Chapter Eight
The moon had risen like a giant pearl by the time they reached their destination. Stars had come out to join it and they looked as though salt crystals had been thrown into the air.
Tarl stopped. He was breathing hard, the last hour had been uphill and rough terrain.
Seeing rooftops and the curls of chimney smoke, Sienna slipped from him, landing on the hard ground.
Grady dropped the rucksack, looked at her, the village, and then shifted back to his human form within a matter of seconds. Tarl did the same. He too was breathing hard, and when he shifted his cheeks were red.
“Are you okay, Grady?” Sienna asked.
“Never better, didn’t think I’d see this place again.” He reached for his pants. “Didn’t think I’d see my pack again.”
“You better hope you haven’t been usurped,” Tarl said, also getting dressed quickly.
Grady let out a growling noise. “If Dresdon has done one thing to disrespect me I’ll…”
“You’ll put him in his place,” Tarl said, setting his hand on Grady’s shoulder. “And I’ll help you.”
Grady pulled in a deep breath, nodded, and then put on his boots, lacing them quickly.
“Stick with us,” Tarl said, linking his warm hand with Sienna’s cold one. “And don’t worry, snapping and snarling is usual.”
“Snapping and snarling?”
They walked the last hundred meters to Kochi and when they arrived saw that half a dozen people were sitting around a large fire in the center of the cabins.
“Grady! Tarl!” A young woman with long brown hair leapt to her feet and pointed. “I knew you were coming. I knew we hadn’t lost you. I could feel it.”
The rest of the group stood, there were gasps and whoops and then they were surrounded.
Everyone wanted to hug Tarl and slap Grady on the back. There were a hundred questions at once and lots of curious glances at Sienna.
A wave of shyness came over her. She was used to being in control and even the center of attention when giving lectures at the zoo, but this was different. This was stepping into a world she had no understanding of. She was the outsider.
But Tarl didn’t let go of her hand and when the noise of the chatter calmed, he led her toward the fire that had a huge pot of stew sitting over it.
Suddenly a huge guy, big black beard and shoulders as broad as a mountain, stomped down from one of the cabins. He was glaring at Grady as though he hated him.
“Oh, fuck,” Tarl muttered and steered Sienna to a log.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“Dresdon. Sit here, wait.” He nodded at the girl with the long brown hair, Billie. “Look after her, Billie.”
“Sure.” Billie squeezed closer to Sienna. “I can do that.”
But Sienna wasn’t taking much notice. The huge guy, Dresdon, had marched straight up to Grady with malignant intent in every pace.
Tarl was behind Grady in an instant, as were several other men and women.
Dresdon stood alone. He tipped his chin. “Huh, he’s back and you’re around him like puppies. Who has led you these last weeks?” He stabbed his thumb against his chest. “Me.”
“I’m grateful for you holding the fort,” Grady said, folding his arms. “But as you said, I am back now, and last time I looked I was alpha around here.”
Dresdon bared his teeth and a strange growling sound came from his throat. “That’s what you think.”
“Don’t fucking push me.” Grady suddenly snarled and was right up in Dresdon’s face. “I might have had a rough time and a long journey, but I can still take your sorry ass on.”
“Rough time. I heard the humans caught you. We’ve gone millennia without getting caught and then you … it’s you who gets caught.” He laughed but it was a nasty sound. “How pathetic.”
“Could’ve happened to anyone, including you, ranger came out of nowhere and darted me.”
“I ain’t ever been in no zoo for the world to gawp at. You’ve put us all at risk. How can you be our alpha now?”
“They have no proof there are more of us or that we shift. I could just be a mutant from a gray. And besides, they’ll be looking in Montana, not Canada or Alaska.”
“I can’t respect you, no one can, not after this.” Dresdon jabbed his finger at Grady. “You need to go live as a loner, for everyone’s safety.”
“That’s not gonna happen, and get your damn finger out of my face.”
“What, this one?” Dresdon waggled his finger and made a strange snapping sound with his mouth.
This seemed to flick a switch in Grady and he lunged at Dresdon, fists flying and with all of his weight behind it. In an instant they were on the floor in a tangle of legs and arms. Fists connected with flesh and bone and grunts and huffs punctuated the air.
Tarl looked ready to join in, hopping from one foot to the other, but he was hanging back, obviously waiting for a sign from his alpha.
“Oh, fuck,” Billie said, rubbing her hands together. “Dresdon has really done it this time.”
“What do you mean?” Sienna’s heart was pounding. She didn’t want Grady to get hurt and Dresdon was giving as good as he got.
The crowd were shouting and clapping. A few had shifted into direwolves and were now howling at the moon—a long, loud eerie sound that went on and on.
