Chapter 37
FEAR AND FURY CLAW AT ME
LUKE
I watch Nia as she glides around my kitchen, and it occurs to me this space isn’t mine. The mate I didn’t think was mine has become as much a part of me as my hand and this house—my house—isn’t mine anymore. It’s ours, and I think that makes me happy.
There’s a warm, fuzzy softness in the center of my chest. It’s disgustingly nice and sickly sweet. Nia might as well have engulfed me in the pale pink cashmere sweater she’s wearing and I can’t bring myself to want anything else.
“She’s perfect.”
I sigh, content. “She is.”
Lawson and I watch our mate as she scurries around the kitchen, stretching out as she tries to reach something on the top shelf. Nia’s far too short and she’ll need the step stool, but I won’t stop her showing me her figure. Especially when it exposes the sexy skin over her waist.
She isn’t as skinny as she used to be.
The bones of her back don’t protrude and her hip bones aren’t as angular. Her curves have softened and the weight looks good on her. Nia’s healthier, and she and Lyall get stronger and stronger. They’ve found their balance too and I’m damn proud that the pair of them have learned to shift at will.
“Could you give me a hand instead of staring at my ass?”
“It’s quite distracting.” I put my cup down and wait.
Nia’s head snaps around, her eyes a mess of rage that sends a shudder through my dick. Goddess, I want her cunt and none of the fucking we’ve done over the past week or so has taken the edge off my desire. I’m consumed with lust and it occurs to me I always will be.
“Try to focus on something other than fucking,” Nia sighs, her hands finding the concave of her waist.
I slide off my chair and slip my hands through the gap under hers, letting them sink until they find her butt.
It’s fuller now, and Nia loves it when I grope it almost as much as I do.
She squeals and tosses her long, white blond hair and I’m tempted to spin her around and fuck her on the countertop.
“Why?”
I lift her into me, making sure she feels my cock as I rub against her.
“I’m trying to cook.”
“I want to eat something else, Nia.”
She rolls her eyes and I slam my lips onto hers, forcing my tongue into her mouth.
Nia moans and mews as I take her mouth and the feeble protests her fists make against my chest are feigned.
My girl loves it when I’m dominant and loves it more when I’m rough.
More than that, she’s developed an addiction for my tongue and I’m more than happy to indulge her, as long as she screams my name when she comes and gives me what I want in return.
And what I want is her cunt.
It’s warm and wet and still so tight. Nia’s pussy is perfect and it tastes like heaven.
It wouldn’t taste better if it was made of moonbeams and stardust, and it’s even sweeter when my come spills out of it.
I’ve taken to pushing it back into her or scooping it out and feeding it to my mate, and like the sexy fuck toy she is, Nia loves both.
“We need to find another pastime,” she says, lying.
I know she doesn’t want another hobby. Nia enjoys playing with my cock, sucking my cock, and doing anything that involves my cock, and soon I’ll be introducing her ass to it.
She’s a little aroused, and I’m so fucking hard it hurts to think about waiting for her to catch up with me, and the teasing isn’t helping.
“Lawson’s getting feral.”
“Lawson isn’t the one who’s feral.”
She’s right, he’s not. I’m surprised my wolf remains content, especially as he hasn’t mated Lyall in a while. Lawson’s not usually this placid but he is and I’m not going to pass up the opportunity his calm demeanor gifts me.
Her eyes light and her smile is genuine. It’s easy and carefree. It’s a genuine pleasure to see her joking and her happiness is a miracle. My girl’s been more than upset since Carl’s fucking unhelpful intervention and she’s cried more tears than I ever want to see her cry again.
But now, Nia’s here, in my arms, her laughter rumbling against my chest. My hands lift her off the ground so that her legs wrap around my waist and I rub my cock against her clit.
Her breath catches, lips brushing the edge of my jaw as she teases me, voice low and warm.
I grip her tighter, feeling the heat of her body seep into mine, the scent of her—wild and untamed—fills my senses.
“He’s feral, sweetheart,” I murmur against her ear, letting my lips graze the soft skin there. “But he’s not the only one.”
