An Unlucky Moon (13 page)

Read An Unlucky Moon Online

Authors: Carrie Ann Ryan

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Paranormal, #Fantasy, #General, #series, #Paranormal Romance, #Dante's Circle

BOOK: An Unlucky Moon
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“Ride me, Becca.”

She blinked then slowly smiled. “I figured you’d be the guy who wanted control.”

He growled softly and nipped her lip. When her pussy tightened around his dick, he sucked in a breath. His little mate liked to be bitten.

Good to know.

“I love control. I’ll have all of it. Right now, though, I want to watch you ride me. I want to watch your breasts bounce as you move. I want you to come around my cock, your juices sliding around us, slippery and wet. Then, only then, will I take back control and fuck you hard and long before mating you.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

He grinned then sucked in a breath as she moved. She rolled her hips then slid up and down his length. Hunter ran his hand up her side then cupped her breast, even as she moved, needing to touch her. She rode him hard, and he concentrated on her breasts and her pleasure so he wouldn’t come. As a wolf, he could go more than once in a bout of sex, but he wanted to come for the first time as he marked her.

Call him sentimental.

Becca closed her eyes as she rode him, and he slid his hand down her belly to stroke her clit. With just that one movement she was off again, coming hard around his cock.

He gritted his teeth so he wouldn’t come in her tight pussy. Her body shook, her head thrown back, and fuck, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. While she was still riding her high, he pulled out then set her on her knees on the bed. She was still falling to the bed as he pumped into her from behind.

“Holy shit,” she breathed.

He smiled then gripped her hips, pistoning into her. She leaned forward and gripped the bed sheets, and his gaze followed the long line of her back. Sweat broke out over each of them, but still, he fucked her hard.

No, not fucked, this was something more. He already felt the connection brewing, already felt the heat that was something more than just a chemical reaction.

This…this was everything.

He pumped into her, and she moved her ass back, as if needing more of him. Tingles started at the base of his spine, and his balls tightened. He knew he didn’t have much time until he came.

He leaned forward so his chest lay against her back. She turned her head, and he captured her lips in a scorching kiss.

“Mine,” he growled.

“Yours,” she whispered, her gaze glassy.

He pumped into her one more time, hard, then bit into her shoulder. She cried out in bliss, and he came.

He jetted into her pussy, his cock throbbing, and he felt the mating bond snap into place. It wasn’t a bond that gave them the other person’s innermost thoughts and feelings, but rather a solid connection to another being.

Hunter slid his teeth out of her shoulder then licked the wound. She’d already started healing at his touch, but the mark would be there forever. He moved to lay on his side, his cock still deep within her, and pulled Becca close to his chest.

“Becca?” 

“I’m here,” she mumbled, her voice heavy, soothing.

“Are you okay?” He knew he’d been rough, but hell, he hoped he hadn’t hurt her.

“I’m…perfect,” she whispered, and he could sense the smile in her voice.

He smiled back, content for the first time in forever, and kissed her mating mark.

She gasped at the sensation, and he licked the mark again.

“Stop doing that. I can’t come again.”

He chuckled but moved his lips back, not wanting to overwhelm her more than he already had.

He pulled out of her and almost had her turned to face him when she froze, her spine stiffening.

“Becca?”

He quickly leaned over her as her body started to shake, her eyes rolling back in her head.

“Becca!”

She seized beneath him, and her body started to glow with golden hue that quickly changed to a green hue and back again. He pulled her close so she wouldn’t hurt herself.

Fuck.

Ambrose and Balin had mentioned that the change would happen right after she made love with her true half, but he hadn’t expected it to be this dramatic…this painful for her. What had he done? He hadn’t wanted to hurt her, and now look at what was happening.

After what seemed like an eternity, she stopped seizing, and the golden and green glow faded. He pushed her hair back from her face and looked over her body for any signs of injury or what she had turned into, but he couldn’t tell anything.

He took a deep breath, and her spicy scent mingled with something new filled his nostrils. He frowned then leaned to take another breath.

Leprechaun.

His mate was a leprechaun.

He smiled at the thought.

Well, that was new.

Becca fluttered her eyelashes then stared at him. “What happened?”

