Page 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

M y heart felt like it was breaking in two, the agony on par with losing my pack. A sob built in my chest, and his eyes widened.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked and cupped my face.

“If you need more time, I get it.” I tried to swallow my sob and hold back the tears. He’d given me additional space when I’d needed it. Doing the same for him was only fair.

"More time?" His brows furrowed as the water ran over his body. "That’s not it at all. I just didn’t want to finish like this.”

“Like what?” He’d pleasured me, and I wanted to return the favor.

His hands dropped to my waist, and he stepped forward until my back was pressed against the cool tile wall. The contrast between the cold surface at my back and his burning hot body against my front sent shivers racing along my spine.

"I want to be inside you the first time I come for you," he growled. "I've waited too long for this—for you—to rush it."

The raw hunger in his gaze made my heart slam against my ribs and my body nearly combust. Water continued to cascade over us, steam filling the small space until it felt like we were suspended in some dreamlike realm where only we existed.

His mouth found mine again and demanded even more this time. Desperation built to a throbbing ache. One of his hands tangled in my wet hair while the other slid down my back, cupping my ass and lifting me effortlessly. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my core pressing against his hardness.

"Ryker," I whispered against his lips.

He pressed his forehead to mine, his glowing golden eyes locked with mine as he positioned himself against my entrance. He rasped, "Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me."

"I want you. Only you. No one has ever made me feel like this." The words tumbled from my mouth.

“I’ve never wanted anyone but you,” he confessed and entered me slowly, inch by agonizing inch. The stretch and fullness made me gasp, my fingers digging into his shoulders. When he was fully seated inside me, he stilled.

Somehow even more desire blasted through me, and I tried to buck against him, but he held firm.

"You feel like home," he murmured.

I couldn't speak, could only feel, the electricity jolting between us intensifying to a level I’d never experienced before.

He began to move with agonizing slowness, drawing almost completely out before sinking back in. Each thrust was measured, deliberate, as if he wanted to memorize every sensation between us. I clung to him, my body trembling with need, but he maintained that torturous pace, making the build slow and intense.

I wasn’t sure my body could handle much more.

"Ryker, please." My voice broke.

"No." His lips brushed against my ear. "I’ve waited too long for this. I’m not rushing anything."

He rolled his hips, sending sparks shooting through my every nerve ending. The water continued to rain down on us, droplets catching on his eyelashes and trailing down the sharp planes of his face. I watched, mesmerized, as a bead of water slid from his collarbone down to where our bodies were joined.

His free hand cupped my breast, thumb circling my nipple while his mouth moved to my neck. I gasped as his teeth raked against my beating pulse, the sharp points of his canines extending just enough to remind me of what was to come. Beneath my skin, my wolf stirred, eager and wanting.

"Dammit, Ryker," I begged, tightening my legs around his waist.

A growl rumbled deep in his chest as he gently pinched my breast and commanded, "Look at me."

I gazed into his eyes, which had darkened to a molten amber.

"I need—" My words dissolved into a moan as he suddenly increased his pace with newfound urgency. The controlled rhythm was gone.

Tired of him being in full control, I braced my hands against his shoulders and pushed back, just enough to create a whisper of space between us. His rhythm faltered as confusion flickered across his face.

"My turn." I unwrapped my legs from his waist, separating us, and planted my feet on the floor.

Before he could protest, I spun us around and pressed his back against the wall. His eyes widened, then darkened with renewed hunger as I took control. I lifted a leg around him, guiding him back inside me as I set my own pace—slower, deeper.

His hands found my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh, but he didn't try to quicken my movements. Instead, he watched me as he panted.

"Ember," he breathed my name, causing my wolf to break free.

I rolled my hips and quickened my movements, pulling him in deeper as I arched my back. Our bodies slid against each other, and something primal took over.

No more waiting. I couldn’t take it.

I grabbed his hair and pulled his head toward my neck.

"Bite me.” If he didn’t do it this second, I wasn’t sure I could take much more. “I’m ready to complete the bond if you are.”

His teeth scraped against my skin again, the pressure increasing as our movements became frantic.

