and embedding my mating mark into her shoulder again.
This triggers multiple orgasms for her, one after another until her body goes limp and I have no choice but to pull her onto my lap.
Snatching the sleeping bag I half-assed unpacked before diving into my story, I pull it over us and lean against the cool cave wall with my mate in my arms.
Her muscles continue to twitch sporadically as she raises her head. “Will that happen every time you mark me?”
“I sure the fuck hope so.” I smile and press a kiss to her lips.
“I’m boneless and feel like I could sleep for a year.” She yawns and leans her head against my chest.
Reaching under the sleeping bag, I pull her leggings up over her ass and yank my jeans up before saying, “Take a nap, babygirl.”
We adjust until we’re both comfortable and she snuggles in my arms, her breath softly blowing across my neck. “Do you think he’ll really come here?”
“Yeah, I do.” I play with a lock of her curly brown hair, my bear still agitated despite coming and marking our mate again.
Something tells me James is close but I won’t tell her that.
Let the fucker walk in and think he’s caught me unaware.
As long as Cricket and Doralee are safe, I have nothing to fear.
I picked this location for a reason. Ten years ago I promised myself I’d never lose another person I love.
This is the place I bury those who threaten what is mine.
Twenty minutes later, Kylian jolts awake at the same time the sound of a gunshot breaks through the night air.
“Wha—” I wrap my hand around her mouth and shush her.
“Listen.”
I move Kylian to my side and pile the sleeping bag on top of her. “Stay here, babygirl.”
I stand at the same time a brown bear enters the cave.
One inhale of his scent and I recognize him as one of the vandals of my shop but it’s not James—although the fucker is close.
I can smell him in the wind. I try projecting to the bear standing before me.
“You don’t want to do this. No matter what James’s told you, this will not end well for you.
She’s my fated mate and I took nothing from him. Walk away and we’ll let you live.”
The bear roars and smacks his paws on the ground but doesn’t answer. Okay, not telepathic.
“Boy, you are even stupider than I gave you credit for.” I strip off my shirts and kick off my boots, shoving my jeans down before jumping forward as my bear.
Gnashing my teeth, I growl back at him, letting my age and dominance radiate off of me.
This is a young bear, twenty at the most and untrained.
This won’t be a fight by my standards and I almost pity the dumbass for being a willing sheep in James’s game.
He won’t survive this but like Wiley said, he made a choice and the consequences are on him.
I take a swipe at him, backing him up a step.
Then I have an idea. I might not have to deal the deadly blow but could push him over the edge and let the Gods decide his fate.
I survived the fall, landing on my parent’s battered bodies.
He might but he might not. Charging forward, he backs up another few steps, and that’s when James comes into view, standing in his human form with a gun pointed in my direction.
One shot rings out and a sharp pain hits my side.
I roar and shake it off, charging forward again.
Another shot and I stumble, falling back against the wall.
My mate’s scream pulls my attention as the bear’s paw swings at my head.
James grins and shoots again, a third hot piercing sting radiating from my side. “Safety’s on, whore.”
My vision blurs as I sag to the ground, my limbs no longer responding to my command to move.
A beautiful golden bear charges forward, pouncing on James and tearing his throat out before he can point his gun in her direction.
The other bear turns to leave and she attacks, sinking her teeth into his hind quarter when another shot echoes off the cave walls.
My mate comes to me, nuzzling her snout against my neck as my vision dims and I pass out.