Hunter kissed her softly, needing to reassure himself that she was okay.

“We bonded, and you changed, sweetie.”

She swallowed hard then looked down at herself, well, what parts she could see as he was still currently leaning over her.

“What am I? I don’t see anything different.”

Hunter smiled then sat between her legs so he could pull her onto his lap. She leaned into his hold, and he gripped her tighter. “You’re a leprechaun.”

Becca pulled back and blinked. “You mean the little dude on the cereal box who has a pot of gold, likes rainbows, and is lucky?”

Hunter snorted. “No, not like that, the same way I’m not some angsty teen or some weird half man-half wolf movie reject.”

Becca laughed, and some of the tension eased from her—precisely what he’d wanted.

“So what does this mean? Why aren’t I different? I feel kind of like I’ve been gypped or something. Lily and Jamie have awesome new looks, and I’m still me.”

His grip tightened, and he kissed her hard. “You’re still you, and I like the way you are. Leprechauns, like all paranormals, are different. You’ll glow gold when you have heightened emotions, so we’ll have to control that. You’ll also have a little bit of magic, I think. We’ll have to ask around about that. Oh, and you’ll be able to teleport.”

He grinned as her eyes widened at that last remark.

“Really? Hell yeah. The other girls can’t do that last part.”

“See? You’ll like it.” Though he’d kind of wished she’d end up as a shifter of sort, this new development was nice. He’d be able to help her through every step as she learned who and what she was. As her mate, he’d be by her side and be her protector.

His wolf paced inside him, eager to protect, but happy at her safety nonetheless.

When Becca learned control, she’d be able to protect herself better as well. She’d not only be able to teleport away from danger, but also use her strength to fight back. The other wolves wouldn’t be able to harm her when he couldn’t be by her side.

He calmed at that last bit.

Yes, this was for the best.

“What about my luck though?” she asked. “I mean, I trip over everything in my path and run into walls and doors more often than not. How the hell am I supposed to be this lucky gold thing?”

Hunter snorted. “Baby, I think you’re just a klutz. I don’t think being a leprechaun will have any impact on that.”

Becca narrowed her eyes then leaned forward to bite his lip. He stiffened, aware that she’d behaved as his mate, playful and territorial. 

His wolf howled, and he almost joined in.

Oh yes, he was going to like being mated.

Hunter framed her face and brought her lips to his. Gods, he’d wanted this woman, and now she was his. His wolf loved her already. She might have been weaker than him, but her spirit was strong. The man though… did he love her? Hunter knew he wanted her, admired her, respected her, and liked her. It was a given, though. Right?

He had a feeling he was well on his way to being fully in love with her.

This was his mate, his future, his life.

He’d do everything and anything to protect her.

Even fight the Pack he’d fought so hard to come back to.

Chapter Ten

If one more person bumped into him and Becca again, Hunter might have to growl at his Pack mates.

Again.

Walking around the den should have literally been a walk in the park.

Not so much.

“Why are they all still staring at me?” Becca asked as she leaned into his side.

Hunter narrowed his eyes at some of the wolves who couldn’t keep the fascination of the Beta’s new mate off their faces. It had been a little over a month since they’d bonded, and the Pack hadn’t yet gotten used to her daily presence.

The two of them had fallen into a routine of sorts within the Pack. In other words, they spent most of their time in bed, on the couch, in the shower, or on the table letting the mating urge ride them. They also got to know each other a bit more, though he knew Becca had more to tell him about her past.

That would come though.

They hadn’t left the den, even though he’d wanted to make sure she knew she had a choice. She’d insisted on staying there to get to know how his world worked. She wanted to immerse herself with the wolves and learn all she could. Then later, she promised, they’d go back to the human world where he could learn about
her
life. Dante had already promised that he’d take care of her job and home, so that hadn’t been an issue. Though her friends missed her, he knew they’d welcome her back as soon as she was ready.

Big changes like a new mating, new species, and being kidnapped required time to adjust, and he had a feeling she wasn’t ready to face her friends with all of it until she was settled. His job was to make sure she felt safe while she focused, and so far, it was working.

