Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
RYDER
Witches and shifters rarely get along, yet I’m about to walk one right into the midst of three packs—all of whom wouldn’t hesitate before attacking.
If I wasn’t already aware of what exactly Carina Hargrove is to me, tonight would do it. Tonight, the beast will come out one way or the other, because there’s no way in fucking hell someone won’t target her, simply for the magick in her veins.
She’ll need protection at all times, and if not from me, then from the others.
My skin itches at the thought of anyone else being in charge of her defence.
Within the camp’s confines, it’s one thing, but around so many strangers, it’s another.
If the worst happens, she’s capable of protecting herself, which is reassuring.
After a few hours of running, when the sun has long dipped behind the trees, we near the location. The dozen accompanying me shift into human form and dress. One by one, they await orders.
Normally, an Alpha would lead their pack in, but given my guest, I jerk my head for them to go ahead. Noises and shouts and whoops arise as they join the others.
Only Conan and Xander remain, as discussed earlier. They wander away after leaving the bag, which I carry away to change into jeans, and start pulling out other things added to it before we left.
“Here.” I thrust one of my hoodies at her. “Put this on.”
She pinches the black clothing, her brow hiking. “I’m not cold. I layered. Besides, one warming charm and I’ll be fine.”
Eyeing her tight pants, hiking boots, and woollen cardigan, I shake my head. She’s missing the point. She’s only wearing her clothing, and that won’t do. So I push my sweater over her head, tugging her arms through until the material falls down her body, stopping mid-thigh.
It’s been days since she’s worn my things, and fuck, I’ve missed the sight. The smell of her goes straight to my cock—to the wolf who’s seconds from tearing all her other clothing off and keeping her in only the sweater.
For tonight, however, it’s not selfish reasons she’s dressed in my things. It’s protection. Her being bathed in my scent is a warning to everyone in there.
She tugs on the material. “Comfy, but you didn’t listen to me.”
“It’ll make you smell stronger of me, which’ll protect you.”
Like me, but not completely. No, there’s still a strong scent of independence. One sniff, and everyone who doesn’t fear the prospect of magick will realize my scent is only surface level. Which means, it needs to be more believable.
I grasp her hips, my hands forming perfectly around her—fuckin’ made for my hands—and I back her up to a nearby tree. There isn’t a trace of fear, and that alone is heady.
When I lower my head to her neck, she exhales between parted lips. “Wh-what are you doing?”
Words won’t come—speaking would explain how I’m about to damn myself.
All the distance created this week is obliterated in the name of her safety.
Even holding her in bed isn’t like this; with her back to my front, it’s easy to pretend she’s not meant for me.
When she’s asleep and unaware how my insides are literally reshaping themselves around the beat of her heart.
But this…there is no ignoring what I’m about to do.
With my head in her neck, my wolf curls up and dies a happy animal. A low whine scrapes my throat, teeth clenching to keep the noise as hidden as possible before she questions it.
My hands travel the length of her body, slipping beneath the sweater until reaching her top and finding the smoothest skin.
Female wolves aren’t like this. They’re rugged from living outdoors, but Carina’s been bred into a house of comfort.
Four walls and heat and luxurious services at her fingertips.
Her breath catches as one hand cups her back and the other remains on her hip.
I catch the sharp gasp with my mouth on her throat, first pressing a close-mouthed kiss to her clavicle to ensure she doesn’t throw magick at me.
Then I trail up to her neck, lips parting the further I go until my tongue slips past and laps her skin.
Fucking paradise.
Years of restraint conceal my moan. Her taste bursts on my tongue, ensuring no matter what happens in the coming days or weeks, no matter how much I deny the n?kak?stis bond, this moment will never be lost.
Her taste.
Her scent.
The beat of her heart thrumming against my chest.
The warmth of her breath against my face.
Her.
Mate.
Mine.
Claim.
Every instinct hammers into me as my tongue laves her neck, over her pulse, and down to her collarbone. Her heart thumps beneath my hands, and for my own simple pleasure, I pull my tongue back in to nip her with my teeth instead.
“Ryder… What…” My name on her tongue, a breathy sound, will replay in my head long after she goes.
I can’t stay here forever, no matter how much I want to. To ignore all that’s around and bury my head in her, and for fucking once, forget everything but her.
Before I move, I brace for what she’ll find in my expression; the wolf halfway jumping from my skin, my nails sliding up her spine making her shiver, or my teeth ready to pierce her skin with the bite that’ll ensure she never goes anywhere without me.
A mark that’ll link us together and signal her importance to everyone in there. A bite that’ll hurt a bit, to show her what she is to me, but one I’ll soothe and prove how I can care for her—for my mate.
Only when I trust I won’t do any of that, when I’m no longer about to say fuck it and do all I crave, I lift my head to look her in those violet expression-filled eyes of hers.
“You’re in my clothing. My scent is on you. As a witch, they won’t expect me to protect you. As mine, it’d be a fight to start anything with you now. If I’m not around, remain close to Xander or Conan.”
Then, without another glance, I give her my back and start for the clearing. Every step is a shrapnel imbedding deeper in my gut. After having my hands on her—twice in one day—and my tongue savouring her skin, my instincts beg me to officially claim her.
Not only for the wolf, but for me. I like her.
Xander throws me a look of pure amusement. Knowing about the bond, he assumes he’s aware of what touching her like that did to me, but he’d be wrong because it’s so much worse than words can describe.
