Chapter 10
Victor
I came here to put an end to this curse, and I did.
And that changed everything.
I don’t have enough experience with magic or curses to understand what happened, exactly.
I just know that when the curse broke, I knew with absolute certainty that Taryn was mine.
Not only did I feel the pull in the present, but I felt the agony of every moment we’ve been denied while the curse kept us apart.
Every moment she suffered. Every time she was abused and taken advantage of by the people around her. That weighs heavily on my conscience now, because she needed me, and I wasn’t here for her. I was made to be there for her. It’s the entire reason I exist.
She’s sleeping now. I’m sitting by the bed, unable to take my eyes off her. Frank and Melinda came home a few hours ago. Based on what I could hear, they were both drunk, and it didn’t take them long to go to bed.
A part of me wants to creep up the stairs.
Find them in their bed and rip out their throats.
I’d take great pleasure in listening to the bloody gasps while I explain why their lives have been cut short.
But that’s not what my mate needs, and I’d have a hard time calling it justice.
It would just be petty revenge that I’d probably regret once the mating bond fully forms.
I’m still watching over my mate when I hear noise upstairs.
Enough to know that Frank and Melinda are getting up.
I’m not sure if Frank is reopening the diner today or not, but that doesn’t matter.
Taryn is done being his slave. She’s under my protection now and nobody will ever take advantage of her again.
“Taryn!” Frank yells. “If you don’t get up soon, we’re going to be late!”
Taryn groans, sits up in bed, and wipes her eyes. As soon as she sees me, she scurries away, pulling her knees up to her chest defensively, but after a moment, she relaxes.
“You’re still here,” she whispers.
“Because you are,” I whisper.
“I have to go to work,” she groans, scooting to the edge of the bed.
“No,” I bark, putting a hand on her knee. “You’re done with that place.”
“Frank needs me,” she sighs. “And Joe is gone now, so it won’t be that bad.”
“It’s not a debate, Taryn. You’re Shana’s best friend, right?” I ask, squeezing her knee enough to get her attention. “Look at me, my girl.”
She blinks a few more times, her eyes finally opening fully, bathing me in a stormy sea of gray I could get lost in.
Now that I’m not fighting the mating bond, I have no problem letting them captivate me.
Watching the understanding dawn in them until her heart is pounding loud enough for me to hear it.
I’m attuned to every part of her, even her heartbeat. I felt that same rhythm around my cock last night. Now it’s burned into me, another tug of the mating bond pulling us closer.
“Yes, Shana’s my best friend. She convinced her parents to let me live here after my grandmother died,” she explains. Her lip trembles. “Well, there were a couple of bad years with my uncle… this basement is so much better than my uncle’s house.”
“What did he do to you?” I bark, my claws trying to push through my skin.
“He just…” She wipes her eyes and shakes her head. “I never let him… He tried… Several times…but I would wake up and scream the house down.”
“Where is he now?” I snarl, anger igniting inside me.
“No, you can’t… he’s… he’s dead now,” she assures me. Then her eyes twitch. “I didn’t kill him! He had a bad heart.”
“You should have cut his balls off with a dull knife the first time he got close enough to make you uncomfortable,” I rage, leaning closer. “But if he’s a corpse, then we’ll just let them rot off, hmm?”
She looks at me with a confused look, then a gentle laugh escapes. A smile tries to tug at the edge of her lips, but she fights it off.
“So, that’s what it takes to make my mate smile and laugh,” I chuckle. “Rotting balls.”
“No, oh, ugh! Gross! Nooo,” she groans, then she lets out a long sigh. “I owe Melinda and Frank a lot. If it weren’t for them, I would have ended up in foster care. Melinda helped me get emancipated. Frank gave me a job.”
I look into her eyes, trying to read what she really believes. I still despise the people upstairs, but maybe I’ve misread part of the situation. It still doesn’t excuse this squalor.
“Taryn! Let’s go!” Frank yells.
“Oh my god, I haven’t even showered,” she groans, trying to stand up.
