BirthMark (2 page)

“Goddess of Life, how can I help my pup…my son?” he asked, uncertain if she’d respond since he hadn’t followed the normal protocols for contacting her. He continued humming old, forgotten melodies, so engrossed in the peaceful moments that when the Goddess responded on the wisps of the wind, he was startled.

“He is your seed, La Patron, you can heal him as you’ve healed many others.”

How
? He was such a tiny thing. But her presence had left as suddenly as it came. Holding his young pup tight, he sent warmth and waves of healing vitality to his son. He then placed his palm in the middle of the child’s back, closed his eyes and focused on healing the small body. When he was done, Silas waited, hoping his pup was better.

Within a few moments, David began whimpering again. Tired and confused, Silas placed David across his shoulder and started humming again. The child settled. Silas breathed in the sweet silence of the room and gazed at the ceiling. Last year the Goddess told him change was coming, and it had blown through his life with hurricane force winds, upsetting everything he knew and believed. Human females and wolves, breeding, creating a whole new category of beings – half breeds. There were times he still couldn’t believe it, but he’d just look in his nursery. All four of his pups, his first litter, were half-breeds.

At the thought of them, love welled inside him and overflowed. Now with pups of his own, he fully understood why full-blooded wolves were willing to fight their pack mates, and start a civil war to save their pups. As much as he had detested the idea of half-breeds before, he was irrevocably committed to saving all wolves, full and half-breeds. Part of the reason lay on his shoulder, taking small sips of air and trembling slightly on the exhale.

“Don’t worry, little one. The Goddess says I can heal you, I just need to figure out how and then all will be well,” he murmured, closing his eyes as he rocked.

His thoughts roamed to Tyrone, Tyrese’s twin. He wondered how the young pup would react when he discovered another had challenged him for the right to lead the West Virginia wolves.

Silas decided to allow the challenge to stand since there were those who didn’t view the former Alpha as a traitor. But Silas knew better. He’d read the Alpha’s thoughts, heard his hatred of the breeds, and his desire to destroy everything and everyone who stood in his way. That included Silas. The traitor had died by Silas’ hands and he was within his rights to choose a replacement.

The sweet scent of his mate reached him. Keeping his eyes closed, he waited for her to speak.

“Let me take him, you have that meeting tomorrow with the detective. You said he was coming at eight, it’s after three now.” She reached forward and took the pup from his shoulder. He might never admit it, but he missed the small patch of warmth the little one had provided.

Silas pulled Jasmine onto his lap, pushed her swinging braids from her face and nuzzled her neck. He had missed her. The birth, coupled with the fall in the cave, had wreaked havoc on her body. The doctor had restricted their lovemaking due to the bleeding after the pups were born. There were still so many things they simply did not know about her physiology, neither he nor the doctor wanted to take any chances.

“He’s going to be fine,” he whispered as she placed a kiss on the pup’s brow.

“Oh?” She eyed him curiously. “Have the doctors said something to you?”

“No. The Goddess.”

Her eyes widened and lit with pure joy. “What’d she say?... What’d she say?”

Pleased with her eager response, he repeated the words he had been told. “I’ve laid warm hands on him, sending healing energy through his body, but… that didn’t work. Don’t worry, it is my top priority to discover how to heal him.”

“Can’t you just decree it? Make a command? Tell his body to be healed?”

Chuckling, he tapped her nose. “I’m not the Christo. I can heal wolves because I’m their leader, we share similar energy. He needs something more and I will figure it out.”

She nodded and stood, taking his hand. “Come on, time for bed, at least until you have to get up. I’ve missed you.”

Gingerly he cupped her face between his palms and stared into her eyes. He read the fatigue and the determination. She had made it very clear when she’d been pregnant that she would raise her children. And though she had nurses to assist, she spent most of her time caring for the pups. Initially, they’d argued over the amount of time and energy the pups were taking, he had felt left out. That had been an intensely enlightening discussion. Now he understood it went against everything inside her to hand her babies over to someone else to raise. It wasn’t who she was. Now, he made time every day to visit her and the pups. They set aside an hour or so every evening to spend time alone, so far it worked well.