I pass them to lead the way into the clearing. Conan slips behind Carina, whose small steps stagger on the uneven ground every so often, while Xander hovers close, glaring through the treeline, at—if I know my best friend—Sterling, Alpha of Moonforge Pack.
There are three packs in attendance tonight. Moonforge from Saskatchewan, Goldridge from Seattle over the Canada-United States border, and Hightooth from British Columbia.
“You know what’ll happen if you kill him.” It’s the reminder I give every few months, sealed with a firm clap to Xander’s shoulder to break his daze.
A death caused my beta to another Alpha would spark a war we’d be on the wrong side of.
He growls, shrugging me off. “Well aware. One day, I will. I fuckin’ promise you that. We both know the fucker deserves it.” He stalks away, grumbling and shoving branches out of his way.
Carina comes up beside me. “What’s that about?”
“That wolf”—I point—“is Claire’s father.”
“Leah’s mate?”
“Not quite. I’ll tell you the story later. For now, let’s go.”
Sterling, who I’d love nothing more than to set Xander free on, spots us first—though half the gathering also does a split second later. Everyone in the near vicinity halts talking, Carina’s witchy scent hitting them immediately.
“What’s this, Ryder?” Sterling nudges two people aside to approach. “Snack or entertainment?” Dark eyes roam over her body, lingering a moment too long on her legs.
“She’s mine.” In more ways than they all—including Carina—understand. A way that’ll end their lives if they so much touch her. “She’s with me. She’s a guest, not a threat. An attack on this witch is an attack on my pack, and we will retaliate.”
Murmurs erupt. From the edges, my own pack moves closer, instinctively preparing to defend. Carina presses closer to me and that simple act forms a fist around my heart.
Sterling—because of mother-fucking-course it’d be him—is the first to speak. “She’s a witch. How do we know she hasn’t placed you under a spell?”
“She has important information.” Looking from Sterling, I find the other Alphas, Reid and Callum, wandering closer. “If we could begin our meeting sooner than later, I’d appreciate it.”
Reid steps forward to grip Sterling’s shoulder and mutters something in his ear.
Both stare at me, then Carina, before turning to push through the crowd.
Callum is the last to move. His eyes linger on Carina long enough my hackles rise, and I step in front of her to block his view.
Deep-set lowered brows lift up, his mocking smirk nothing more than a weak line, and he too turns away.
With the Alphas not arguing, the people around us return to their conversations. Only now, a tense energy clouds the area, flashing warning signs to not leave her side.
Since I must, I nudge her slightly away from everyone else. Her cheeks are red from the run here, and her adorable eyes are a beacon of proof for everyone to see she’s not like them.
“Stay with Conan. Don’t move from his side. You hear me?”
She nods, biting her bottom lip. That’s my fucking weakness right there, and I push a thumb into the same spot, unable to stop myself.
“I’m serious. Do me a favour—no magick unless necessary.
No showing off. There shouldn’t be a need to defend.
” This I snip directly to Conan, who’s hovering nearby.
He bares his neck in submission and acknowledgement.
Then I walk away from my unclaimed mate, in a space full of shifters who’d probably kill her if they knew what she is to me, regardless of the need to keep my purple-eyed witch safe.
“Why should we believe you?” Reid crosses his arms over his chest. “It’s quite the tale.”
“When war breaks and you’re unprepared, don’t come crying to me.” I cross my arms too, drumming my fingers along one arm. The longer this goes on, the longer I’m not with Carina.
Sterling sneers. “Now it all makes sense. You’re using a coven to protect yourselves.”
My teeth snap—seconds away from being in his neck. “We’re working towards a common goal.”
“We’re not questioning you, Ryder, but rather her intentions.” Reid shares a look with the others, though Sterling’s eye roll indicates he is questioning me. “Why would she volunteer to be endangered if there isn’t anything more to this?”
“Why wouldn’t she?” The visceral need to defend her, not only physically but her honour too, makes my words spew. “Offering herself to the Darkness has nothing to do with us. There’d be nothing to gain.”
“If it’s like you say,” Sterling starts, “she might be on their side. Turning all witches to black magick sounds like a bigger extermination problem.”
The thought of anyone exterminating her brings Sterling one more word closer to his death. “She’s Alpha in her own right; Highridge’s next High Priestess. She’s doing what any one of us would do.”
Callum, who’s remained quiet this entire time, finally breaks his silence.
“I believe you—and her. What other reason would this Grove coven use you guys to do their dirty work? Secondly, there is no motivation for your witch to concoct a grander plan. If she wanted to use black magick, why set up her own kidnapping?”
The others remain silent, considering.
“Vampires also being involved means something,” Reid chimes in. “They wouldn’t get themselves involved if they didn’t know something. No, I think you’re right, young Ryder, in bringing this to us. This is something we all need to be aware of and plan for.”
Sterling paces away, huffing.
“You guys do what you want. This was nothing more than a warning. I couldn’t, in good conscious, let us all be harmed. We might need one another in the future.”
The other two nod and since Sterling’s silence is his way of agreeing, I take it as an opportunity to return to Carina and ease my nerves.
Reid stares through the trees where the gathering is in full swing. “Why would you bring an enemy into our sacred space?”
“She goes where I do.” I say nothing less to answer him, but nothing more to tip them off there’s more to her.
Carina Hargrove will be the secret I take to my grave.