Page 35 of Brutal Reign (Shadowed Heirs #5)

35

T here’s nothing quite like the anticipation a teenage shifter has for their wolf to come in. We never know when it’ll happen- for some, it’s as young as twelve. For others, it takes longer. The average age is thirteen, so when my fourteenth birthday hit and there was still no sign of my wolf, I started to panic a little bit. I’d lie awake at night wondering if there was something wrong with me. I’d watch my friends shift and tussle with one another as I sat on the sidelines feeling left behind. All the while, I begged fate for some sign of my inner animal, knowing my life would change for the better the moment she appeared.

I was wrong. A few months after my fourteenth birthday, my wolf finally came in, and I’ve been battling against her ever since.

My parents saw the writing on the wall from my very first shift. My wolf was larger and stronger than expected; a little too reminiscent of my mother’s wily inner animal that she’s never been able to fully control, but with the added kick of Alpha blood from my dad. They did all they could to guide me to integrate with my wild wolf, but when nothing worked, they turned to helping me manage her. My dad coached me on ways to keep my animal instincts at bay. My mom taught me calming exercises to prepare for whenever I had to let her out.

After years without incident, I think I actually deluded myself into believing I had it handled. My coping mechanisms were so effective at masking the issue that I almost forgot my wolf is a loose cannon. Today was a sobering reminder of the truth, though. I’m not in control. I never have been.

The bonfire pit at the edge of Norbury’s territory hasn’t changed a bit since the last time I was here, and there’s comfort in taking up the same weathered chair I used to occupy, gazing into the bright orange flames dancing inside the metal ring. Dusk has fallen, the sun slipping low behind the western mountain peaks. Seb and Ace are settled in their own chairs, and aside from the nausea curling in my gut, I’m oddly calm in the face of ruining everything by disclosing my deepest, darkest secret to them.

The beers that Ace brought are helping. I’m on my third one, and it’s provided just enough liquid courage for me to come clean about what really happened today. The guys have been patiently waiting for me to broach the conversation, and now, it’s just a matter of figuring out where to begin.

“Remember how strong my wolf was when she first came in?” I murmur, my eyes glazing over as I stare into the fire. “What happened with Beau that time we were goofing off and he jumped on my back?”

“You mean when you snapped his femur like a twig?” Seb muses, snorting a quiet laugh.

I cringe at the memory. They responded like typical teenage boys at the time, calling me a badass and teasing Beau that a girl made him cry, but I knew it wasn’t normal for my wolf to react that strongly.

“That was one of the first signs that my wolf was different,” I admit, eyes still fixed on the fire as I nervously pick at the label on my beer bottle with a fingernail. “And if you thought she was strong back then, you should see her now. She’s ten times more ferocious. If she’d have gotten out today, she would’ve done a lot more than break Chandler’s leg.”

Seb swings his gaze on me, brows knitting together. “ That’s the big secret?” he questions dubiously. “You’re an Alpha, Riv. Of course your wolf is stronger than the average shifter’s.”

“No, you don’t get it,” I grumble, shaking my head. “She’s dangerous, Seb. Fucking lethal .”

“And?” he scoffs. “How is that a bad thing? It just means you’ll wipe the floor with Jake in this challenge.”

“I can’t fight him in the challenge,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

“What?” Seb scowls, flinching back in disbelief. “Why?”

“Because I can’t control it, okay?” I shout, chest heaving as I whip my head around to face him. “A challenge has to be witnessed, and if I let my wolf loose, I can’t guarantee that she won’t rip into everyone there watching. It could end up in a bloodbath, and then what?!”

“Are you saying your wolf isn’t fully integrated?” Ace asks tentatively, brow furrowing as he leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

I swing my gaze over to him, jerking a nod.

“But you run with your pack,” Seb points out.

“It’s different, then,” I mumble, flopping back in my chair and dragging a hand through my hair. “I do calming rituals before every shift to prepare, and as long as my wolf doesn’t feel threatened, I’m good. But if she does…” I trail off with a hard swallow, glancing back toward the fire. “Even just being around violence can set her off. Sparring’s fine, as long as it’s in human form, but if wolves are involved…”

“So that’s why you left during the wolf tournament,” Ace murmurs.