"Are you sure?" he asked against my flesh. Even as he asked, his teeth sank in a little deeper.

The sting added to my pleasure, and my head spun.

"Yes," I gasped, my body trembling on the edge of release. "Make me yours."

His teeth sank into my flesh, breaking the skin. The initial sharp pain transformed into something else entirely—a flood of warmth that surged through my whole body. My chest cracked open like a dam breaking, and Ryker's emotions crashed into me—his desire, his possessiveness, his relief, and his love. The intensity of feeling both his pleasure and mine simultaneously sent me spiraling.

"I love you," I whimpered as waves of ecstasy tore through me, more powerful than anything I'd ever experienced. My body convulsed around him, my vision blurring at the edges.

My wolf took control, not satisfied yet. I buried my face against his neck and sank my teeth into his wet skin, tasting copper as the bond completed. His blood filled my mouth as my orgasm continued to pulse through me, each wave stronger than the last.

Ryker's grip tightened painfully on my hips as his body went rigid. A guttural roar tore from him and reverberated through the shower as he shuddered against me. His release surged through him in powerful waves that intensified my own. Our bodies remained locked together as we rode the aftershocks together.

With our bond formed, I could feel warm spots that had to be Xander, Gage, and Kendric. No! My stomach knotted; I did not want to be the alpha of the merged pack. Some instinct inside me pushed the bonds away, not accepting them, as my eyes rolled back and euphoria flowed through my body.

I collapsed against Ryker’s chest, both of us sliding down to sit on the shower floor. The tile was cold against my legs, but I barely noticed. Our chests heaved, and our hearts raced at the same frantic pace.

Mine, he linked, resting his head against my shoulder. His arms wrapped around me, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. Hearing his words in my head meant so damn much to me.

Yours, I agreed, my fingers tracing the fresh mark I'd left on his neck. Always and forever.

As the haze wore off, three new links warmed in my chest at an even level, indicating they were fellow pack mates, and Briar’s cooled marginally back to the fellow-pack-mate level.

Softer. Steady. Familiar.

After so long with almost nothing but cold after losing my entire pack apart from Briar, the sensation nearly undid me.

My eyes fluttered shut as I curled tighter against Ryker, my forehead resting against the damp skin of his chest as the water sprayed us. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel hollow.

Ryker was our alpha. That truth settled inside me like a balm, like something my soul had always known but hadn’t let itself believe until now.

I hadn’t wanted to lead. All I’d ever intended to be was a beta or an alpha’s mate.

I just wanted this.

Him.

The sudden shift of the water temperature jolted me, pulling me from the daze. Cold droplets replaced steam, and my breath caught.

Ryker grunted and adjusted himself beneath me. “Water’s cold.”

“Mm.” I didn’t want to move, but the chill started to bite.

With a sigh, he eased us upright. Muscles trembled as the final shivers of magic and release worked themselves out. He brushed his lips over my temple before reaching for the knob and twisting the water off.

We stepped from the shower, the air hitting like a cold blanket. Goosebumps covered my body, and I shivered.

Ryker grabbed a towel from the hook and wrapped it around me before taking another for himself. I leaned into the gesture and the solid weight of him beside me.

Conflicting emotions surged through me. I’d never been so content or happy, but my parents weren’t here to celebrate Ryker’s and my union.

Ryker stilled. What’s wrong? He lowered his hands, the brown returning to his irises. Do you regret—

No. I cut him off and tried like hell to hold back a sob. I… I just wish my parents were alive to celebrate our bond.

His expression softened, and he dropped the towel and pulled me flush against him. He wrapped his arms around me and placed his chin on my shoulder.

I know. He kissed the mark he’d made that claimed me as his. I want mine here too. They would’ve loved you.

His pain mixed with mine, and once again, the sensation of drowning hung over me.

We stood there, water dripping from our bodies and puddling at our feet, but I didn’t care. His touch was enough to keep me together when the pain threatened to splinter us apart.

“I can’t bring them back to us,” he vowed. “But I will get justice for them. Every vampire who laid a hand on our packs will pay for what they did. I swear it, Ember. I won’t stop until they bleed and I’ve taken their lives with my own hands.”