“I love you,” he whispered across her lips, and kissed her deeply.

She opened her link and he was inundated with a tidal wave of sweet, tingly, warmth that cascaded over him and permeated his heart. “
Love you, baby
.”

His chest tightened at her words and he deepened their kiss. His palms rested on her hips, he pulled her close to his erection.

Her breath hitched.

He rubbed her against his hardness, reveling in the friction. He released her mouth for a second, gulped down some air and kissed her again.

“
I need you
,” he told her through their link. “
I miss you
.”

“
I need you too
,” she said. “
He’s been quiet for a while now, let’s go to bed
.

“
I’m right behind you.”

They broke apart and he appreciated the needy look in her eyes. She placed her finger to her lips, took his hand and led him to their bedroom.

His eyes were glued to her hips, remembering how well they cushioned his larger form. How hot and tight she’d been the last time, how she’d been soaking wet before he even touched her. His skin heated, his cock leaked as he remembered the long hard thrusts he’d given her and she’d taken them all.

She stumbled and turned, her eyes disbelieving. “When…when did you learn that?”

He frowned; he had no idea what she was talking about. “What?”

“I felt you…it was like…you were…you know…”

“No. I don’t. What are you talking about?”

She walked to their bed and laid David down in the small crib before returning to him, and crossed her arms. Within seconds, their last sexual romp replayed in his mind. She leaned forward. “The difference was I felt it when you were thinking about it a minute ago, you didn’t just now. How’d you do that?”

His eyes landed on her full globes. His dick jumped. He grabbed her hand, leading her to the other side of the bed. “Horny.” He slipped the straps of her dress from her shoulders. The dress pooled on the floor while he pulled her close, kissing her face, neck and finally her breasts. His fingers ventured south and it was just as he remembered, she was wet and ready for him. He eyed his son, sent a silent plea to chill for a few moments longer.

“Hurry up and undress.” Jasmine pulled at his jeans, unsnapping them and rolling them down.

He slapped her hand away, and finished the job in one fell swoop. The heat of her mouth sheathed his cock, torturing him because they didn’t have time.

“Damn, you have no idea how much it hurts me to stop you, but as good as your mouth feels, I need to be inside you.” Gently he pulled away, loving the suction she provided on the way out.

She grinned, scooted back on the bed, and opened her legs, showing her bare lips and ready-to-be-filled center. His cock jerked in greeting as he moved forward, grabbed her calves and pulled her to the edge of the bed.

He loved looking at her like this, when she was wild and needy for him. “This is going to be fast. But I promise to make it up to you whenever we get our bedroom back.”

“Just do it…please.”

He didn’t have to be asked twice. With single-minded precision, he filled her in one thrust. Her body welcomed him and held him snug in her warmth. Tight muscles clenched and throbbed. He needed to move. In the back of his mind he remembered she had given him four pups and should take it slow. He slid in and out, gentle strokes at first. But his mate didn’t want gentle, and the image she sent through their link of him taking her made it clear she needed him hard and fast. Silas increased his thrusts, feeling the pleasure build. It spurred him on. He pumped harder, deeper, wanting to imprint himself on her.

A low keening sound filled the air. He placed his hand over her mouth as he continued to thrust into her through her orgasm. He was so close. She clenched her muscles and sent him over the edge. His heart pounded loud in his ears as he emptied his load into her.

Chest heaving, he sucked air into his starved chest as he collapsed on top of her. Firmly toned arms wrapped around him, holding him tight. “You are amazing. That was sooo good. Thanks. You have no idea how much I needed that.”