I jerk another nod. “Avery gave me a heads up to get out of there before it started,” I say, shifting my weight on the chair as I turn to look between the guys again. “Only my family knows about my wolf, and there must be some hereditary component because my mom’s is like mine. Fractured, somehow. Over the years, my dad has helped her to get it under control, but that’s why I’m their only kid. I was the only pregnancy her wolf didn’t end by forcing a shift. When she went into labor with me, her wolf tried to push through, and it almost killed her. Dad refused to try for any more children after that.”

“Shit, Riv, that’s heavy,” Seb grumbles, scrubbing a hand over his face.

“Yeah, no shit,” I bite out, lifting the rim of my beer bottle to my lips and tipping it back. The carbonation tickles my throat as I swallow down the remainder, licking the residue from my lips as I lower the bottle to rest on the wooden arm of my chair. “So yeah. That’s the harsh truth. And if this is too much for you guys, I get it,” I mutter, gritting my teeth as I stare into the flames.

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Seb growls.

I swing my gaze on him, pulse picking up speed when our eyes meet. “When you think of your future, how do you see it?” I question, chest constricting painfully. “Is it with pups? Because if you’re mated to me, that might not be possible. Not to mention the fact that I’m about to lose my Alpha rank.”

“So?” Ace challenges, sitting up straighter and narrowing his eyes on me. “You think we give a shit about any of that?”

“Don’t you?” I scoff.

“No,” Seb snarls, darting a hand out to grab for mine. He weaves his fingers between my own, holding my stare. “We care about you , Riv. You’re our mate .”

“None of the rest of it matters to us,” Ace agrees, my heart skipping a beat when I slide my gaze over to him and we lock eyes. “Not unless it matters to you. If you want pups someday, then we’ll figure out how to make that happen. And if you want to keep your Alpha rank, then we’ll work out how you can take on this challenge safely. We’re in this with you, no matter what.”

My breath catches in my throat, the sting of tears prickling behind my eyes.

No matter what . Those three words hit hard; it’s the phrase my mom and aunt have always used to express their unconditional love for one another, then later expanded its use with their mates and children. It means more than they even know.

Seb’s hand tightens around mine and he abruptly jolts to his feet, yanking me up from my chair and circling his arms around my waist. “You can’t keep this shit to yourself, Riv,” he rasps, staring into my eyes with more vulnerability than I’ve ever seen from him. “Not anymore. From now on, the three of us are a fuckin’ team, you got it? No more secrets.”

I nod feebly, still fighting back tears.

“Good,” he grunts, falling back into his chair and taking me with him. He shifts me around on his lap until I’m leaning back against his chest, one arm still cinched around my waist possessively while he takes my chin in his opposite hand. Turning my head and tipping it up, he leans down to seal his lips against mine, kissing me hard.

My mind goes gloriously blank as Seb’s lips glide against my own, his tongue sweeping against the seam. For a few blissful seconds, I forget about what happened today; about the uncertainty of the future. It’s just us.

I tilt my head, wanting to lose myself even more, but rather than deepening the kiss, Seb suddenly pulls back. Releasing my lips with a loud pop, he opens his eyes to lock with mine. “You alright?” he asks, a little crease of concern forming between his brows.

“I will be if you kiss me again,” I reply breathlessly.

His lips spread in a grin and he dives forward again, claiming my mouth so fiercely that my toes curl, liquid heat flooding my core. My heart thumps harder as our tongues tangle and I lose myself to the moment once more, pleasurable sparks blooming from every point of contact between our bodies.

Again, the kiss ends too soon. The sound of a throat clearing loudly beside us has our mouths breaking apart, my lashes fluttering as I blink my eyes open. Turning to look past Seb, my heart skips a damn beat when I meet Ace’s heated gaze.

“C’mere, babygirl,” he murmurs, extending a hand toward me in demand.

I reach over to place mine in his with a demure smile and he tugs me up from Seb’s lap, pulling me over and down onto his in one swift motion. His tattooed hand latches around my throat, lips crashing against mine. What little breath I have left is stolen from my lungs as our mouths fuse, tongues twining.

“Fuck, why is it so hot to watch you two together?” Seb rasps, shifting in his chair and pulling at the front of his jeans.

