A New Kind of Family #7
“You don’t think we want to save him, Shade?!” Dillon growled. “That’s my best friend, and there’s nothing I can do to help him. Do you understand me? There’s nothing I can do.”
Dillon’s eyes widened, trying desperately to tell me something as we both turned back toward the arena.
I stared in horror at the gruesome scene before me. They were pouncing on Caelan, ripping into him as he did his best to defend himself, but it was hopeless. I didn’t know how much longer he could hold out.
Alpha Huxley shuffled forward as his warriors pinned Caelan to the ground, a wolfish smile on his face as he leaned down to wrap his fangs around Caelan’s neck.
“Shade,” Taffy begged as she appeared beside me. “Do something. Please.”
It suddenly clicked. What Dillon had been trying to tell me. We couldn’t set foot in the arena, but I didn’t need to. I could help Caelan in another way.
“Caelan,” I breathed, my voice like a whisper on the wind.
His ears tilted in my direction as the energy began to pulse through me. I thrust the power out, sending it rushing toward him. I felt it embrace Caelan, wrapping him in my ability and feeding his fury.
I gave him all he could take, fueling his rage like some supercharged battery.
A roar broke out from the center of the arena, the raw, primal sound sending fearful shudders through the crowd. Bodies flew back as Caelan rose, his wolf form morphing into something new.
He wasn’t on all fours like a normal wolf anymore. He stood tall, rising above the wolves of Dark Moon on two paws, his mighty limbs longer than they’d been before. He seemed larger somehow, more menacing as his taunt muscles tensed and bulged beneath his skin.
I stared in disbelief. I had never amplified anyone as much as I was doing to Caelan right now, and I wasn’t sure what was happening. No one had ever changed their form before, but I couldn’t risk stopping.
Caelan’s wolf turned, his eyes locking with mine. The burning hunger in them made my breath catch. I knew without a doubt he was coming for me.
He threw his head back and howled, tossing three wolves off him with one powerful swing of his arm. Caelan struck out at another pair that rushed forward, knocking them back with ease as he stalked toward me.
He snarled and snapped, ripping through their flesh like paper as they tried in vain to stop him. Blood coated the sand, the wolves of Dark Moon dropping like flies in Caelan’s wake.
Huxley leapt on his back, but Caelan peeled him off, throwing that full-grown wolf aside like a toy. All the while, his gaze remained fixed on mine.
Before long, there was no one else standing.
Caelan slowly shifted from wolf to man as he neared the arena’s edge. The change was so effortless that I almost missed it. He stopped as he reached me, standing there in all his naked glory.
I stared up at him as Dillon finally released me, and Caelan reached out, wrapping his strong arms around me. He pulled me tightly against him, his desire radiating along my skin and searing a path straight to my core. “Mine,” he snarled, the gruff finality in his tone making me shiver.
“Yours,” I confirmed.
Other Things
SHADE
Caelan swept me into his arms like a new bride, and without another word, he carried me out of the arena, stepping carefully over the unconscious bodies as we left.
“I need you,” he breathed, placing kisses along my jawline as he made his way toward the pack house.
I moaned softly at the sensation it stirred within me. “And I you.”
He carried me up to his bedroom, kicking the heavy door closed behind us. I wiggled in his hold, expecting him to set me down, but his grip only tightened.
“I need to clean up,” he said as he headed toward the bathroom. “And I got blood all over you, so you’re coming with me.”
He held me as he turned on the shower, letting the water warm as he ripped the ruined dress right off my body, peppering my skin with kisses.
“I know we’re waiting to have sex,” he panted. “And I’m good with that, but I need to feel your skin against mine.”
I wrapped my legs around him as he picked me up and stepped into the spray. He set me down, his heated stare dancing across my lacy underwear. He moved to grab me, but I put my hand on his chest, stopping him.
I looked directly into his eyes as I reached behind me and unclasped my bra, letting it fall to the slick tile floor. His breath hitched as I slipped my thumbs beneath the waistband of my panties and slowly dragged them down over my hips before kicking them to the side.
Caelan was on me so fast, I barely had time to blink. He gripped my waist, pulling me into his hard body as he kissed his way along my jawline and down my neck.
I gasped as he sucked on a spot just above my collarbone, ready to give him everything if he did it again. His fingers gently stroked down my naked flesh, leaving a trail of electricity in their wake.