Grady took a particularly mean punch to the chin, his jaw clicking, but this seemed to send him into no-more-nice-guy and in an instant he had Dresdon on his back and pinned securely. He glared down at him, breathing fast, a drip of blood hung from his bottom lip. “You dare to question my authority?” he snarled breathlessly. “A youngster like you, no experience, a pain in my fucking ass?”
“Fuck you.” Dresdon had spittle in the corners of his mouth.
“No, fuck you, try anything like this again and you’ll be banished, Dresdon. The only reason I’m not doing that now is you’ll starve on your own over the winter and we can’t afford to lose numbers these days.”
“Get the hell off me.”
“You gonna stay in your lane?” Grady asked, not moving his weight.
“I said get off!”
Grady said nothing, just raised one eyebrow. The drip of blood fell and landed on Dresdon’s cheek.
“Fuck, yeah, okay, you’re back, you’re alpha. I get it.” The words seemed to scratch like glass over his tongue.
“Say it again.”
“You’re alpha, I get it. Now leave me the fuck alone.”
“Happy to, and stay out of my sight for the rest of the night.” Grady suddenly sprang up and stood tall. He wiped the back of his hand over his lip, smearing blood.
Dresdon rolled over, got to his knees, and then pushed to standing with a groan. He brushed his palms over his black sweater, and then with head down, shoulders stooped, he wandered back the way he’d come.
The chatter soon rose as everyone took their seats and began eating stew again.
“Are you okay?” Sienna rushed up to Grady. Billie was close at her side.
“Yeah, honey, I’m fine. Sorry you had to see that.”
“Don’t worry about me.” She touched his lip. “You took a few nasty punches.”
“I heal quick. It’s nothing.” He set a kiss on her forehead. “Get some food, we’ve had a long journey.”
Tarl was holding a wooden bowl steaming with delicious-smelling stew. “Here.”
“Thanks.” She took it.
“I hope you like it, I made it.” Billie grinned at her.
“It’s looks great and just what we need.”
“Come, let’s sit,” Grady said, also taking a bowl of food.
“Tell me,” Billie said, sitting close to Sienna. “Where are you from? How did you meet Grady and Tarl?”
“I’m from New York. And I met Grady in the zoo.”
“The zoo?” Her eyes widened.
“I was his keeper.” She looked at Grady who raised his eyebrows at her then spooned in food. “Not that he’d eat.”
Billie shrugged. “It’s the first rule. Get captured, starve to death to keep our secrets.”
“Luckily I met Tarl before that happened and he explained to me what Grady was … what you all are, I’m guessing.”
“I am, most of us are.” Billie glanced around. “There are a few humans here in our circle.”
Sienna nodded. “The guys have been trying to explain it all, since we broke Grady out, that is.”
“You must be in some serious trouble for that.”
“She sure is,” Tarl said, “which is why she’s here, forever, with us, as our woman, our mate.”
“There’s no going back,” Grady said. “Sienna has made a huge sacrifice not just for me and for our pack but for the survival of direwolf.”
“Happy to do it.” Sienna nodded as the word “mate” rattled around her mind and reminded her that these men were also animals. “Really, I was … am.”
“You’re a very special person, I can tell.” Billie beamed at her. “And I’m glad you’re here, more females is always a bonus, we’re outnumbered.” She giggled. “But I knew you were coming, all of you, I could sense it.” She nodded at a cabin to the right. “Which is why I got your place ready. There’s food, clean sheets, and a fire waiting to be lit.”
“You’re a gem.” Tarl grinned at her. “You really are.”
Sienna studied Billie a little closer. She was young, definitely only just a teenager.
“I’ll go light the fire now.” Billie jumped up. “So, it’s cozy.”
“Thanks.” Grady stood and helped himself to more stew from the pot over the fire.”
“She’s young,” Sienna said to Tarl.
“Yes, she only started shifting this summer.”
Sienna found herself watching Billie walk away and wondering what color direwolf she’d be.
“When we start shifting,” Grady said, sitting down. “It changes all of our senses. We can smell more acutely, hear things we couldn’t before, and at night we can see almost as well as during the day.”
“And also,” Tarl said, setting his finished food aside. “We get a wolf sense, one that guides us when we need it to. I think that’s why I sat at your booth in The Gin Room that night, Sienna.”
“And how Billie knew her alpha was returning.” Grady took Sienna’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Are you ready to see your new home?”
“Yes.” She looked into his eyes. “I am.”
They left the group, several watching them go as though still checking it was real that their alpha was with them again and unharmed.
Several wooden steps led up to a porch with a seating area. It had been recently swept and a potted plant sat on the table.
Stepping through a large wooden door, Sienna was instantly surrounded in heat and the scent of pine needles. The large area was set with neat wooden furniture that included a big table, eight chairs, several soft seats before a fire, and a long thin kitchen along the back wall. The chimney breast was stone and opposite were stairs that led up to a mezzanine.
“What do you think?” Tarl asked, straightening one of the chairs at the table.
