Chapter 3
Sleep was elusive even though it shouldn’t have been. He should have known she was on the plane. The buzzing in his head, the way he found it difficult to focus on flying—on anything other than on what his very vivid imagination was saying he could be doing with and to her. Maybe he had known. Maybe he’d wanted her trapped up here with him. If the incoming storm was as bad as it had appeared on radar, who was to say what might happen if they were snowbound for the rest of the season? Come spring, if she was wearing his mark and had a baby in her belly, there weren’t a lot of men who would challenge him for her.
In his dreams he could see her up ahead. She was running from him. She was human, and he was in his wolf form, galloping after her, closing the distance between them. She stumbled and fell, and he was on her, standing above her, straddling her, lowering his head to breathe in her scent. He growled silently and the she-wolf in her that had yet to be awakened quieted as the maelstrom of the shift enveloped him and he became a man once more. A very naked and very aroused man.
Lara’s eyes flared not with fear, but with a lust and a need that matched his own. Orion ran his hands down her sides, holding her in place as he began to kiss her throat, ripping open her blouse and somehow rendering her naked without even realizing how he had done so. He didn’t care about the how, only that she was without clothes and wildly aroused. Her skin was flushed, and her nipples were hard and the color of ripe berries.
She scrambled backwards, trying to get away from him, but he growled low in his throat, sending the reverberations of his need down the bonding link that was beginning to form. Cupping her breasts with his hands, flicking and then rolling her nipples between his thumb and forefingers, he kissed, licked, and nipped his way down her body until he reached the juncture of her thighs.
Orion nuzzled her sex. “Spread your legs for me, Lara.”
“No,” she said, trying to bring her hands down to push him away.
He released her breasts, grabbing both her wrists in his one hand, pinning them over her head before bringing his free hand back to her nipples and nipping the inside of her thighs.
“Spread your legs.”
The anguished cry of surrender only heightened his ardor. Lara spread her legs, bending them slightly at the knee so that he had the most incredible view of her aroused pussy. She was ripe and ready for him—wanton in her feral response to his need. Lowering his head, he licked her from clit to slit and back again in a single long swipe. Lara moaned and squirmed but didn’t really fight him.
Orion released her wrists and wrapped his arms beneath and around her thighs so he could make a meal of her. He rolled his tongue around her clit, down to and then just inside her pussy. Her juices poured forth. She was far sweeter than even the wildest honey and he knew he would never get enough of her. Maybe he’d spend each morning for the rest of their lives alternating between sipping his coffee and feasting on her pussy. He rolled his tongue into a narrow pole and then speared her with it, probing deep before flattening it to better lap her juices up. Over and over, he tasted her, playing with her clit to enhance the experience.
The scent and taste of her called to something primal in him, and he had to fight not to go into a frenzy and claim his mate as many of his ancestors had done before. Again and again, he speared her with his tongue, supping her honey, letting it coat his tongue. Lara called his name as her body climaxed, trembling and arching up, pushing her pussy into his face before she went limp in his arms.
He was awakened by the wind howling outside the station. The walls rattled as if icy fingers were trying to pry them apart. Orion stood at the window, staring out into the growing storm. What the fuck was he going to do? Lara wasn’t safe here with him.
That wasn’t exactly true. He would never allow anything to hurt her, but the longer she stayed, the more chance there was that he’d never let her go.
The sky was a swirling mass of gray, the snow falling so thickly it obscured everything beyond a few yards. He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. He was going to have to call it. Taking Lara back to Otter Cove was a no go. The weather had worsened overnight and was now beyond even his capacity to navigate, cutting them off from the outside world for an indeterminate amount of time. He wasn’t even sure they’d be able to get a radio signal through.
He turned away from the window, his frustration mounting. Isolation was a constant companion in the remote research station, but he had planned the supply run meticulously, knowing it might be his only chance to get out for a while. He could provide for them. Even under these harsh conditions, his dire wolf could hunt and kill what they needed to survive. They had food, medical supplies and some crucial equipment Deke had insisted he bring up this supply run. The Resistance was planning to have more of a presence at Aurora Station. Orion’s sense of responsibility weighed heavily on him; it was up to him to ensure the station”s continued operation and Lara’s safety.
He pulled on his clothes and made his way down to the kitchen. As he walked, the most amazing smells wafted down the hall. As he entered the common area, he could see Lara had been up. She had her laptop set up, the fire had been tended to and breakfast was cooking.
“Ham, eggs, grits, coffee, and something else,” he said from across the room, announcing his presence so he wouldn’t frighten her.
“Biscuits and red-eye gravy.”
“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble,” he said, sitting down on one of the stools at the island.