“Doesn’t your cock ever get tired?” Nia giggles. “Or sore?”
“Nope,” I laugh, scraping my teeth down her neck. “One day, sweetheart, I’m going to mark you again. You’ll beg and plead and ask me for it and this time, we’ll both be sure.”
She tilts her head back and I growl playfully, leaning in as if I might kiss her.
I’ve got no intention of making it that easy for Nia and Lawson signals his approval.
His chest puffs out as mine tightens, aware of how damn good it feels to have Nia like this, wrapped around me, smiling like the world hasn’t tried to break her.
Like she’s unafraid and completely vulnerable.
My grip on her tightens and my senses sharpen. My head catches up with my reaction as the air shifts, an unfamiliar scent slipping through the cracks in the wall. Its sour and metallic tang catches in my throat and Lawson rises to the surface with a low snarl.
Nia notices the change, her teasing smile slipping into a frown.
“Stay here, Nia.” My voice is rougher, harsher than I mean it to be. I set her down, gently but urgently, her feet landing on the hardwood floor. “Something’s wrong. The pack’s riled. Lock the door behind me, pretty girl. Don’t hesitate to use the safe room.”
Her hands grab my cotton top, her blue-grey eyes turning silver with defiance. “I’m not letting you go out there alone. I’m as strong…”
“Please, Nia.” My voice cracks, just a little, just enough to make her pause. I press my forehead against hers, breathing in the scent of her and catching the taste of moonbeams. “I need you safe, sweetheart. Let me do my job. Let me protect the pack.”
A crash sounds from outside, echoing through the trees. Her gaze snaps to the window, then back to me, fear and something fiercer flashing in her eyes. Lyall rises, pressing against the edge of Nia’s control as she calls to Lawson, both wolves angry and aggressive.
But Lyall knows her role. Her job is to protect the pack in a way entirely different from mine. My eyes glance down, wondering if she’s already carrying our future and the possibility that Nia’s pregnant makes my aggression even more furious.
Nia nods, releasing me with trembling hands. “I’ll wait.”
It’s a promise that I clutch like a lifeline in a hurricane as I step back.
“Lock the door,” I repeat, disappearing into the house and stepping out into the cold Montana night. It bites against my skin as I race toward the pack houses, shifting mid-stride. Lawson takes control, his vision sharpening in the darkness, the scents and sounds around us flooding his senses.
My wolf is alert and he’s ready to defend his mate. Until now, we’ve fought to protect the pack but tonight is different. Tonight is about Nia and both Lawson and I roar as my wolf’s black fur blends with the night and I slip through the shadows.
“These rogues aren’t like the usual fuckers, Lawson,” Elias growls through the bond. “They’re stronger. Well organized.”
“Are they Elites?”
Elias growls and he’s certain Carl’s not broken his word. The cunt took a few days to recover before he left here with his tail between his legs. We’d reached something close to an understanding and the asshole assured me he wouldn’t act against us.
The pack’s ready to fight and they’re already moving.
We’re not waiting for them to strike first and the years and months we’ve spent preparing for attacks like this mean we’re well prepared.
Whoever’s attacking is close—too close —and Lawson surges forward, paws eating up the ground as the scent of intruders grows stronger.
They’ve crossed into my territory and disturbed my Luna, and for that, they’ll bleed.
I’m not waiting for them to strike first and Lawson races past the other wolves, charging to the front of the pack.
We catch sight of the wolves and Lawson lunges, teeth bared and ready to tackle the rogues.
He slams into the first one, his jaws closing around its throat, crushing it down until we feel the snap of bone.
Blood fills his mouth, hot and thick, but there’s no time to savor the victory. Another rogue comes from the side, aiming for my wolf’s flank. It’s a vulnerable spot and Lawson whirls, claws raking across its muzzle, leaving deep gashes that send it yelping back.
A pack wolf collides with the rogue before I finish it off and I move on, slashing and tearing through the intruders.
The fight is chaos, brutal and fast. Lawson’s strength surges through me and I push everything I can into my wolf, urging him to finish this quickly.
