Page 41

VIOLET

I rolled onto my side, bunching the pillow under my head. Simon’s hair fell across his forehead. He seemed almost innocent with his lips soft and not curled into a smirk. He’d wrapped his fingers into the shirt I wore as if scared I’d float away.

I lightly touched the tip of his nose and glided the pad of my finger up the bridge. The sharp edges of his features were striking, I didn’t think I could get over how attractive he was, but that wasn’t the best part of him. I was starting to believe he was crazy about me. And also simply crazy, but that was a matter that benefitted me as an Omega. There was no doubt in my mind my brutal mates would do anything for me.

The wave of relief at him admitting what he’d been doing with Amber continued to shock me a week later. It showed me how twisted my mind was.

I was as messed up as the two of them because I didn’t care that he’d been using her.

I still played with the idea of leaving them, of never accepting their claim, but my resolve over that tapered each day they fussed over me. I’d never been at the receiving end of such care. Even if they took it to a dramatic level.

Simon was glued to my side during the day while Graham was gone. Then they would switch out around midnight and Graham would keep watch over me.

But I felt okay. Today was the third day with only light pain medication, so it wasn’t awful. I should be more active. All this lying about was driving me nuts.

“Where are you going?” He hummed and his grip stiffened in my shirt, keeping me in place.

“I’m just going to wash my face,” I muttered.

Simon grumbled, peeking at me through his slitted eye. “ Siiiiiimon ,” I whined.

“Hurry back.” As soon as he let go, I was off the bed and in the bathroom.

I popped the lever up and water sputtered out. Setting my palms on the edge of the granite counter, I leaned closer to the mirror, angling my head side to side to take stock of the damage. I’d been studying the change of colors.

The scab on my lip had fallen off when I showered yesterday, leaving behind a faint white line. The bruises had taken on a green tone, and the purple had faded completely. But best of all was the lack of swelling.

I splashed my face and dried it with the small hand towel hanging to the side. I’d made it clear to my mates that it was strictly for my face. Surprisingly, they were great listeners, which I hadn’t expected from the Alphas.

Returning to the bedroom, I went for the drawer where Maggie had organized all of my clothes. I pulled out a hoodie and leggings.

“What are you doing?” Simon asked, rolling onto his back to watch me.

“Getting dressed.”

“Get back in my arms. Now.”

“Yeah, right away, buddy.” I tugged the oversized top off and slipped on the bra and hoodie.

A deep growl vibrated his frame. It turned into a rumble that originated in the middle of his chest. There was something about that sound that roused lust.

“Come here, Darling,” he crooned. His cock bobbed and my attention immediately snagged on the girth.

The long, curved shaft throbbed. I stepped in his direction and stopped, glaring at him.

“You’re dangerous.” I narrowed my eyes at him. His hand clasped the base of his cock where it would balloon with his knot in his other form.

I squeezed my thighs together. Slick dampened my underwear. I slid them off and tossed them aside. “You’re lucky it works on me.” I grumbled and hurried to climb over him.

Poising with his mushroom tip at my entrance, I met his eyes. A smirk was fixed on his face. With my other hand, I reached down and ran my fingertips over the strip of hair below his belly button. His slight exhale made my core clench.

I raised an eyebrow and sank onto his shaft so suddenly that he jolted under me. His lips parted with a groan as I sank all the way down.

Simon shuddered and shifted. The spread of my thighs became wider, and fur pressed against my skin. His cock expanded, making me lose my breath. My channel clamped onto him. He bucked up under me, bouncing me on his cock and causing his knot to pop in and out of me. Each thrust rubbed against my clit.

I settled my palms on his abdomen, feeling up the indents under his fur. I bit the inside of my cheek, a half growl, half groan vibrating my throat.

He bounced me on him faster, stealing my breath. So much slick coated his cock, making the pink silky skin glisten. His blond fur rustled with our movements. He watched me with narrowed eyes, the protruded muzzle scrunched, showing teeth.

“I love you.” His growled words reached into my chest and jostled the wall I’d erected around me loose. Bits of the already cracked wall crumbled.

My sex clamped onto his cock and I threw my head back, riding my male with abandon. His knot swelled until it locked me to him. All I could do was grind down as my pussy clamped onto him, taking every burst of cum he offered. Sparks took over my vision and my body turned weightless from pleasure.

My neck could no longer hold my head up, and I bowed it forward, bunching his fur. A whine escaped my lips and he bucked, the rise of his hips jolting through me.