He pressed my back against the wall, holding me tight as our mouths crashed desperately together. Desire flared through me as his hardness pressed firmly against my stomach.
“Sorry,” he apologized, pressing his forehead to mine. “I know you’re not ready for that.”
“I don’t mind,” I admitted shyly.
His lips were on mine again as he reached for the soap, lathering me up and running his hands all over my body.
“I’m not the dirty one,” I teased, taking it from him and washing away every speck of grime from the fight.
My hands slid lower, my pulse hammering as they slipped around his waist toward his front. He grabbed my wrist, stopping me before I reached his stiff shaft.
“Don’t,” he begged, his voice strained as he closed his eyes. “I’m trying really hard to be a gentleman here, Shade, but if you touch me there, I won’t be able to control myself.”
“What…what would you do?” I asked with a gulp.
He leaned down to place a soft kiss against my mouth. “I’m still going to wait until our marking ceremony to take you, but”—he paused, sucking on that spot above my collarbone—“there are plenty of other things I could do to you.”
“Other things?” I gasped, my voice growing huskier as his lips trailed a path toward my chest.
“Mm-hmm,” he hummed, his breath leaving goosebumps across my skin. “Things I think you might enjoy. Things that might help you get prepared for when you’re ready to take this further.”
“And you want to show me these things?”
“More than anything,” he groaned as he nipped at the soft flesh on the top of my breast.
I moaned softly. “Okay.”
He looked up, his gorgeous hazel eyes meeting mine. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I want to be with you, Caelan.”
He lifted me up, his hands gripping my ass tightly as I wrapped my legs around his waist. His hard muscles rubbed against my core, sending a thrill of pleasure through me as he carried me into the bedroom and laid me down on the bed.
He climbed up between my legs, his lips locking onto mine in a searing kiss. He ground his hips against mine, his hardened shaft brushing against my center as a low whimper escaped me.
Oh my Goddess! That feels incredible.
His hand found my breast, kneading it softly as the other slid along my thigh, slipping between our impossibly close bodies.
I gasped, arching into him as his fingertips brushed against me, gently stroking along my slick folds. Heat built in my core, delightful sensation rippling through me at the delicious friction. I clutched him tightly, wanting more.
He groaned, his lips leaving mine and moving along my neck. “Baby, you’re magnificent,” he whispered against my skin. “And all mine.”
His mouth closed over my breast, his tongue lapping over my sensitive nipple. My fingers twisted in his hair, my throaty moan echoing in the room as I pulled him closer.
He let it go with a pop, eyes on my face as his fingertips explored my wet core.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, his tongue flicking out across my other peaked nipple.
“Goddess, yes, Caelan! Don’t stop!” I breathed.
He pressed a finger against my opening, sinking it into me slowly and watching me as I cried out from the sudden fullness. His thumb found the bundle of nerves at my center, and I closed my eyes at the abrupt explosion of stimulation, stars flashing behind them as I ground my core against his palm.
“Caelan!”
My breath came in short pants as the feeling built, higher and higher until I was certain I’d implode from the overwhelming sensation. When I thought I couldn’t take another second, Caelan kissed me, his finger curling inside me and sending waves of pleasure crashing over me.
I quivered, clutching him tightly as they pulsed through me until they finally started to fade away. He withdrew his hand as I collapsed against the mattress, placing a kiss against my neck.
“Absolutely magnificent,” he murmured.
*** His fingers traced patterns on my skin as we lay in bed, still awake despite Caelan’s amorous attentions.
I’d never felt more relaxed in all my life. My body was loose, still buzzing from the second time.
I smiled as I intertwined my hand with his. I want to do something for him. Make him feel as good as I feel right now, but I’m too embarrassed to ask what to do. Maybe I can ask Taffy what men like tomorrow. If I can work up the courage.
“So, you used your ability on me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice soft. “I couldn’t help it, Caelan. Dillon said we couldn’t interfere, even if they were going to… I just couldn’t stand by and watch them…”
The images flashed through my mind. The teeth tearing into his flesh. His blood spilled on the ground. Huxley’s jaws around his throat. Tears spilled down my cheeks.
Caelan brushed them away with his thumb, and I looked at him, surprised he wasn’t angry with me for going against the pack’s traditions.
“Thank you,” he said. “I wouldn’t have survived if you hadn’t helped.”
“You’re not mad that I interfered?” I sniffled.