Page 14

I could barely register the movement before the first figure lunged, a black blur, two more close behind it. I'd already positioned myself between them and Kiera, and I struck out, sending the first attacker stumbling back into the other two. I tried to grab him, to expose his face, but he rolled away. No identifying marks. No scents that made sense. Just... shadows.

The urge to shift pulled at me, but I didn't want to lose the ability to speak to my mate as the fight raged on. Three against one would be impossible for most men, but I wasn't most men. I was an Alpha.

I dodged another lunge from one of them, then ducked beneath a blow from the second. Kiera was still behind me, her fear a potent scent in the air, and it was all I could do not to spin around and check on her. I had to trust that she was okay, because I had to focus.

My wolf pushed at my skin, trying to break free. We could fight better if we shifted, but I couldn't risk letting myself get distracted by the pain of the change. Not until I knew what these assholes wanted.

"You're going to have to do better than that," I taunted, my voice low and deadly. "Come on, is this all you've got?"

The figures snarled and lunged again, one leaping at my face, while the other two went for my legs. I twisted, barely avoiding getting knocked off balance. They moved so fast that it was hard to keep track of them.

I caught one of them by the throat as he tried to dart past me, slamming him into the ground. He let out a sharp grunt, then rolled away before I could pin him down. The others had regrouped, and they circled us slowly, looking for an opening. I tensed, waiting, letting them make the first move. I might be big, but I wasn't stupid enough to waste energy on a pointless attack. They were trying to distract me, but why?

Then, the time to think was gone. They came at me like a choreographed dance, striking fast, hard, and I felt my arm go numb under a blow that would have felled most men. I didn't feel pain, only rage.

Fuck it. If they wanted to fight an Alpha shifter, I was going to give them what they wanted. Kiera could protect herself if she had to, but I was going to end this before that even became a possibility. My wolf surged to the surface, my bones snapping and reforming as I shifted in one brutal instant. I snarled, lunging at the nearest attacker, and caught him by the arm. He yelped, tearing himself free, but not before I tasted blood in my mouth.

One down. Two to go.

I turned toward the next attacker, my wolf howling to finish this once and for all. I was so fucking angry. How dare they come here and attack us? They wanted to kill me? They were going to pay dearly for the attempt.

The second attacker was bigger than the other two. He ducked low, swiping at my front legs. I dodged back, then lunged again, teeth snapping. He twisted to the side, but I was too fast, my jaws closing around his throat. He let out a choked cry, but his thick clothing saved him. Grabbing the first injured man by the arm, the two hurt attackers fled.

The third paused, glancing between me and his fleeing friends. I growled, showing him my teeth. He gave me one last look before turning tail and running after the others. I considered going after them, but I couldn't leave Kiera alone. We didn't know if they might be lurking around somewhere.

It stung to shift again so quickly, but I was back on two feet in seconds, panting as I tugged my pants on and grabbed Kiera's hand. "We've got to go. Now."

Wide-eyed and possibly in shock, Kiera nodded.

We made it back to the Jeep in record time, and as soon as I had the doors locked and sped towards the road, I pulled my phone out to call my Beta.

"Waylon," I didn't even give him the chance to say hello. "Kiera and I were attacked at the lookout. Three of them, all in black. Handle it, but keep one alive if you can. I have some questions to ask."

He didn't question me. "On it."

I hung up and shoved the phone in my pocket. "We'll get to the bottom of this," I told Kiera, who was staring at me. "Whoever sent those men is going to regret it."

I didn't miss the way she flinched when I said that. "Are you hurt?" I demanded.

She shook her head, but she was lying. I knew what I smelled up there on the lookout before we were attacked, but I wanted her to say it.

"Dammit, Kiera, tell me the truth," I snapped. I was trying not to lose my shit, but it was hard.

"I'm fine," she insisted. "They never touched me."

I took a deep breath, trying to get a hold of myself. I knew good and goddamned well that she was in heat, but I didn't know how far into it she was. It'd shocked me back on the lookout, before the knowledge had made me so hard it had been hard to walk. I'd wanted her so fucking badly that I'd almost lost control, but the attack had startled us both back into reality.

Now, she thought she could backtrack and pretend she wasn't aching for me. No. It wasn't going to happen. But if she needed a minute to breathe, I could give her that.

I reached for my phone, calling Nayeli. Gwen had taken Kit to my cousin's house so they could all have a movie night, but now I was kicking myself for letting her take my son out of the house. "I need you to stay on high alert. I'm sending extra security to your place. Keep Kit with you for the night. Just in case," I said, my voice low and urgent.