The mind-numbing release tapered in increments until it allowed me to surface. Pants exploded from my mouth, and I writhed. Simon groaned.

An aftershock wrung my body. I drooped forward, my elbows settling against his barrel-like chest. The angle change of his cock made it feel like he pushed against my belly. My sex clenched him, and we both groaned.

I combed my fingers through tufts of fur as my cheek nestled against his sternum.

Minutes passed with me on top of him, reveling in the blissful release of being wanted by my mate. His words flooded back, and my chest expanded with fear and excitement. I balled my hands on his chest.

I would take time to wrap my head around his statement, but it was crazy how I didn’t doubt his sincerity. In the short time I’d known him, he’d made me also feel things that shouldn’t be possible this soon, but here we were. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Being with him meant happiness, peace, and protection, but did either of them deserve my devotion?

Simon lied to me, but he faced those lies.

Graham was trying to do the right thing.

At your expense.

The truth of my hang ups slapped into me.

I didn’t believe they could want me. That they would have wanted me without the realization that I was their mate. They hadn’t chosen me before, and it left a festering sore.

Except they’d both shown interest.

And neither had deemed me more important. One valued his vendetta and the other his pack.

That was why Graham offered to leave the pack. He would no longer be Alpha to prove that I meant more to him, but did it matter?—

I was just going in circles.

“Relax,” Simon rumbled under me. He smoothed his palm down my back in repeated motions. A vibrating purr started up from his chest, batting my worries away. I sighed, nuzzling my cheek against the vibrating torso. This sound caused all my pleasure receptors to go off.

My eyelids drooped. I could fall asleep so easily . . .

I popped upright.

“Naughty, werewolf.” I glared at him. Bracing my palms on his abdomen, I gritted my teeth and forced myself off his knot. The discomfort was for a split moment as I dislodged. Our combined need slicked down my inner thighs.

He made a grab for me, and I barely avoided him. I stuck my tongue out and he growled.

I ran over to the opened drawers as he rolled to his feet, standing so he loomed so tall that he blocked out the light. I swiped some clean undies across my sex to wipe myself clean, tossed it in the hamper, and pulled a fresh pair on.

“Get back in bed.”

“Don’t be difficult,” I shot back at him.

His steps thundered on the ground as he marched over to the drawers. His claw snagged a shirt of his as I yanked my leggings on. He shifted into his human form and yanked the shirt right-side out. I shoved my feet into new tennis shoes.

“Wait,” he muttered. I backed toward the threshold, ignoring him. He cursed and tossed the shirt, and it pooled on the ground.

Hurrying down the hall, the click of nails followed me. His blond wolf fur brushed against my leg, and he kept pace next to me.

“Are you serious?” I scowled down at him. Other than his ear flicking, he gave no other reaction.

I whipped the door open and almost smacked into Maggie. Her eyes brightened.

“You’re up!” she exclaimed. “I was just passing by to drop food off before heading back to the pack house.”

“I’ll go with you,” I said, the words almost running into each other.

Simon chuffed, but I ignored him.

Maggie eyed him and said, “Are you sure?”

In answer, I took the foil pan from her and placed it on the coffee table.

“Let’s go.” I hurried outside. “Stop, Simon.” I nudged him with my knee. Every time I moved, he inserted himself between me and Maggie.

When I met her gaze, she was biting her lip, very obviously trying to hide her smirk.

I gave her an exasperated eyeroll and marched past her to the passenger side of her small car.

Simon growled, scratching the grass under him, and bumped his shoulder into the back door. Grumbling about the stubborn wolf, I popped the door open. He jumped in, making the car rock to and fro.

I slammed it shut and hopped into the passenger side. Maggie started the car and pulled onto the dirt road.

“Adan and I are settling in our new little cabin and?—”

“Already?” I widened my eyes. She nodded with the biggest, sappiest grin on her face. I loved how besotted she was. “And what other changes have I missed?”

Her eyebrow twitched up.

“What have those two been telling you?”

“Nothing with great detail. You know how your brother is.” I rolled my eyes.

“Werewolf of minimal words,” she mused.

“Mmhm, and Simon is sleeping most of the time when he’s not forcing me to eat. Other than telling me they’re joining their packs and trying to negotiate land terms, I’m lost.”

“So you need details, gotcha. They’ve brought down all the electric fences barring Beaumont from Aspen pack land, which is now Beaumont land. Graham has been busy planning where to build homes for those that still need more space. Alpha Whitlock had given up the packhouse to stay in the home you’re in now so more packmates could have a place, but there are about six families that need something different. To sum up, there’s a lot of movement and ohmyGoddess , you should see your?—"

Simon growled. Maggie clamped her lips into a thin line.