“I pulled up a weather report. It doesn’t look like you’re going to be able to get rid of me so quickly.”
“Yeah, I should probably apologize for that. If you keep cooking like this for me, I may not ever let you go.”
She laughed nervously as she prepared a plate for him. “You know the deal—I cook, you clean.”
“That’s a deal I’d take in a heartbeat,” he said smearing butter on the hot, flaky biscuit. “Oh my god, that’s delicious. Do you take requests?”
“Sure, if I know how to make it.”
“One of my favorite things in the world is biscuits and sausage gravy.”
This time the laugh was genuine. “I can do that. You’re easy.”
“Sweetheart, you have no idea how right you are about that.”
She shot him a look, but then seemed to accept the lighthearted, flirtatious banter as just that.
“I know you wanted to work on your research. I’m not sure how long we’ll be here or how much communication we’ll have with the outside world…”
“Not to worry. I downloaded what I needed for a couple of days onto my hard drive. Is the plant far from here?”
“Not too far, but the terrain is rugged. I’m not sure any of the vehicles will make it, but I’ll make sure you get what you need.”
After breakfast, he cleaned up the kitchen and turned to see her seated in the big chair by the fire, her legs crossed underneath her and her laptop resting on her knees. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she appeared to be reviewing data from some kind of experiment. Even in the dim light, her aquamarine eyes were sharp, reflecting a determination that he couldn”t help but admire. She might not be as easily seduced and entrapped as he’d first thought. No matter, he’d always liked a challenge.
With a resigned sigh, Orion approached her, standing just behind her shoulder. ”Any progress?” he asked, more to break the silence than out of genuine curiosity. He didn’t really understand what she was doing and was certain she wouldn’t share any significant findings without prompting.
Lara glanced up briefly, acknowledging his presence with a slight nod before returning to her work. ”I’m making some headway, but not as much or as quickly as I’d like,” she replied. ”The problem is, I can only review what I’ve done. Until I know when I’m going to get my hands on that plant, I can’t really set up anything. The experiments, testing, and research that will be needed will need constant monitoring. This storm isn”t helping.”
”I know,” he said, leaning against the mantle. ”We might be stuck here longer than we anticipated. The supply run?—”
”I figured,” she interrupted, her tone matter-of-fact. ”We”ll manage. I have faith in you.”
Why that simple statement made his heart clutch, he had no idea, but he found her calm demeanor both reassuring and infuriating. While he struggled with the weight of their isolation, she remained focused on her work—on saving others—while all he was doing was plotting how he’d keep her to himself until she had no choice but to remain with him
Orion pushed off the mantle and started his routine check of the station”s systems. The hum of machinery and the occasional beep of instruments were familiar, comforting sounds.
They reminded him of his purpose here: to maintain the station, to ensure its functionality, to monitor any activity and now, to protect Lara. The storm outside was relentless, but within these walls, he could exert some measure of control.
And god knew at this moment, he needed all the control he could get, even if it was just an illusion. As he moved from one system to another, his thoughts kept drifting back to Lara. He couldn”t help but notice how she remained unflinchingly dedicated to her mission. Her fingers danced over the keyboard with precision, her eyes never straying from the screen for more than a moment. It was as if the storm outside didn”t exist for her.
The knowledge that she was his fated mate was becoming more and more pronounced. He struggled not to give in to what he believed to be a primal need to claim her. Yet, there was a part of him that clung to the past—not that he thought of those he had left behind, but to the idea that maybe he wasn’t deserving of a fated mate. There were those who thought those not born a she-wolf were somehow inferior, but Orion wasn’t one of them.
He had joined the Resistance even before it called itself that. He had served as one of Colby’s operatives—the blacker and more deadly the mission, the better he liked it—to escape his past and forge a new future. He’d meant to immerse himself in the work and avoid entanglements. Lara was nothing but an entanglement. This wasn’t a woman he could just play with, use for sex, and then walk away from. This was his fated mate, and regardless of what she or anyone else thought, she would be his.
Lara, with her quiet strength and unwavering focus, was nothing like the she-wolf he’d left behind. She was becoming a major distraction. He caught himself watching her more often, noticing the way her hair fell across her face or the subtle expressions of concentration and satisfaction as she worked.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. The station and its mission demanded his full attention, especially now, with the storm cutting them off from the world. They had to be vigilant, ready for any emergency. And yet, as he performed his duties, a part of him was always aware of her presence, a silent reminder of the emotions he was trying to suppress.
Hours passed, and the storm”s fury showed no sign of abating. The station”s lights flickered occasionally, a reminder of the power surges they had to guard against. Orion and Lara worked in a rhythm born of necessity, their movements already coordinated without needing many words. They were fast becoming a team, each understanding what they believed their roles to be. Lara had yet to realize the significant part she would play in his life.