Soon though, they’d go to the human realm, and he’d have to be the one who got stares and odd looks.

He’d be ready as long as Becca was by his side.

Becca had also made friends with Liam, Alec, and, not surprisingly, Leslie. He’d had a feeling Leslie would be part of their lives, even if it was in a little sister role. Leslie might have been a couple decades older than Becca, but Becca had taken to the elder sister part seamlessly. Dorian, though, had been an issue. Not a big one considering the three council members were keeping things quiet recently, but an issue nonetheless. The wolf didn’t like sharing his sister and, frankly, was treading on thin ice. 

Liam, Alec, and Hunter hadn’t been able to prove the council members had anything to do with Becca’s kidnapping. All they’d collected was a mix of tainted scents and the fact that they’d been in Lloyd’s basement. However, since Lloyd had technically abandoned the shelter years ago, according to him,
anyone
could have broken in and used it to frame him.

Hunter couldn’t deliver justice if he had no proof. The Pack wouldn’t stand for it, not when they were already in turmoil and unsettled.

“Hunter?”

Becca’s voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he leaned to kiss her temple. She moved into his side and shuddered.

“They’re staring because they’re jealous that I have you and they do not.”

Becca snorted then rolled her eyes. “Sure, honey, and after that I’ll go have tea with the Easter bunny.” She paused. “Wait, are there bunny shifters?”

The person passing them gave her a look as if Becca were crazed but laughed with Hunter anyway.

“No, no prey shifters. Only predators.” Well, as far as he knew. There
could
have been more out there considering most paranormals were very secretive about who they were and what they could do, but Hunter didn’t think that was the case here.

“Come on, you know it would have been cute to see little tiny bunnies with pointy teeth.”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “You’ve been watching far too many movies that provide you with unrealistic expectations. Plus, if there
were
bunny shifters, I’d have found them. After all, bunnies taste amazing.”

Becca froze then hit him hard on the arm. Others looked at her as though she was crazy for hitting the Beta, but they’d get over it. She was his mate, so she could do anything she wanted to him, as long as he got to sleep by her side at night.

“That is
so
not funny, Hunter Brooks. I can’t believe you’d eat Thumper.”

“I ate Bambi and his mother too,” he deadpanned.

Becca stuck her finger in her mouth and pretended to gag. “Thank the gods I didn’t turn into a shifter.” She winced and looked around her. “I’m just saying I couldn’t stomach it. Sorry, I love you guys.”

Most of the wolves around her just laughed, knowing what she meant. A few others though, the wolves on Dorian’s side, glared. However, they always glared, so this wasn’t new.

“You’d get used to hunting if you were a wolf,” Liam drawled as he came to their side, Alec right behind him.

Becca stuck out her tongue then held open her arms. Liam stepped right into them and gave her a hard hug. Alec’s hug was a bit softer, but just as brotherly. Hunter didn’t have a problem with either of his friends hugging or touching her, as long as they kept it platonic. They were Pack, and the closest of his friends, so it only made sense that they would want to bring Becca into their folds. Becca seemed to love it, and he could tell from her scent it was just like she was hugging Dante or Shade or the triad—she just liked having friends.

It occurred to Hunter he might have to apologize to the dragon for his attitude, but he knew it wouldn’t happen. Hunter was just a little too dominant to deal with bowing down to a dragon.

Even one who happened to be best friends with his mate.

“I still don’t know how to use magic or teleport,” Becca said. “Let me deal with that first, then maybe I’ll get used to you guys eating baby bunnies.”

Liam placed his hand over his chest and feigned shock. “We never said
babies
.”

Hunter pulled Becca into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “We don’t eat babies, you dork.”

She tilted her head so she could smile at him, and he laughed. “Oh, I know. I just like seeing Liam overreact.”

Alec rolled his eyes. “He does that often.”

“I do not,” Liam grumbled, folding his arms over his chest.

Hunter just shook his head and hugged Becca tighter. He knew they should move to the side and get out of the way, considering standing around in the middle seemed a bit odd, but he didn’t feel like moving. They might have been in the center of the den with people walking around them, but he didn’t care if he was displaying more affection than normal. He had his mate in his arms and his best friends by his side.

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