Page 6 of Blood Pack Beginning (Pack #5)

CHAPTER FIVE

Exhaustion tugged at Sasha as she headed for her quarters. A quick shower, a guzzle of blood from a bag, and then bed. Given her fatigue, she should have slept the moment her head hit the pillow, only she found herself thinking of the men who’d confronted her.

When she’d zapped their butts and locked them away, she’d truly thought it for the best. While their combat skills had improved quickly since she began their lessons, she worried about their killer instinct. It was one thing to attack and maim while in their wolf form—the predator had no issues when it came to doing harm—but, when in their human form, some could be squeamish. She didn’t want to discover they couldn’t hack it in the midst of a battle, not to mention, she’d never fought with anyone but other vamps. Until recently, the two species kept their distance, with the Lycans not even knowing about the existence of vampires.

However, she might have gone overboard with her actions. While she had every intention of returning, Cyrus was right: what if she hadn’t? Would anyone have set them free?

It didn’t turn out to be an issue this time. She probably shouldn’t risk a next time.

Despite her whirring thoughts, Sasha fell into a deep slumber as the sun shone outside. In the beginning of her transition from human to vampire, she’d missed its rays, especially the warmth of it on her skin. Now, after decades of living in darkness, the thought of its bright, burning glare repugned. She snoozed and fell into a rare dream, one where wolves chased her, and when they caught Sasha… Let’s just say they weren’t the only ones howling—with pleasure.

She woke slowly from that erotic fantasy, stretching in her bed, only to freeze at the realization she wasn’t alone. Must not be in danger, though, or her preservation instinct would have roused her sooner.

A deep inhalation let her know who waited, and before she’d fully opened her eyes, she drawled, “Please tell me you took advantage of my body while I slept.”

The big man sitting in the chair a few paces from her bed stiffened, and a disgruntled expression creased his features. Amir truly proved too easy to goad. Also, wilier than she’d given him credit for. How had he managed to enter her room without being stopped? The main house, especially the quarters reserved for the vampires, required codes to unlock the doors.

“I didn’t touch you.”

“Pity.” She rose from the bed and stretched again.

Nude.

Amir’s eyes fixed on her breasts before he averted his gaze.

“Is there a reason why you’re stalking me while I sleep?” Sasha inquired as she snared a robe lying on the bench at the foot of the bed.

“You don’t trust me.”

“I don’t trust any of you,” she corrected, loosely tying the sash.

“I could have killed you while you slept, but didn’t.”

“Would you like a treat? Come over here and I’ll give you a belly rub.” She perched on the edge of the bed and patted the mattress.

The man scowled. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.”

A sigh escaped her. “Apparently. Meanwhile, I just woke and haven’t had my morning pick-me-upper.”

“Do you need a coffee?”

She arched a brow. “Have you had one recently?”

It took him a second before he recoiled. “You are not drinking from me.”

“Pity. You smell delicious, and I’ll bet you taste even better.”

“Keep your blood-sucking fangs away from me.”

“Now who doesn’t trust who?” she quipped.

“It’s not about trust but the fact I’m not food.”

“You do know it wouldn’t harm you, right? I drink a bit of blood, you feel really good, everyone’s happy.”

“Says you.”

She shrugged. “Believe me or not, but that’s how it works.”

“So you’re saying vampires don’t feed to the death.”

“They can, but most don’t. Missing people and dead bodies tend to draw notice. You should know our survival among humans requires discretion.”

“The vamp who stole dormants and brainwashed rogues didn’t seem to care.”

“I wouldn’t use the actions of Roderick or Morpheus to judge the rest of us.”

“Says the woman who treated us as if we would suddenly turn into murdering Lycans.”

“Touché, Puppy Chow.”

He grimaced. “Must you call me that?”

“I’d prefer to call you lover, but somehow I don’t think you’re the type to fall into a woman’s bed so easily.” Blame her erotic dreams for being so blatant.

If only she’d had a camera ready for his expression. “Uh…”

“Seems like something’s got your tongue, and it definitely isn’t my kitty.” She winked.

The big man blushed.

Adorable.

She stood and sauntered close, her robe flapping, the sash loosely tied, meaning it gaped, giving him a view. This time he didn’t avert his gaze as she stood right in front of him.

“How did you get inside my room?”

He smirked. “By opening the door.”

“Which was locked.”

“Wasn’t hard to figure out the code.” He paused before adding, “Your scent was on the buttons. It only took two tries to get the digits in the right order.”

“Smart.” And an indication their security needed tightening. She knelt slowly between his knees and purred, “You know, there is a way to make me trust you.”

“How?” A single rasped word.

“You don’t seem the type who would harm a woman you were intimate with. Fuck me and maybe I’ll trust you to watch my ass.”

“Um…”

She leaned in close to whisper against his mouth. “Think about it. Oh, and just so you know, you can invite your friends. The more, the merrier.”

With that, she kissed him, a soft languorous kiss that he didn’t pull away from. On the contrary, he groaned as his lips parted and he embraced her back. Her hand touched his knee and glided up his leg, giving him ample time to stop her before she reached the jackpot.

Instead of halting her, he shifted in the chair, thrusting his hips forward in a welcoming motion. She fondled the erection pushing at his jeans. Nicely sized. She hoped he took her up on the invitation. Just not right this moment.

She ended the kiss, satisfied with his enthusiasm, and rose. “While I’d love to take this further, I unfortunately have to attend to some matters. Perhaps later…” With that parting invitation, she sashayed into the bathroom, and by the time she emerged, Amir had fled. Only the delectable lingering pheromones of his arousal remained.

Perhaps instead of looking at the training of the Lycans as a chore, she should look at it as untapped pleasure. After all, Sasha had needs, and quite honestly, Thaddeus clearly enjoyed his trysts with his wolves. Besides, none of the resident vamps attracted, and humans could be so fragile. Not to mention, weren’t Lycans big on the whole polyamory thing? A shiver went through her at the thought of bedding not just one or two but three hunky men. Each drew her. Amir with his mysterious eyes, big frame, and gruff attitude. Diego with his sultry, flirty smile and never-ending innuendo. And then Grouchy—Cyrus—with his messy locks, intelligence, and inability to walk away from a verbal sparring match.

However, seduction would have to wait. The battle with the ghouls the previous night proved that their work was far from over. Roderick and Morpheus had left a mess of stray minions, who, without a master to guide them, seemed determined to cause deadly trouble—and draw unwanted attention. As if Sasha didn’t have enough on her plate, she now also knew the reason Moon Dew had been singled out. According to Toni, Thaddeus’ mate, Roderick found a way to activate dormant wolf genes, which explained why he’d begun abducting them. Those dormants would have swelled the ranks of his army. Since the Packs didn’t give a fuck about the booted non-Lycans, they had no real idea how many had been taken—and converted.

Not that the number mattered. They’d hunt and eliminate them all.

As luck would have it, two days later, social media gave her the perfect mission to test her new allies. All but one agreed.