As the day wore on, the isolation began to gnaw at Orion. He was used to solitude, had even welcomed it in the past, but now it felt different. More oppressive. He found himself seeking out Lara, making excuses to be near her, even if it was just to check on her progress or discuss the station”s status. Her presence was a balm to his frayed nerves, even if he wouldn”t admit it to himself. Normally, he might have shifted and gone for a run, but the idea of leaving her here alone was not something he would do.
Later in the evening, after she’d made supper and he’d cleaned up, the storm continued to rage outside. They sat together in the common area talking about their pasts but only superficially. It was as if they both knew their pasts didn’t matter. It was only the present and the future that had any importance. They slipped into a comfortable silence, Lara reading through some reports, her expression as focused as ever. Orion sipped a cup of coffee, staring into the dark liquid as if it held answers.
”We”ll get through this,” Lara said quietly.
Orion looked up, surprised. ”What makes you so sure?”
She met his gaze, her eyes steady and calm. ”Because we have to. It doesn’t end like this for either of us or for the Tasmanian Devils. We”re here now, and we have a job to do. Worrying about things we can”t control won”t help.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ”You”re right. I know you”re right. It”s just that I feel now I have more to lose. It makes it harder.”
Lara”s expression softened, a rare glimpse of the person behind the professional facade. ”It doesn’t have to be. We’re not alone, not really. We have each other, and we have our work. That”s enough.”
“Is it?” he asked.
“For now, it has to be.”
He nodded, appreciating her words. She was right; they weren”t alone. The world was still out there; they were just cut off for now. As much as he tried to deny it, her presence was becoming something he relied on, a steady anchor in the midst of the storm. Was that what it was to have your fated mate at your side? To know that regardless of what else was going on, they would have each other?
In the days that followed, the storm showed no signs of relenting. The station groaned under the weight of the relentless wind and snow, but it held firm. Orion and Lara continued their work, their routine now a dance of precision and efficiency. They were a well-oiled machine, each movement and decision honed by necessity and mutual understanding.
One evening, as he was performing a systems’ check, Orion found himself watching her again. She was lost in concentration, her fingers moving deftly over the controls. He couldn”t help but marvel at her skill, her ability to learn and adapt and to remain calm under pressure. It was a quality he had always valued in himself but seeing it in her made him realize how much he respected her.
”You”re staring,” she said without looking up, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Orion started, embarrassed. ”Sorry, I was just... thinking.”
She glanced up, her aquamarine eyes meeting his. ”About what?”
”About how good you are at this,” he admitted. ”How you never seem to waver, no matter what.”
She shrugged, a modest gesture. ”I have my moments of doubt, like anyone else. I just don”t let them show.”
He felt a warmth spread through him at her words, a small but significant crack in the walls he had built around his emotions. He quickly shifted his focus back to the controls, trying to maintain his professional demeanor. ”Would you mind helping me finish this check? Then we can both get some rest. We have another long day ahead.”
”Sure, I can do that,” she said, her tone returning to its usual businesslike manner.
As they completed their tasks, Orion couldn”t shake the feeling that something had changed between them. It was subtle, a shift in the air, but it was there. He could sense a growing bond, a mutual respect that went beyond mere professional courtesy. It was something deeper, something he was reluctant to explore but couldn”t ignore.
”You should never have come,” he said. ”It”s too dangerous.”
”For whom? Certainly not for Trudi and her people. I had to come. I will not let them go quietly into that good night. I will rage against the dying of the light.” Lara said, quoting Dylan Thomas, her eyes flashing.
Before he could respond, the realization of who she was, what she was, really set in. He’d been feeling lightheaded and nauseous ever since he’d taken off for Otter Cove, but he’d ignored the disorienting feeling for what it was until an even stronger strange sensation had washed over him. It was an inexplicable pull, a sudden awareness that made his heart race. This latest realization hit him like a lightning bolt, electrifying every nerve in his body. Apparently, the fates had decided he needed to be hit over the head, and that jarring feeling of everything falling into place was it.
”Lara, we need to talk,” he said.
She shook her head. “Not now. Not tonight.”
Outside, the storm was in full force, the wind howling and the snow piling up. They were grounded, unable to leave until it passed. Orion felt the weight of the situation settling over him. The isolation of the Arctic had always been his refuge, but now it was a cage, trapping him with unresolved tensions and unspoken truths.
Lara met his gaze, and for a moment, the storm outside mirrored in her eyes. For Orion, his past and present had collided and the future—although the destination was clear—the future’s path was uncertain.