Ace chuckles against my lips as he flickers a glance toward his best friend, his fingers flexing their grip around my throat. “Because I know how to work our girl up,” he murmurs, trailing his lips down to my jaw and nipping the edge with his teeth. “Don’t I, babygirl?”

“Yes,” I gasp, tilting my head to give him better access as he starts licking a path down the side of my neck.

“And I don’t?” Seb scoffs, reaching over to grab me around the waist. He hauls me off Ace’s lap with a feral growl, plonking me back down on his own and guiding me to lean back against his chest again. His hand cruises down my belly, popping the button on my jeans and delving inside, my breath hitching when his fingers brush my center.

“Never said you didn’t,” Ace replies with a low chuckle, his gaze latching onto mine as Seb’s fingers continue to dance between my legs. “But let’s put it to the test, shall we?” He rolls his lower lip between his teeth, leaning back in his chair and dropping a hand to the obvious bulge in the front of his jeans. “Make her come, Seb,” he bites out, still staring intently into my eyes. “I wanna watch our girl shatter before I claim her.”

A moan slips from my throat as Seb spears a finger inside me, grinding the heel of his hand against my throbbing clit. “Is that what you want, Riv?” he growls, his warm breath tickling the shell of my ear. “You want me to make you come so you’re nice and wet to ride his cock?”

“Fuck yes,” I grit out, hips bucking to chase Seb’s touch.

“Yeah?” he rasps, nipping my earlobe between his teeth. “You gonna take my cock, too? Show us how this pussy was made for both of us?”

My back arches, heart tripping over its valves and brain short-circuiting. “God, yes,” I pant, writhing against him shamelessly as he works me into a frenzy.

“Tell me exactly what you want,” Seb growls in demand.

“I want both of you,” I whine, chest heaving. “Him, then you, then both at the same time…”

Seb stills his movements, craning his neck to meet my eyes with a brow raised in interest. “We’ll work up to that,” he decides with a soft laugh, sliding his finger out of my channel and reaching down to press the pad of it against my back hole. My muscles tense as he breaches my resistance, forcing the tip inside.

“Oh fuck,” I gasp, clenching against the intrusion.

“Relax,” he drawls, shoving his other hand up underneath my shirt and twisting my nipple between his fingers. “I’m not gonna fuck your tight little ass yet, baby. But soon…”

I whine low in my throat as he starts pumping his finger in and out slowly, throwing my head back against his shoulder as the heel of his hand builds friction on my clit. I’m not sure if it’s the foreign sensation or the promise in his words, but within minutes, I come undone, freefalling into a body-shuddering climax.

“Goddamn, babygirl,” Ace rumbles, my eyes fluttering open as I struggle to catch my breath. He’s got his pants undone, his hand fisting his hard cock as his stare burns into mine with wicked intensity.

“You ready for her?” Seb drawls, sliding his hand out of my jeans.

“Fuck yeah,” Ace chokes.

Seb’s hands clamp down around my hips, lifting me to stand on wobbly legs as Ace promptly leans forward to strip my jeans away. Then he guides me closer and lowers me down straddle his lap, the velvety head of his cock gliding through my slick folds.

“You wanna know what it is to be ours, Riv?” Ace asks, his fingers tightening their grip on my hips as he lines his tip up with my entrance. “I’m gonna make you come again, then I’m gonna pass you back to Seb so he can do the same thing. We won’t stop until you say so. We’re gonna keep drawing orgasms out of this tight little body until you’re so spent that you can’t even remember what it’s like without one of us inside you.” He tilts his head, lips curving in a deviant smile. “How does that sound, babygirl?”

My head bobs up and down in a frantic nod, my body desperate to be joined with his. “Yes, Ace, please… fuck!” I cry out as he punches his hips up, burying himself inside me. My inner walls pulse around his girth, my breath stalling in my lungs as my body fights to adjust. The moment my muscles slacken, he starts thrusting from below, his fingers digging bruises into my hips as he bounces me up and down on his thick cock.

“Let’s see if I can make you come faster than he did, hmm?” Ace teases, his thumb reaching around to strum my clit.

My eyes roll back as he starts toying with the sensitive bud, my mind melting while he fucks me into oblivion. Sex might be new to him, but he plays my body like an instrument, and I’ll never get enough of the music we make together.