Tears finally fell, hot against my chilled skin. His words released the grief I’d been suppressing for too long. Somehow, this time, it didn’t feel like it would kill me.

“No, we’ll make them pay.” I didn’t want to be left out. They’d tried to kill my entire pack, and only Briar and I had gotten away. “For every name, every howl cut short, for every mother, father, pup—”

He placed his hands on my cheeks. “We’ll do it together . Like we will from here on out. Side by side.”

Promise, I linked, afraid of how the word would sound if I spoke it out loud.

Lil rebel, your wants and needs are the most important thing to me. Above everything and everyone else. I don’t give a damn if that’s wrong for an alpha because you are now my entire world. I revolve around you, and if you need a hand killing those who did you wrong, then I’ll be there with a smile.

A few weeks ago, that would’ve scared me, but not anymore. I finally understood Ryker. He’d gotten the spell cast on him to avenge his family and pack. Everything he’d done had been to ensure he didn’t hurt those who didn’t deserve it.

A shiver wracked my body, and he stepped back, leaving me even colder.

“Let’s see if we can find clean clothes instead of putting the dirty ones back on.” He motioned toward the bedroom.

I wanted to pout, but we’d had a long day and night and needed rest. There was no telling what would happen tonight or tomorrow.

We padded back into the bedroom, and Ryker went to the dresser on our left and opened the top drawer. Folded inside were several pairs of dark sweatpants and a few worn shirts, clearly left behind by a pack member.

He grabbed a sweatshirt and a pair of black shorts that he tossed at me, then he grabbed sweatpants and a shirt.

We slipped on the clothes and climbed into the bed, sinking into sheets that held a trace of cedar and smoke. He pulled me against his chest, and I breathed in his intoxicating scent as well.

My eyes fluttered shut, exhaustion beginning to take hold.

Congrats, Briar linked gently into my mind. About time. I hope I waited long enough and am not interrupting anything.

A small laugh escaped, and Ryker lifted his head to look at me. He arched a brow.

Thanks. And your timing was perfect, I replied while smiling.

“I’m not complaining, but what’s this all about?” Ryker tilted his head.

“Just Briar congratulating us.” I snuggled deeper against him and let the warmth of his body and the bond we’d sealed wash away the last traces of cold I’d been carrying.

He kissed the top of my head. “Well, I’m not upset about that.”

In his embrace, I finally felt like I’d found another home, and for the first time since I’d watched my world burn, I didn’t feel like I was drowning.

* * *

Something tried to tug me awake, but Ryker’s body pressed against mine, and the comforting thrum of our connection lulled me back under.

But then something hit me.

A scent.

Floral… but not common. I breathed deeper, my eyes still shut. The scent was beautiful, like roses steeped in magic and lilacs blooming in the middle of a lightning storm.

My heart leapt into my throat, and a shiver coursed down my spine.

That scent—I’d smelled it twice before.

I forced my eyes open.

The room was dim, bathed in the faint blue-gray light of dawn creeping through the window blinds.

And he leaned over me.

A scream lodged in my throat as a warm palm clamped over my mouth.

Golden skin shimmered faintly in the low light. Dark auburn hair framed sharp cheekbones and ears that narrowed to elegant points. His glowing, otherworldly eyes bored into mine.

Unblinking.

Unmoving.

I wasn’t even sure if he was breathing.

My body went rigid, instincts screaming, bond flaring with panic.

Ryker—

But he didn’t stir. He remained completely still beside me, his breathing deep and even—asleep.

Like he couldn’t hear me or sense the danger.

The strange man’s hand remained soft over my mouth as he stared at me like he was silently willing me not to panic, and the strange warm magic inside me responded, surging forward, appeasing me.

Then, softly, he pressed a finger to his own lips. A silent command.

Don’t scream.

My pulse thundered. Magic crackled at the edge of my awareness, my skin buzzing where his body hovered too close.

He was real.

And I had no idea how he’d gotten inside.

Or what he wanted.