He squeezed her shoulder, inhaled her scent and placed a kiss on her shoulder. “I’m sure I have an idea. I’ve gone without as long as you have.” He rose slightly, looked down at her droopy lids showing hints of light brown eyes, and her goofy smile. “You looked like a satisfied cat.”

She grinned and ran her hand through his hair. “I am. You satisfied my cat…for now.” She winked at him and rolled to the side.

“Watch him. I’m going to take a quick shower. Be right back.” She rose slowly, majestically, and walked naked to the bath. He was sure she put a little extra in her walk knowing he was watching. Her bronzed complexion glowed, her long braids slapped the middle of her back, drawing attention to her small waist and high round hips. In a word, perfection, and she was his.

Silas pulled off his shoes, socks, and pants, wiped himself and then placed the soiled clothes in the basket. He glanced at his pup, pleased the little one had allowed him to spend time with his mate. Now if the pup would sleep long enough that Silas could hold and cuddle his mate until morning, which would be perfect.

Jasmine walked back in the room a short while later, feeling refreshed. Her heart swelled with love and pride at the picture on the bed. Silas lay sprawled on his back with David on his chest. Silas’s long black wavy hair lay across the beige pillowcase like a dark cloud. Long lashes and perfectly arched brows complemented blue-green eyes that rarely missed anything. The man was gorgeous and big. His body lay diagonally across the bed and there was little space left except on either side of him. She pulled a on a pair of panties and tank top before joining them in bed. She deliberated whether or not to move David from Silas’ chest and lay him beside her so she wouldn’t have to get up when he whimpered later on. But she didn’t want Silas to think she didn’t trust him.

Initially, she had been terrified for her son’s life. Normally, in wolf culture, if a child was born sick, he would be put down. She had kept David with her at all times, not even allowing Silas to be alone with him.

During a long discussion, which had covered a lot of new couple problems, he'd given his word that David was safe. Watching the rise and fall of their chests, she offered a small prayer of thanks that they were both hers.

“Come to bed, I need to hold you,” Silas said, opening his eyes. “And I thank the Goddess for you as well. Now bring that fine ass over here so I can get some sleep.”

Jasmine chuckled and strode to the bed, ready to fall in his arms. “Hmmm, just so you know, you fail at sweet talking.”

“Hmph,” he snorted.

She lay on the custom made bed next to him, her back to his side. His arms pulled her close.

“I’m going to let Rose deal with the human police detective tomorrow. She’s not Jacques, but she’s doing a decent job running my office. This will give her some practice dealing with the law,” Silas said into the quiet.

She missed his assistant. Jacques had been with Silas for decades, but once he was compromised by Arianna’s lure, he didn’t trust himself around Silas or the pups. Silas had thought the news of one of his pups being named after Jacques, and that Arianna was dead would be enough for his friend to return. So far, Jacques had turned down all offers to reclaim his old job, but did promise to visit soon to meet his namesake.

Jasmine thought of her daughter-in-law, Tyrone’s mate, and agreed. “She’s smart, a quick learner, and will represent your interests pretty good. Will she still work here when Tyrone takes over as Alpha? Is there an Alpha house, like a governor’s mansion or something? Where will they live?” She had wondered about those things ever since Silas told her of his decision to promote her son.

He rubbed her shoulder. “First off, he has been challenged.”

She stiffened, not liking the sound of that. “Challenged? Explain.”

Silas’ grip on her shoulder tightened a bit. She knew he didn’t like her tone, but she didn’t care for her son being challenged over something he didn’t ask for.

“Another wolf wants the Alpha position and is willing to fight for it.”

“I thought you appointed the Alphas. What happened to that?” She sensed his frustration through their link, but this was her son and she wanted to know why things were being handled differently.

“I appoint Alphas, but if an Alpha has been trained by me and does not have a position, he can challenge anyone for an open spot. The wolf challenging Tyrone completed Alpha training three years ago and has been serving another Alpha since then. He is within his right to make this challenge.”