“Butt out,” I mumbled, whipping around to glare at him.

I turned back to Maggie, expectantly.

“See my what?”

“Your room.” She cleared her throat. “They’ve also been figuring out how to combine pack enforcers or who they need to bump down. There have been a few dominance fights. Adan’s won all the challenges though.” She preened like a proud mate.

She kept up the conversation, filling me in on the little disputes between a few pack members that my mates had been quick to nip in the bud.

Graham had also killed a traitor in front of the pack house, within view of everyone.

“According to Adan, that quelled a lot of bullshit.”

No wonder Graham and Simon had been exhausted, they’d been restructuring an entire pack.

Maggie pulled up to the parking spot next to the pack house. I was out of the car and opening Simon’s door, eager to get busy.

“You should go nap. It’s not like anything will happen while I’m on pack land.” I closed the door behind him and hurried to follow Maggie up the steps into the house. Simon bounded inside, his claws clicking on the wood.

“Who’s walking on my clean floors in their wolf form?” The shout came from past the kitchen. Savannah rounded into the living room and froze. “My apologies Alpha Whitlock.” She lowered her head submissively.

I glared down at him and bumped him with my knee. He chuffed.

“Violet,” she crowed, hurrying over to take my hands. Simon’s side pressed against my leg more insistently. Savannah peeked down at him but forced a smile across her lips. “I am so pleased to welcome you to the family.”

It immediately became difficult to swallow. Grandfather had provided everything I needed, but now I had more people to care about. My nose burned and I cleared my throat.

“I’m trying to hold in the tears, but—” My voice cracked and the well spilled over. Savannah smiled gently, her salt and pepper hair fluttered around her temples. Simon chuffed, pacing from one of my sides to the other. She squeezed my hands once more and released me.

“Best let you go, dearie, your mate has quite the temper.”

I grimaced. “He’s harmless,” the assurance spilled out, stupidly.

Maggie choked back a laugh while Savannah pursed her lips. “Anyway, I was hoping I could help out a little in the kitchen.”

Simon made another canine coughing sound.

“And I take it your mate isn’t happy about it.” I shrugged. Approval shined in her gaze, validating me. “Well let’s get to work before your other mate comes around.”

I followed her to the kitchen, ignoring Simon’s noisiness.

“I planned the entire week and duties for pack members that have assignments already, but I have just the thing you can help me with.”

The two wide swinging doors were propped open. A dark-haired girl struggled balancing a laundry basket.

“Need help?” I reached to grab the basket. She backpedaled in time to avoid Simon charging at her.

Terror flickered in the back of her eyes. She shook her head.

“No thanks, I have it, Luna.” She dipped her head at me and gave me a wide berth.

“Simon,” I snapped, whirling on him. “You can’t be doing that!” His ears swiveled. I stepped back and he followed. I threw my hands up. “Whatever but stop scaring your pack mates.”

I looked up to everyone in the kitchen watching with open-mouthed shock. They were all tense like there was about to be bloodshed.

Other than Savannah; she looked like she was trying not to laugh. She rubbed her palms on her apron and shuffled a few steps forward.

“Dearie, go take a seat in the main dining hall. I’ll send Maggie out with my notebook for you to write down a few meal plan ideas.”

Maggie motioned to the door adjacent to where I stood near the back of the kitchen area. All the others in the kitchen, three females and one male, eyed Simon. Their tension was obvious.

I smiled closed-mouth and crossed the kitchen with Simon practically up my ass.

I plopped myself on the closest seat to the door. Simon’s tail wagged and he leaned against my thigh, placing his head on my knee, but I wasn’t fooled. He was hyper aware of the surroundings.

“You’re being a pain,” I mumbled at the big wolf. I slid my fingers up his muzzle to the top of his head. I scratched behind his ear. He groaned, his leg dramatically thumping on the floor.

His words from earlier came to mind. The ones about loving me. My throat closed with emotion.

Maggie came through the door balancing a binder with a composition notebook stacked on top of it in one arm while holding a mug with her other hand. She placed it all in front of me.

“Be in awe, this has been in the family for ages.” The binder thumped on the table. “There are tons of recipes.” Thank Goddess.

I scooted the binder closer to me and flipped it open. The laminated pages were a bit difficult to turn, but at least they would be preserved. I flipped through a few pages. Maggie wasn’t kidding, there were a bunch.