But the rogues keep coming—four, five, six of them, snapping and snarling, their eyes wild with bloodlust. They’re not just here to test us—they’re here for war, and Cole’s right, they’re not the usual rogues we face.
Lawson tears through another wolf, muscles burning as we rip through fur and flesh, the ground beneath us turning red.
Pain flares as claws rake across my side but Lawson refuses to slow.
He’s fighting like something feral, something unstoppable, because we both know if we fall here, Nia will be left alone.
It's an Alpha’s burden and his curse, and it’s a risk I won’t let materialize.
Wolves howl and I glance sideways, watching my Beta rip a rogue in two.
He’s as vicious as I am, determined to protect our pack and his Luna, prepared to lay his life down if that’s what’s required.
He’s not hesitating and neither am I, and Lawson redoubles his efforts, tearing through the remaining rogues like a fury unleashed from hell.
Finally, the last rogue stumbles back, wheezing and bleeding. It limps into the shadows, dragging its broken body back into the woods. I stand and pant, letting it go and certain it’ll carry a message to whoever sent it.
The survivor tells the tale of the vicious victor, and I want this legend written in blood to be remembered. It’s a lesson others need to learn and it’ll help protect the pack. Nia too, and only fools would dare to challenge me again.
“She’s safe, Lawson.”
My side burns from a wound inflicted by a rogue’s teeth but my wolf ignores its sting. Blood drips onto the ground and each drop marks a second I’m away from her.
I reach for her, and then I hear it.
There’s nothing.
No call returned, no triumphant howl.
Lyall’s as silent as Nia and the silence shouldn’t be here. The wind rushes through the trees but there’s no sound of her inside, no soft thud of footsteps or her heartbeat. No constant rhythm that I know as well as my own.
Dread grips my chest as I sprint back to the house, stumbling over the earth as Lawson sprints harder than he’s ever run before.
Cole’s behind me and I don’t wait, charging through the opened front door, it’s shattered, splintered frame a sign of the violence unleashed on our home.
My pulse thunders in my ears as I stumble inside, searching for Nia, for any sign she overcame the attack.
“NIA.”
My voice echoes through the empty hallways and the silence answers back, thick and mocking.
I stagger into the living room and the sight stops me cold.
Furniture lies broken and overturned, and the books Nia loves to read are scattered like broken dolls floating in the blood smeared across the floor.
There’s too much blood and my throat tightens as I drop to my knees beside it, pressing my hand into the crimson stain.
It's undeniably Nia’s.
Her scent clings to the air, mingled with the musk of wolves I don’t recognize.
They took her.
They came into my home, my territory—our home, our territory—and took my mate.
“Where the fuck are you?” I snarl at Elias.
“Chasing down that cunt you let escape,” he pants back. “He’s going to tell us where she is and how to get her out, and then we’re going to make him suffer.”
My chest heaves with ragged breaths and Lawson howls, snarling like a vicious, wounded animal.
Fury and fear claw at me and I should have been here, I should have kept her safe.
I rushed to protect her like an inexperienced idiot and fell straight into the trap he’d laid for me, and then he sprung it with precision.
Rage becomes a living thing inside me, burning hotter than the wounds on my body. Lawson bares his teeth and growls, snarling as he stalks through our house, looking for any sign of him. I doubt the cunt’s left proof but it might prove useful if The Council decides to stick their goddamn noses in.
“Bastan.”
I feel Elias falter as the inevitability of what I’ve said takes hold.
No one else would have come for Nia, and no one else could have pulled this off.
Her father’s stolen her back and I’ve failed to keep her safe from him.
Whatever he wants with her, he’s gotten closer and this won’t end until one of us is dead.
I force my mind to focus, ignoring the howls of my pack as they mourn the loss of our Luna.
I know exactly where he is and I urge Elias to run harder, asking him to bring the lone wolf he’s pursuing back alive.
We’ll wring every last drop of information we can out of him, making sure there’s nothing left but blood and regret.
And then, I’ll bring her back.
No matter what it costs me.