“You’re not working in the diner today,” I say firmly. “Take your shower. I’ll talk to Frank.”
“What!? No!” she squeals, shaking her head. “You can’t! I don’t think… I don’t think I’m allowed to have anyone down here unless they know!”
“Relax, take a shower. Let me handle this for you,” I soothe, letting go of her leg and patting it. “I promise I will not harm Frank or Melinda. It will be a conversation and nothing more. You can trust me, sweet girl. I’m always going to do what is best for you.”
Her eyes flash with concern, but then she nods.
It’s not much submission, but it’s what she needs to give me right now.
This is bigger than her. Bigger than she understands.
I need her with me, because if her family was cursed, I need to know who or what did it.
A curse with that much power isn’t shattered quietly.
It’s more like magic screaming into the void and there’s plenty that will answer back.
Once she’s in the shower, I tear my eyes off her gorgeous body and stomp up the stairs. I take a deep breath before I open the door. I’m definitely not who Frank is expecting. He nearly jumps out of his shoes, then stumbles back and grabs the wall.
“Frank, my name is Victor,” I say calmly, extending my hand. “I’m a friend of Taryn’s. It’s very nice to meet you.”
I’m a massive brute, so I’m used to this reaction, but I try to appear as non-threatening as possible. Just a man with his hand extended, making an introduction.
“Uh, hello,” Frank says nervously. He stares at me for almost a full minute before his brain seems to click into gear. He steps over and shakes my hand, still looking concerned. “A friend of Taryn’s, you say? I don’t believe she’s mentioned you.”
“No, I’m sure she hasn’t,” I reply. “However, as I’m sure you can imagine, she’s still having some trouble with everything. Joe and all that. I’m sure you can understand…”
“Joe, right, Joe,” he says, nodding. “Yeah, that shocked the hell out of me, too. The man… he was like a brother to me.”
I raise a brow, doubting he was that close, but I know Frank’s type. They latch onto every tragedy and make it all about them.
“I understand if you’re done mourning your diner brother, but Taryn’s a little more sensitive, you know? She doesn’t bounce back from something like that the way we would,” I speak conspiratorially with this messed up man, gesturing between him and myself.
“Right, right,” he sighs. “My other waitress is back now, so I could probably get by without Taryn for a few more days. Yeah, I could manage that.”
“She would really appreciate it, Frank. She appreciates all that you and your wife do for her.” Despite how pleasant I’ve kept the conversation, the wolf in me won’t let me end it there. “Especially what you’ve done with the basement. I mean, Frank, you’ve given her a place to live.”
Frank glances away nervously, and if he feels judged, he should. “Yeah, you know… Melinda didn’t want her to take Shana’s room, and… well, yeah, we fixed it up.”
“Yes, I noticed,” I say flatly. “Gave it a coat of paint, did you?”
He has the grace to look sheepish for a moment. “Anyway, I need to get to work! Um, you’re not staying, are you? I mean, my wife…” He looks toward the stairs, and it’s clear who wears the skirt in the family.
“Taryn and I will be downstairs,” my tone indicates I’m done with the conversation. I turn away and shut the door with a loud thud, lock it, and walk back down the stairs. He mutters something, but I don’t catch it. I don’t give a fuck what Frank has to say.
Taryn is already done with her shower and wrapped in a towel, which is a shame, but at least she’s not dressed yet.
“The problem is handled. Frank understands that you need a few more days off work after everything that has happened recently.”
“He wasn’t mad?” she asks.
“He’s fine,” I reply. “But I still want you to quit that job. You don’t need it anymore.”
“I need a place to live,” she pushes back at my order, looking around. “I realize this isn’t much, but it’s shelter.”
“I’ve seen servants and slaves who were treated better than this. I understand being grateful for what you have—I’ve been there myself—but you’re my mate, Taryn. That means you will live with me, and I will make sure you always have somewhere warm and safe to sleep.”
“Where do you live?” she asks, her eyes widening a little.
