Chapter 16
I stared at the road ahead in a daze as we drove back up the steep, snowy mountain.
Innocent.
Innocent.
Innocent.
The words played on repeat in my head over and over and over again. The ride was silent. Thane didn’t even bother turning on the music, and Gareth chose to ride in the back seat this time, keeping one hand on my shoulder for the entire ride.
It took us another two hours to get back. I could barely gather my thoughts, but all I really felt was intense relief. I nearly threw up when the verdict was read.
After it was over, the guys whisked me out of there in record time, shoving me into the car before hightailing it out of Sol. I was never more grateful to be thrown around than right then.
We reached the cabin, and I didn’t waste a single second before throwing open my door and taking off in a dead sprint. I passed the cabin, hearing the guys shouting behind me, but I didn’t care to stop.
I shifted in seconds, my clothes ripping off of me and falling to the snowy ground in tatters.
My paws slammed on the forest floor, and my breaths puffed out of my maw, hot air hitting the icy wind as I ran harder than I ever had.
Free… I was free.
I kept running until I was exhausted and collapsed on the damp ground, content to just lay there in my wolf form for the rest of eternity if it meant I could stay this way.
My heart swelled with joy as I tilted my face up to look at the night sky, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt optimistic.
I sat near the edge of a mountain cliff that overlooked the frozen lake, letting the falling snow land on my black fur in little white dots. I panted, trying to catch my breath, my muscles feeling stretched and tingly after that sprint.
I could feel, hear, and smell the guys approaching, yet I didn’t bother shifting back to human form. I wanted to stay like this for just a little while longer.
I felt the familiar warmth of Thane’s hand as he knelt down beside me, and I heard him whisper soothing words in my ear, promising that it was over.
I really was free. It was like he knew that I needed to hear those words over and over again for them to feel true. For me to believe that this was all real and not just some fucked-up nightmare meant to toy with me.
He ran his hands through my thick fur, letting his magic spread out over me like an electric blue blanket that made the falling snow twinkle like stars.
“I never doubted it for a second,” he said, nudging me in my side. In this form, I was so much bigger than him that it was comical. “You’re much too pretty to rot in prison for the rest of your life, so I definitely would have had to organize a dramatic prison break.”
I rolled my eyes, a whine slipping past my wolf lips. He just chuckled, sinking his fingers into the warmth of my fur. “Let’s get back and let the rabble know you’re a free woman. What do you say?”
He was right. I should probably let Serenity know what happened, that is, if Faust hadn't already explained it for us. They needed to know what Estelle said to me. They needed to be ready for whatever came next.
War and Gareth approached, with War ripping off his shirt and holding it out to me. I took that as my cue and shifted in seconds, bones cracking and shifting back into place.
The cold hit me like a brick, so I snatched his shirt and tossed it over my head. It settled around me like a dress. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, darkening with a possessiveness that had my toes curling into the snow.
I threw myself at the burly vampire, wrapping my arms tightly around him and burying my face into his chest. He held me, bringing his face to my wild curls and breathing in my scent deeply.
It was hard to describe the way these men made me feel safe and terrified at the exact same time, but the facts were that I never wanted that to change, and I didn’t think it ever could.
I was ready to head straight to the cabin, but as we approached, I was hit from behind and lifted off my feet. I yelped as I was tossed over a broad shoulder.
Slapping War’s ass didn’t deter him as he carried me toward the shed. He kicked open the door, letting in the icy wind and snow. Thane and Gareth followed us in with shit-eating grins on their faces.
Thane flicked his hand, and his magic sent items flying off of the elevated work bench in time for War to set me on top of it.
I tried to catch my breath as I righted myself, blinking as Thane lit the lanterns and turned on the record player, again with the wave of his hand. Warmth filled the room in seconds.
“What the hell?" I asked in a daze.
All three of them stood before me, exchanging unreadable looks at one another that spelled out trouble with a capital T. Nerves fluttered in my belly.
“Consider this a celebration,” Thane said, smirking. “You’re a free woman, after all.”
My heart started racing as they crowded around me, their hands wandering over my body.
War’s strong fingers rubbed circles over my thighs, Gareth palmed my breasts as his hands dipped under the shirt, and Thane’s talented fingers slipped between my legs.
“Holy crap…” I said it breathlessly. "It's happening. Serenity warned me about this."
The guys chuckled but didn't let up. Thane’s fingers found their way to my clit, expertly rubbing it in perfect circles while War kissed down my neck, biting down hard enough to leave marks.
Gareth took one of my nipples into his mouth through the thin fabric, sucking and nibbling on it until I couldn’t take it anymore yet begged for more.
War’s shirt was ripped over my head, leaving me naked on the workbench. I spread my thighs open further, giving them complete access.
Thane dropped to his knees in front of me, his face lining up with my exposed pussy perfectly. I could feel his hot breath on my skin as he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my core. I moaned, my head tipping back as I closed my eyes.
He wasted no time flattening his tongue and licking straight up my wet pussy, flicking the tip of his tongue against my clit, making my thighs shake.
“That’s it, beautiful,” War cooed. I lifted my head, meeting his eyes as he placed his large hand on my cheek, cupping my face. “Let us eat our fill tonight. You deserve to be treated like a fucking queen.”
His kiss was rough and laced with desperation and need. I could feel his hunger for me in every stroke of his tongue.
Gareth closed his mouth over my nipple, flicking his tongue over the swollen bud. It sent shockwaves of pleasure through my entire body.
Thane buried his face between my thighs, licking and sucking expertly until I was writhing under his touch. Arching my back, I moaned.