Nayeli sounded frightened and so young that it made my heart ache. "Samson, what's happening?"

"I can't explain it," I said as gently as I could manage in the moment. "Call Waylon. He'll tell you. If something happens and you can't reach either of us, call Joe Longwood.

"Okay," she whispered.

"You're going to be fine, Nayeli. I promise."

She didn't respond to that, but just hung up. I dropped my phone into my lap and reached for Kiera's hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll get through this," I promised her. "Whatever this is."

I wasn't sure she believed me.

When we reached the house, I grabbed Kiera's hand again, intending to rush her inside. But the second she tried to slide out of the Jeep, she doubled over in pain.

"Kiera!" I pulled her close, searching for a wound. She didn't smell like blood, but that didn't mean much. "Tell me where it hurts."

She shook her head, and I heard something that sounded like a moan. "It's not an injury," she whispered.

Her scent changed again, the faint sweetness of her heat returning. Fuck. We couldn't do this here. I needed to get her inside before the entire pack came running to find out what was going on.

I scooped her into my arms and carried her inside, ignoring her protests. The house was dark and quiet, the windows and doors still locked up tight. I let out a sigh of relief and headed for the stairs, but Kiera was struggling so much I made a beeline for the couch instead. I sat down on it, holding her in my lap, trying to keep from losing control.

She'd admitted to being in heat. There was no way she could hide that fact from me now, and the scent of her desire filled the air between us. My cock pressed hard against my jeans, and I groaned as she wiggled in my lap, her soft ass brushing against the bulge.

"Kiera," I growled, warning her to stay still.

"Samson." She said my name on a breathy sigh, turning to face me. "Please. It hurts."

"Tell me what you need."

Kiera hesitated, biting her bottom lip between her teeth. "Just touch me anywhere, as long as it's skin on skin. It's the only thing that helps."

"Where?" I asked, my voice rough with need.

"Everywhere," she said softly. "Just... everywhere."

I nodded, reaching for her. "Lie back," I ordered.

She obeyed, letting out a low moan as I dragged my hands along her arms and up to her shoulders. Her skin was so fucking soft, and I wanted to touch every inch of it. But right now, she needed me to get her through this heat, so that was exactly what I was going to do.

I moved down, unbuttoning the front of her shirt. She let out another sound as I pushed it open, exposing the white bra underneath. I wanted to rip and tear at the fabric, but I forced myself to keep moving slowly, not wanting to spook her. She was so damn beautiful it hurt. I wasn't sure if she knew how gorgeous she was, but I intended to show her.

"You're so beautiful, Kiera," I whispered, leaning down to kiss her bare stomach. "My beautiful little witch."

She gasped, her back arching off the couch. "Samson," she whispered.

"Mine," I growled, cupping her face in my hand. "You are mine, Kiera."

She was in pain, but this wasn't Kiera from seven years ago, terrified of her own heat and desperate for my help. No, this Kiera might have been hurting, but she was also full of fire as she pushed herself up on her knees, so we were eye to eye. My Omega might not have shifted yet, but I saw the wolf in her when the moonlight turned her eyes silver as it crept in through the window.

Neither of us moved for a long moment, and I was more than ready to hold myself back and keep touching her softly to give her what relief I could without pushing her. But Kiera, my new, ferocious Kiera, was apparently done being treated like a doll.

She was in heat, she was hungry, and the only thing that could satisfy her was her Alpha.

Then she was on me, and there was nothing soft and sweet about it. Her kiss was fierce and demanding, her hands grabbing at my clothes, trying to get them off. Her scent filled the room and was so powerful I couldn't think about anything except her.

I tore my shirt off and then hers. Bit by bit, we shredded our clothes, barely taking the time to breathe between kisses. When we were finally both naked, Kiera straddled my hips, her heat radiating from her like the sun. I reached up to cup her face, to pull her down to me, but she was having none of it.

"Kiera," I growled.

She didn't say a word, but she gave me a look that made me go still. It was a look of challenge. A look of pure need. She wanted me, and she was done waiting. She wanted me to fuck her.

When I didn't move right away, she leaned forward, dragging her hot, wet pussy along the length of my cock. I groaned, and my hips bucked up, trying to get closer. My wolf was in control now, and it was desperate to claim her.

"Do you want me to fuck you, Omega?" I asked. My voice was little more than a growl now, and my wolf was so close to the surface that my vision had gone blurry around the edges.

"Yes," she moaned. "Fuck me, Alpha."