“Before you cast your spell and I got your scent, I was a member of a pack. Silver Pack. They’re old wolf shifters who lost their mate or never had one and believe Mother Fate forgot about them,” I explain. “Now that I’ve found you, we’ll find a place of our own.”
There’s confusion and alarm in her eyes. She takes a step back and her lips tremble. “Um, what? This…I’m confused…What? Wolves? Packs? What in the hell are you talking about?”
“We’re just having a conversation, Taryn,” I speak in soothing tones, trying to calm her through our bond.
“Nothing is happening yet. The bond is real, but it hasn’t finished settling into your blood yet.
Once it does, you’ll understand that you belong with me,” I continue.
“In any case, we have other business to attend to. Today, we’re going to see Saul.
He’s the leader of Silver Pack and the one who helped me break the curse. ”
“Oh, where does he live?” she asks, looking at me like she’s afraid I’m about to drag her away to a foreign country.
“He’s staying in Covington for a few days,” I reply. “I texted him last night, and I’m sure I’ll hear from him soon.”
“Covington? Okay,” she breathes, a little relief in her voice.
“But unless we hear from him before Melinda leaves for work,” I warn with mischief in my voice. “After she’s gone, you’re all mine, little girl.” Walking closer, I put my hands on her curving hips.
“Again?” she asks, looking up at me.
“As if you’re not already wet,” I rumble. “I can smell your arousal dripping down your thighs. Or do you want to deny it and get a spanking for lying to your mate?”
“I… I can’t deny it,” she whines, crossing her legs and wiggling adorably.
I reach down and yank her towel off. She immediately pulls her arms across her chest, then slowly lets them fall. My eyes move down her perfect body until I see the nectar between her thighs. I let out a low growl and gather some of it on the tip of my index finger.
“The scent of one’s mate is almost intoxicating,” I hum, licking my finger, her sweetness filling my mouth. “But a taste? Mmmm, that’s like fucking ambrosia from heaven.”
She swallows hard and I hear the front door slam. She hears it too and she nervously glances at the bed.
Melinda’s gone. There’s nobody left to hear my mate screaming my name.
“If you lay on your back and spread your legs like a good little mate, I’ll taste every inch of you,” I growl.
“Oh god,” she whimpers.
She looks a little nervous, but she walks to the bed, sits down, and slides to the center, propped up on her forearms. Her legs tremble for a few seconds before she parts them, but she immediately closes them again, like she’s unsure.
“What’s wrong, mate?” I flirt, stripping off my shirt. “You’re really going to like this part of being mine.”
“I just… I mean, nobody’s ever done that before,” she stutters. “And… and, I don’t even know what you are! You can’t come in here talking about wolves and packs and things I don’t understand and expect me not to lose my mind!”
“Right, yes,” I say softly. “I’m a wolf shifter, Taryn.”
“Wolf shifter? Like you can turn into a wolf?” she whispers, disbelief in her eyes.
“You can cast spells. Is it that hard to believe there are men who can turn into wolves?” I retort. “All you need to know right now is that wolf shifters have really long tongues.”
I push mine out of my mouth, letting it extend far enough for her to understand exactly how deep she’s going to feel it. Then I put my hands on her thighs, feeling very little resistance as I part them, sinking between the warm flesh until my tongue touches her folds.
“Oh!” she squeals, trying to close her legs. “Wait… I don’t… You’re not even human!”
“Don’t fight it,” I command her, pushing her legs apart again. “You cast the spell, so this is your fault.”
“My fault…” she whispers, more tension easing as she gives in.
She’s mine now.
“None of the men you were with ever did this?” I ask, licking her slick folds again.
“No,” she groans. “I’ve only ever had a couple of boyfriends.”
“They were fools,” I growl. “This is the best thing that has ever touched my tongue.”
I roll my tongue around her clit, then slide it lower, tasting the sweetness around her entrance. This pussy is all mine, and I want to taste every wet, fluttering inch of it.
I want her screaming my name while I drink her sweet nectar the way only a wolf can.