His finger nudged at my entrance, slipping in as he continued to suck my clit between his lips. It was then that I felt little zaps of magic flowing from his fingers into me, vibrating along my inner walls.
I moaned into War’s mouth as he kissed me ravenously. He pulled back, his eyes vampire-black with need. I didn’t have to say anything; I just smiled devilishly, and he knew what I wanted.
His fangs pierced my neck as I arched the opposite way, capturing Gareth's mouth with mine. War pulled from me, letting my hot blood slide down his throat as Gareth devoured my lips, nibbling, suckling, and moaning into my mouth.
My eyes rolled back in my head as I came, with Thane’s magic reverberating through me at the same time, pulling every ounce of energy from my body. I swear, when it was over, I barely remembered coming back down to Earth.
They switched places, Gareth moving between my legs as Thane took my mouth, and I tasted myself on him. For a moment, I wondered if I could even handle any more of this, but the second his lips closed in around my clit, I nearly came again on the spot.
My mate’s touch was felt all the way down to my bones, as if he and I were one and the same. I could feel what he felt. His adoration, his possessiveness, his love, and his ferocity.
Thane pulled back, looking into my eyes, electric blue power staring back at me.
He scanned my face with a look of awe, and that sent shivers through my whole body.
“I love you, little wolf,” he said. His brows were furrowed, and his jaw muscle tightened as he clenched it.
“I won’t even fight it. I’m bloody yours. ”
A groan of pleasure escaped my lips as Gareth licked hard and fast over my sensitive clit. I was so distracted by his tongue that I barely registered Thane capturing my mouth again in a kiss that was full of need and starvation.
War pulled away, licking my dripping wound and letting it heal in seconds. He kissed his way down my chest, taking my breast in his mouth. Then he traveled down further and further until he was kneeling next to Gareth.
Thane pulled back, allowing me to watch in awe as Gareth made room for War next to him. I gasped as War neared in, licking my wet pussy alongside my mate. Their tongues worked in tandem as Thane held my thighs apart, cooing in my ear with words that had my heart beating out of my fucking chest.
My whole body was a live wire, and I couldn’t rip my eyes away from the two males worshiping me on their knees. These ancient warriors. These powerful creatures were worshiping at my fucking altar like I was some kind of goddess.
Thane’s hand slipped down my torso until the pad of his finger pressed down over my clit. He rubbed me in circles while their tongues kept torturing me.
I lost it then. With all three of them working as one, I came hard, moaning and writhing, my back arching as pleasure rippled through me.
My release was hard and powerful. It literally left me trembling in their arms. Thane caught me just before the world slipped away under me, my body worn out by pleasure. I slumped in his arms as War and Gareth backed away, Gareth wiping my wetness from his lips with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
We’re nowhere near done with you, love,” Thane whispered, and a thrill ran through me. But at the same time, my eyes grew impossibly heavy. So heavy that I was struggling to hold them open. The adrenaline was quickly wearing off, and I was one hundred percent about to pass out.
In the blink of an eye, I woke up in the dark. I must have fallen asleep in seconds. Or maybe I fucking passed out. Who could blame me?
I stretched my arms over my head, feeling only warmth when I set eyes on my mates.
My mates. As in multiple. Even War. He was my mate in every way, magic or moon goddesses aside. We were all sprawled out on the floor of the shed. Someone had laid out a thick winter blanket beneath us. Only one of the camping lanterns was still lit.
My head spun as I tried to pinpoint the moment I’d fallen asleep, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember. I smiled to myself as I watched my three mates, their faces so innocent and calm in their sleep.
I pulled a t-shirt over my head and shook out my hair, trying to be as quiet as I possibly could without waking them. They needed just as much sleep as I did, if not more.
The plan was to slip out and find Serenity and Loxley so we could find a quiet place to gossip. But apparently, I’d let my guard slip too easily, and life had other plans for us.
The door to the Shed burst open, and Serenity stumbled in, blood-red tears streaming down her face. I was on my feet in seconds, dragging her into my arms as the guys leapt up, and Gareth shifted into a wolf amidst the chaos. I was partially shifted myself, my heart hammering painfully.
Serenity was inconsolable, and I couldn’t understand her. Her mates followed behind her, murder written across each of their faces.
“Ren, look at me,” I cooed at my cousin, grabbing her face between my hands. “What happened? Tell me what happened.”
She blinked at me, her brown eyes already shifted to vampire black with that bright ring of gold in the center, her hybrid nature striking and terrifying despite her tears.
“They took her...” Serenity heaved breathlessly.
I frowned, my heart dropping into my stomach. “Took who? I asked, looking up over her head. My eyes scanned the others, and it took me a second, but I soon realized with horror that Loxley wasn’t with us.
A loud howl split the night right outside the shed. Desperate fear laced the sound. The howl was filled with pain, confusion, and terror.
Sean.
“Who?” I asked through gritted teeth. “Who took Loxley?” I demanded.
Serenity straightened, little black veins creeping under the skin near her eyes. She was getting ready to shift, too. Any minute now, and she’d be feral.
“We never saw them, but I can give you one guess,” she said with a growl under her voice. “She stepped outside for a split second, and then she was gone. There’s blood in the snow, and she’s just gone!”
I grabbed my cousin and pulled her toward me as tears continued to fall from her eyes. Fear froze me in place as I started to shake with rage. Rage, and maybe even guilt. Guilt for not hearing the commotion and saving Loxley. Guilt because I already knew who took her. We all did.
“We're going to find that witch, Ren. We find her, and we fucking end her. No more hiding.”
Serenity peered up at me, wiping her tears away as she straightened her shoulders. She nodded curtly as the guys closed in around us. “No more fucking hiding.”