Page 32

VIOLET

I yawned and nestled closer to the fur pressing against my arm. Leather and sandalwood filled my nose, and flutters assaulted my stomach. Being so close to them, covered in their scent, was heaven. I stretched with a groan and my foot smacked into a thick leg. I squinted through bleary eyes. Simon had shifted into his monstrous form and practically took up half the bed.

I rolled onto my back to Graham staring down at me. He combed my hair back from my temple. Sunlight came through the window behind him, and I blinked it out of my eyes, angling my face to block it. His thumb rubbed against my lower lip. The large male was mine. He’d been mine from the moment I’d encountered him in his office. I’d known it.

My visceral attraction to my two mates were the biggest flags, but I’d thought nothing of it with them being so attractive. No wonder they had she-wolves all over them, they were menaces. I lifted my hand to the faint stubble along his jaw. The roughness rubbed against my skin.

Sliding my fingertips down his chest, I trailed them to his bellybutton. He exhaled harshly, his eyes widening. With little wiggles, I inched down.

“Wha—”

I pressed my finger to his lips.

This was something I’d been craving to do again. I slid down the rest of the way, scooting with effort until I hovered over his waistband. The sleep pants tented at the front.

I pushed his hip back and he ended up on his back. With a tug, I freed his bobbing cock. The flesh was red and throbbing, so needy it almost seemed violent. Precum coated the tip. I wrapped my palm around his base.

Graham exhaled with a gasp. I pushed to my elbows and crawled between his legs. I peeked up at him from under my lashes while he watched me with eyes glazed and hungry.

I dabbed my tongue to his tip. The shaft jerked in my palm. His reactions were going to be addicting, I could already tell.

I covered him with my mouth and swirled my tongue along the silky mushroom-shaped tip. He gasped, his head jerking so his neck strained. His precum coated my tongue. The taste was rich and heady.

It only made me hungrier.

Dragging my hand down to the base of his shaft, I squeezed. This was where his knot would balloon in his beastly form. My stomach clenched with need.

He let out a guttural moan and his body trembled with his shift. I pulled my lips back to the tip of his cock as he shuddered. Fur had sprouted and framed his cock.

His knot throbbed under my hand, too large for me to cup fully. I ran my fingers over the swell. A vibration echoed from his chest. I slid my fingers down and cupped his balls. The heaviness settled on my hand. His hips jerked up to shove deeper into my mouth. My jaw stretched all it could, and I could only take a portion of his length.

Running my thumb over the fur coating his balls wrenched a groan free from him. His balls drew tighter to his body under my palm. I squeezed his knot and cum exploded onto my tongue.

With each jolt of his shaft, he coated my tongue. As good as I remembered. I hummed, running my tongue across his tip to collect every drop.

My mates in the throes of release were mesmerizing. The image gripped onto my throat and refused to let go.

His pumping hips finally settled. He groaned and a shudder wracked his body. Using my tongue, I collected his release dripping down his shaft. All it did was make me hungrier.

My stomach growled.

Graham peered down at me with his golden eyes emphasized by the black fur of his face. His wolf-like nose moved with his sniffing.

“Let’s get you fed,” he said.

My stomach growled again.

I smiled sheepishly and scooted off the end of the bed. Simon continued to sleep. His leg twitched and he groaned, rolling and his arm sprawling across the bed.

I grinned and shook my head. He was so cute?—

Woah, rein it in.

Hurrying out of the bedroom, I went down the hall, searching for the kitchen. I’d not seen it when entering the home, but I saw a turn into a dark area to the right of the living room. I passed the rectangular windows behind the large television allowing light to filter into the house.

I passed the couch. The space looked so much cleaner than when I first saw it. Making my way through the entrance, I found the kitchen and there was food already on the table. An entire spread of it. Cut up fresh fruit, bagels, pancakes, sausage, bacon . . . my stomach growled again.

I plopped down on the chair. A human hand settled on my shoulder. I peered up to Graham standing behind me.

“When did you get food?”

“A bit ago.” He dipped and kissed my temple. I plucked a piece of bacon and essentially inhaled it. Next was a bagel and then strawberries. I bit into the tangy fruit and hummed.

This was so damn good, but as hunger was assuaged, the itchiness roared to life. Graham’s intense focus didn’t sway from me. His pulse fluttered over the collar of the shirt. He must have gotten dressed before catching up with me. A simple t-shirt that smelled like Simon.

“Are you going to get your clothes I asked for?” I took a final bite of the strawberry and set the stem to the side.

Graham’s lips twitched up at the corners. Like he found me funny. “Yes, Maggie will bring me a bag.”

I hummed. “What about you and Simon? Are you guys putting aside your differences?” My stomach somersaulted. I pursed my lips and waited for his reply. He leaned back in the chair.

“We’re . . . working through it.”

I scowled and set my elbows on the edge of the table. “What does that mean?”

His shoulders rose and fell with an exhale. He sat adjacent from me and placed his elbows on the surface, posture mimicking mine. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

That didn’t sit well, but I wasn’t used to being so nosy.