“Savannah said what you can help with is jotting down ideas of what can be put together with these.” She flipped the notebook near the middle. Scrawled to the left were different base ingredients. On the right page, the large title on top made it obvious I would write my notes on this page.

“Where are you going?” I narrowed my eyes on Maggie.

“Back inside.” She grinned. “I have to help with peeling and chopping carrots.”

“I can help?—”

“No.” She waved her hands downward. “No. You are good right here.” She eyed Simon pointedly.

“This is ridiculous,” I called to her as she went through the swinging door. It looked like basic tasks were in my future. I got to work flipping through the well thought out binder and jotting down a few meals. My twenty minute flow came to a screeching halt with the swinging door being shoved open so hard it banged.

I whipped toward the boom and Simon was already on his paws, growling.

“Graham?” And why did he look so pissed? He stormed over, looming like a damn shadow. I craned my neck so far back my neck hurt.

“What are you doing? Get back to bed.” His angry golden gaze turned to Simon. “You allowed her to come out while she’s in recovery?”

Simon growled, but the large head turned to me. The accusation was clear in his gaze.

I scoffed. “I’ve been assigned the most basic task, why are you guys being so difficult!?” I reached for the mug, and it was snatched right from under my nose.

“Careful,” he barked. “It’s too hot.”

All I could do was gawk at him.

They acted like I was on my deathbed. “You’re a danger to yourself.”

“You two are the danger,” I mumbled, crossing my arms. “Graham,” I started. “This is the job you’re asking me to sign up for?—”

“No, you don’t have to do anything.”

“You just expect me to sit pretty at the house?”

His eyebrows twitched. “Now you’re understanding.”

Why did that sound heavenly? I sighed. Before considering what I’d do to be useful to the pack, I had to decide if I would accept their claim.

If I didn’t want to, I had no doubt they would use their threats again, but I needed to sit with my emotions for a few more days to determine my decision, because once I made it, I would stick to it.

“Get up and let’s return to bed. You need more rest.”

“I’ve been in bed for days. I want to help.” I scowled.

“Don’t test me,” he gritted out.

I scoffed and turned in the seat, picked up a pen and finished scribbling the last of my sentence.

A vibrating growl echoed from his barrel chest. Simon stood, his claws clicking on the tile.

“How scary ,” I mocked, shaking my head. “I’m shaking in my boots.”

Hands wrapped around my waist, and he hoisted me off the seat. My breath exploded from my lips.

“What are you doing? Put me down,” I shouted, smacking his arms and kicking my feet to get away. He wasn’t even a little fazed. His arms nestled under my boobs. “Wait, I still need to ask Maggie about my cell phone!”

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

That didn’t stop my thrashing.

He released a low vibration that I felt along my back where his chest pressed into me. My knees immediately weakened, and I drooped against him. He held me a few inches off the ground.

I became hyper aware of his body against me. His purr woke my lust. Even his arm pressing my boobs up felt erotic. Stay still , I chanted in my mind. Slick gathered on my panties, making them wet.

Graham groaned and one of his hands slid down onto my belly. The glide lifted goose bumps across my arms. I arched my back, pressing my butt into him like a wolf in heat. But I couldn’t help it, he felt so good.

Slowly, he lowered me, and my feet flattened on the ground. We remained suspended in a haze of pleasure.

His stiffness pressing into my back wrenched a moan from my throat. I couldn’t help tipping my hips back with more force. My hands thumped on the table’s surface.

“So reactive, Sweetheart,” he said gruffly. “Are you going to stop being difficult?”

I stiffened and jabbed my elbow back, hitting his arm. He laughed and the deep rumble turned me on even more. “I’ll take that as a no.”

The long line of his body rubbing against me urged my hips backward.

His arms bracketed me, and his hands engulfed the top of mine. “I’ll have to teach you a lesson.” His minty breath rustled the hair near my ear, making strands tickle my cheek.

He forced my wrists closer together to take both in one hand. His other reached for my jaw, and he turned my head to the side. His mouth grazed against my cheek. I couldn’t control the puffs of breath exiting my lips.

“My mate,” he rumbled. In a swift movement, he let go of my face and slipped his fingers into the waistband of my leggings and ripped downward. I cried out as my panties were torn off with the motion.

“Graham,” I shouted. He nipped the shell of my ear, turning whatever I was going to say into a groan. Graham tipped my hips up. My face lowered closer to the table, resting on the back of his hand. Simon paced in his wolf form, his focus on the exits. The tip of Graham’s cock poised at my entrance. He fed the tip inside me and stilled.