I'd wanted her for so long. Years. Since the moment I saw her. And I knew there would be hell to pay for this, but I couldn't stop myself. I didn't even try. I pulled her down against me, sinking inside of her in one smooth thrust. She cried out, and I stilled, letting her adjust to the feeling of my cock.

Nothing had ever felt as good as Kiera's pussy. Nothing. Her pussy was slick, taking me easily despite how fucking tight she was. My wolf wanted to take control and fuck her hard and fast until I came deep inside her, but I fought the urge. As soon as I came, I would knot her, and I didn't want this to end so quickly. I could feel her trembling above me, and I forced myself to take it slow.

"Is that what you need, little witch?" I growled, pushing up into her. "You need your Alpha to fuck you?"

She let out another moan, and I moved my hand between us, rubbing circles over her clit as I thrust up again. She clenched around me, and I groaned.

"Answer me," I demanded, forcing myself to stop moving. "Tell me what you want."

"I want you to fuck me," she said, her voice a breathless whisper.

"Good girl," I growled. I grabbed her hips, holding her tight as I pushed up. She gasped, her head falling back as I slammed into her. Her scent filled my nose, making me even harder, and I couldn't hold myself back anymore.

She cried out, her nails digging into my shoulders as she came around me. Her pussy tightened around my cock, and I growled, grinding into her. I was so fucking close, but before I could give in, I pulled out, even as Kiera cried out in disappointment.

"Easy, Omega," I rumbled, giving myself a second to come back from the precipice. "Grab the back of the couch, knees on the cushions."

Kiera looked like she might argue, but she must have realized how close I was because she didn't say a word. She did as she was told, and I watched as her ass swayed in front of me. Fuck, I wanted to take her there, too, but that would have to wait. We needed to get through the heat first.

I stepped up behind her and drove my cock into her again. This time, there was no slow build-up, and I pounded into her hard and fast. She moaned, and I reached forward to grab a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back.

"Come for me again," I growled in her ear. "I want to feel your pussy squeeze my cock as you come."

She was nearly sobbing, and I could tell she was close. Her inner walls fluttered around my cock, her ability to hold herself upright fading. I was close, too, but I wanted to make sure she came first. I hungered for her orgasm as much as I did for air. I fucked her from behind until her legs were shaking, pulling her back against my chest so I could squeeze and flick at her hard nipples while I filled her over and over.

She moaned, "Knot me. Fuck, Samson, I'm burning alive. Please."

I exhaled harshly, driving into her. "Is that what you need?"

"Yes, please," she begged, rocking her hips to meet my thrusts.

I leaned forward, pressing my mouth to the back of her neck. I kissed the soft skin there, then ran my tongue along her spine. She shivered, letting out a low sound of pleasure.

"You want my knot?" I asked. “Because you’re about to get it.”

"Fuck. Yes.”

"Good girl," I praised. I grabbed her hips, holding her in place as I pistoned into her wet heat. She keened, her head falling forward, and it was all over when I nipped the skin over her sensitive scent gland, right where her neck met her shoulder.

She screamed, her pussy spasming around my cock as she came. I fucked her hard through her orgasm, and I didn't let myself go until I was sure I'd wrung ever ounce of pleasure possible out of her.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I came with a roar, my cock pulsing, coating her insides. She shivered, aftershocks of her own climax milking my cock as my knot swelled, locking us together.

My arms shook, and it took an incredible amount of concentration to lower us both to the floor while still tied together. I reached up and dragged the throw blanket from the couch to cover us, and Kiera shifted, tucking her ass against my hips as snugly as she could, both of us hyper-sensitive.

"Are you alright?" I whispered, brushing her hair aside to kiss her neck.

"Yes," she murmured, letting out a contented sigh. "I feel...good."

I chuckled, nipping at her ear. "Good," I murmured. "I want you to feel good. I want you to feel amazing."

She hummed again, and I wrapped my arm around her waist, holding her close. There were a hundred things I needed to do—check in with Waylon and with Nayeli, call a pack meeting about the attack, let Joe know about the danger...but all of it would have to wait. Kiera was still in heat, and the only thing that mattered right now was taking care of my Omega.

My Omega.

That thought brought a smile to my lips, and I kissed Kiera's neck again, letting my hand roam along her stomach. I slid my hand lower, between her thighs. "You're going to need this again tonight, aren't you?" I asked, slipping my finger over her clit.

Kiera blew out a breath, her hips jerking as she rubbed herself against my palm. "Yes," she whispered. "I need you, Alpha."

"I'm here," I told her, nuzzling against her neck. "I've got you, little witch."