“Whatever,” I muttered, pulling apart the leaves off the strawberry stem. He reached across the corner of the table and placed his hand on mine. I dragged my attention to him.

“It’s not that I won’t tell you or that I don’t want to. But we need to come to an agreement about a few things. You don’t deserve to have us arguing about things that aren’t your fault.” So, it was a way to ‘protect me’. I snorted. Typical Alpha. “But once we come to an agreement, we will both speak to you about any changes we have to make.”

Changes? I wasn’t so sure I liked the sound of that.

“So—” I paused, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “There’s no way to say this gently. Why did Simon want to kill you?”

His lips twisted wryly.

“I killed his father.”

I blinked quickly. Had I heard that right?

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say.

His thick eyebrows twitched.

“He raided Aspen Pack and took down the original Alpha after challenging him. Once he had their pack under control, he challenged my Alpha and won, so I repaid the favor and took the pack from him.”

“That’s some deep Inigo Montoya style backstory.” I winced and picked up the orange juice to sip.

His eyebrows twitched again. They must not have the book as a curriculum in his pack. I cleared my throat and set the glass down.

“Okay, I get why you would need time to hash things out. I appreciate you telling me.” Look at us behaving like adults and communicating.

I ran my hand through my hair.

“My Goddess, it’s a rat’s nest. I need to get my hands on a brush.” I grabbed the plate I’d eaten off of.

“Leave it. I’ll clean it up,” Graham ordered, jerking his chin to the porcelain plate in my hand. I rolled my eyes and stood. He stood too and in one stride, overwhelmed me with his body. His potent scent sent a shiver down my spine.

“I am perfectly capable of—” He snatched it from my hand. “Go rest,” he murmured against my temple.

A shiver coursed through my limbs, but then his touch disappeared, and he went to the sink. A knock came from the front door. The sound snapped me out of the lusty haze.

“I got it,” I announced and hurried to answer.

“Wait.” Graham’s curses followed me, but I was already opening it.

Hester stood on the porch.

We stared at each other, neither of us saying a word. The chill from outside fluttered the hem of the shirt. I widened my eyes and tugged it down. Her eyes dropped to my nipples poking through her brother’s shirt.

My face flamed, and I fidgeted and crossed my arms.

Graham growled behind me. His scent became more potent. Close enough for her to smell him. My wolf writhed inside me. I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t attack her. She hadn’t done anything wrong, per se. It would be wrong to attack her. We were family now—one of those reasons had to convince me to chill.

“Leave.” Graham’s voice was deep and gravelly.

She seemed stiff, and she wouldn’t look at him.

“I’m here to check on Simon.” Her jaw pulsed like she gritted her teeth. “Please, just for a moment, can I speak to you?”

Her eyes went to mine and lowered slightly. My wolf preened, appeased.

She was worried about her family. I didn’t have my grandfather, my single family member and the male that raised me, so I understood how important it could be to her.

“Okay,” I said and stepped aside. Graham growled. I smacked his chest. “We need to have girl talk, go away.” He didn’t budge. “My instincts don’t like you so close to her,” I muttered, slightly ashamed. He scanned my face.

“I won’t do anything to her.” Hester dropped her chin closer to her chest. Graham grunted.

“Keep your distance from her,” he said to me, not sparing her a glance. He backed away.

“Come in,” I waved her inside and closed the door. She’d stopped to scan the living room.

“This is the cleanest I’ve ever seen his place,” she muttered.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, awkwardly.

“No.” A growl echoed from somewhere. I turned left and right, and while I didn’t see Graham, he was obviously lurking nearby. “Thank you though.”

She hugged herself harder. “He won’t be happy I’m here.” She exhaled. “So, I’ll get this over with. Simon has never been the . . . nicest. But he took care of me—raised me. I just want him happy and safe.” She licked her lips. Not only had Simon lost people when Graham killed their father, but she had too. “I’m not stupid enough to whine about the mating situation, I don’t care. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Graham is fucking hot, and I was looking forward to making him mine and becoming Luna—” A growl escaped my throat. I blushed harder. She’d tensed, like I was about to attack her.

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat and waved her on.

“I was doing it to repay Simon for raising me.” She shrugged. “That’s it, that’s my spiel. I have to head to the pack community building to make sure meals are in order for next week. Once you’re ready to learn more about how Aspen Pack is run, I’ll be around.” She offered, not exactly seeming happy about it.

“Thanks?” I said, hesitantly. I scratched my arm to do away with the crawling sensation across my skin, but it did nothing to quench it.

She grabbed the doorknob and paused outside the threshold. She peered over my shoulder and leaned close.

“He’s been alone for a long time.” She pursed her lips. “He doesn’t even open up to me. Please be good to him.” With that, she closed the door. I was left gawking.

She’d just given me insight into Simon. An axe rammed against the ice around my heart.

Moon Goddess knew what she was doing. I huffed and struggled to comb my fingers through my hair.