“It’s a lot of wood.” She laughed looking at the big horizontal logs that made up the walls and then the polished wooden floor.
“It’s easy to source around here.” Grady laughed and went to the refrigerator. He pulled it open. “Thanks for this, Billie, appreciate it.”
“The eggs are fresh this morning, so is the bread, my mother made it for you.”
“She’s a gem.” Tarl added a log to the fire Billie was tending. It was instantly licked my flames.
“I’ll leave you to it.” Billie stood and walked up to Sienna.
To Sienna’s surprise she embraced her.
“I really am glad you’re here. Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to the other women.”
“How is Madeline?” Grady asked. “I didn’t see her at the fire.”
“She’s due any day now.” Billie nodded seriously. “And is staying in her cabin, resting.”
“Ah, good, okay. Let me know as soon as she has the baby.” Grady’s expression fell. “It’s a dangerous time for a woman but we’ll do everything we can to keep mother and child safe. The Jeep has a full tank, right? In case we need to drive her to town, to the hospital.”
“Yes, full to the brim. She’ll be glad you’re back holding the pack together, Grady. You too, Tarl, we missed you both.” And with that Billie slipped from the cabin shutting the door behind her.
Tarl dropped his rucksack on the floor.
Sienna did the same, she’d almost forgotten she’d been wearing it.
“You want a shower?” Tarl asked her.
“Er, yes, that would be great.” It had been a long day with a lot of hanging on to a huge wolf as they’d sped through forest and over plains.
“The shower room is up those stairs, next to the bedroom.”
“Thanks.”
Grady sat and began to undo his boots.
Tarl poked at the fire.
She grabbed her rucksack then wandered up the stairs taking in the pictures that hung on hooks on the wall. Mostly they were of landscapes, though there was one of a direwolf howling at a full moon.
The bathroom was warm and clean and Sienna quickly showered and dried herself on a big towel that smelled freshly laundered, by Billie she presumed. She then pulled on some soft cotton pajamas, brushed her hair and teeth, and re-emerged.
When she looked down at the living area she paused and her breath hitched. Grady and Tarl were naked. They were lying on the fur rug in front of the fire, kissing. The glow of the flames caressed their strong bodies, highlighting their muscles and taut tendons.
She swallowed and a knot of excitement caught in her belly. But this time she didn’t want to be a voyeur, so she went down the stairs, her bare feet silent.
They were kissing as they explored each other’s bodies. Small moans catching in their throats. Grady took hold of Tarl’s cock and pumped it slowly, root to tip.
“Fuck, yeah,” Tarl murmured.
He opened his eyes and spotted her.
Grady also turned. “Join us,” he said.
Sienna didn’t need to be asked twice. She peeled off her pajamas then kneeled on the rug.
“Tarl has a great cock,” Grady said, still working it. “You touch it too.”
She did as instructed, her hand bumping up against Grady’s. Tarl was steely hard and his shaft hot.
“He likes his balls tickled.” Grady took her free hand and set it over Tarl’s warm soft balls.
“Oh, fuck,” Tarl said, flopping onto his back, almost sacrificial. “You know that’s my undoing.”
“Perhaps we want you undone.” Grady chuckled.
Tarl groaned as Sienna worked his balls gently and added pressure to his cock, following Grady’s lead. His abdomen was tense and defined and he was breathing fast and shallow.
Grady caught her chin and urged her to look up at him. “You’re perfect for us,” he murmured and then kissed her. His tongue found hers and a shot of lust burst into her system. She wanted to feel Tarl come, she wanted Grady to fuck her. She wanted to watch the guys fuck too. She wanted it all.
“God, you’re sexy,” Grady said. “I so want to fuck you. I want you to be ready for me.”
“What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer, instead he looked down at Tarl. “You can come when you need to. You’ve got my permission.”
“Thank fuck.” Tarl gripped the rug and arched his neck. “I can’t … fuck…”
Grady sped up, his movements fast and determined. “Don’t stop, Sienna, don’t stop with his balls.”
Tarl was gasping for breath. His body a mass of tension. And then he came. Semen bursting onto his belly and a cry of ecstasy rattling around the room. His balls retracted and he canted his hips as though pounding into their hands as they worked his cock.
And then he flopped back, a full body tremor going from his legs to his jaw. “Oh, fuck, that was … the both of you, touching me.”
“Yeah, we can tell you liked that.” Grady chuckled and slowed. He leaned forward and kissed Tarl’s chest, beside his right nipple.
Sienna recalled having both of their hands on her. It was very erotic to have the attention of two sexy people.
Tarl opened his eyes. “You’re hard, Grady. Do you want—”
“To fuck, yeah, course I do.” He turned to Sienna. “And I wanna fuck you.”
“You have to tell her first.” Tarl pushed to his elbows and a crease formed between his eyes. “You can’t fuck her without telling her.”