Pants exploded from my lips. My sex clasped onto what was inside me needily. A sliver of awareness registered this being the dining area. Public and with only a swinging door blocking other wolves from walking in, but I didn’t get the chance to worry further.

Graham slid his cock to the base in a smooth motion. His balls slapped against my skin. He sighed, his entire body shaking. Fur sprouted from his arms and his knot swelled. The width of the shaft expanded and elongated until I could feel him in my stomach. I struggled to suck in a breath.

He slid his cock out of me and slammed back inside. I screamed, writhing back to take all of him.

He repeated the thrust with harsh grunts. Again and again until the table he bent me over shook. Slick dripped down my inner thighs. His large hand banding my wrists stiffened, pulling forward so my elbows thumped on the surface. The angle shifted and the curve of his shaft rubbed deep inside, tossing me into a violent, squeezing release.

My ears were ringing so loud I couldn’t hear my moans and shouts. He felt so good, riding me hard as my orgasm clamped me around him. Graham picked up his pace and stiffened. It was such an overload of sensitivity. I whimpered.

The whole of his muzzle widened to cover part of my shoulder and sharp teeth pressed into my skin covered by my hoodie. But the press was enough to catapult me into another body jerking orgasm. I whined, stiffening from the force of the release. He pulled back and a wet tongue flicked across my cheek.

The aftershocks of my orgasm made my limbs noodle-like. The base of his cock pulsated and grew how it did whenever he was about to come.

He stopped, suddenly pulling out of my sex. My slick had traveled down to my ankles.

The sound of the zipper echoed, and he breathed out harshly.

“What are you doing?” Him not coming irked me. I wiggled my butt, presenting to him.

He groaned and his palm caressed my ass.

My knees gave out and he caught me up into his arms.

“I’m taking you home.” My heart stuttered. Home.

The simplicity of his statement hit me. I could make this my home and it . . . excited me?

I struggled to speak. It wasn’t until he stepped toward the exit at the opposite end of the dining area that my nudity hit me.

“You are not taking me out of here butt naked,” I shouted, writhing to get free. The corner of his lips twitched.

“No, Graham!”

He had to place me down or I would have hurt myself with my violent thrashing.

I glared at him and pulled my sweatshirt off quickly and tossed it at him with my bra.

My bones popped and fire blazed to life in my pores. I shifted and then was on all fours. I grappled with my wolf’s mentality based on instinct. Shaking my fur out, I carefully took a few steps forward.

“You’re not letting your wolf guide you,” Graham said, crouching next to me. I sniffed in his direction. He smelled so good. I rubbed my side against him. He chuckled and caught himself before he toppled over.

I nudged his hand until it slipped into my fur. He scratched the back of my ear, and I shivered, leaning into him.

Graham kissed my head, and I took the opportunity to sniff him again. A hum left my throat. Simon, mate , came to rub his scent on me. He nestled against my other side, nipping my shoulder. He was so large. I nestled my head under his throat and nuzzled.

“Let’s go before you two start fucking and end up stuck together in this form,” Graham said, verging on laughter.

I yipped and chomped my teeth at Graham. He swatted my side and led the way to the door. Two double doors with a wide metal bar across the front. The type seen at a high school and the same ones Maggie brought me through the first day here.

He shoved open the door and I padded out, Simon matching my stride and bumping me every few steps. It felt like I was being escorted by prison guards.

We rounded to the side of the house where a male hopped out of his truck. He stopped and his nose tipped up. He inhaled and hummed, then turned to look directly at me. It was the male that introduced himself to me, Gordon. Our eyes locked.

Simon growled and pushed in front of me, blocking all view. All I heard was a gasp and the crunch of pebbles as someone, likely Gordon, hurriedly retreated.

I nipped Simon’s thigh and took off running toward the forest line. Graham cursed and his clothes went flying off. That was the last I saw as I bolted. Simon gained on me and I tripped over a vine. He bumped into my shoulder and stepped in front of me to stop me from smacking a tree.

I yipped and snapped my teeth in his direction. Instinct took over and I bounded through the crunching leaves and foliage with more finesse. I dug my claws into the ground. My wolf took the forefront, and a burst of speed coursed through my limbs.

As fast as I ran, they matched my pace. Simon bumped into my left flank and nipped me intermittently. On my other side was Graham pushing against me until I was squashed between them.