Fated Ties: A Werewolf Paranormal Romance Novel (The Twisted Destiny Saga Book 3) (5 page)

CHAPTER 6

The marketplace bustled with activity. It was the equivalent of what, in the human realm, would be referred to as a city center. It was crowded and busy. The creatures of the Dark Realm sold their wares, drank merrily in the surrounding taverns, and enjoyed various forms of entertainment. A particularly familiar brothel caught Ryan’s eyes. He smiled to himself as he recalled the night a lovely redheaded dark witch had made him into a man. Damn, what was it with him and witches? The power, no doubt. He enjoyed a challenge and those wielding magic were the only ones who could give him that. As Wolf King, he was far stronger than any of his own kind, as well as, most other supernatural creatures. But he didn’t have any magical ability, so it gave those that did one up on him.

Sure, he also enjoyed a submissive woman as much as the next guy. Having them on their knees, or on their back, prepared to do whatever he wanted, to pleasure him however he commanded, was a fucking rush. But it got old.

It was one of the things he liked most about Cora. She challenged him. Even before he’d taken her virginity, with her inexperience, she’d still given him a run for his money. And lately? Fuck, after that dream she’d pulled him into…what she’d done to him with her newfound power? There was nothing hotter. He could feel his cock stirring at the mere thought of it. He reprimanded himself quickly.

He was on a mission.

Actually, he
and
Nathanial were on a mission.

When they’d first arrived at the marketplace, everyone had immediately bowed at their feet, a reverence for the Dark Realm King. It was an odd experience. Nathanial hadn’t seemed the least bit fazed by it. But, then again, he’d had several centuries to get used to it. While Ryan did hold power over his pack
and
all the human realm wolves as a whole, he’d never really thought about it, or really acknowledged it. He’d only thought of it in terms of him being their protector, not their revered king. But, seeing the reaction that the people had to Nathanial, made him realize what power he really did have, power that would only increase once he officially took the Dark Realm throne beside Nathanial. It was unnerving, to say the least.

As he looked around, holding Orion protectively against him, he didn’t see a single wolf. There were vampires galore, a few gargoyles, and some dark warlocks and witches. But no wolves. So, none of the wolves followed Nathanial then? They were
all
resistant to his rule?
This is much worse than I’d thought.

“This way,” Nathanial said, striding through the crowds towards a tavern at the edge of the marketplace. “We should be able to ascertain the route to the wolf resistance from the riffraff in here. They love to talk…for a reward.” The crowds immediately parted to allow him through.

Ryan stopped short suddenly and sniffed the air.

Wolf.

He scanned the area quickly, searching.

And then he saw a figure hidden by a hooded, black robe trying to escape discreetly from the back of the tavern. In her haste, her hood brushed against the doorframe and her golden hair tousled down her shoulders. He watched her sniff the air. Shock clouded her features. And then her gaze locked with his through the crowd. Her piercing, blue eyes bore into his. Before he could do anything, react in any way, a blur of motion obscured his vision.

Nathanial.

In a split second, he stood before the girl, his hand wrapping around her neck, holding her off the floor as she gagged and flailed her limbs wildly in a futile attempt to get away.

“Release her,” Ryan commanded as he reached them.

“She is one of the resistance. And a most infamous one at that. The leader’s sister. Isn’t that right, Jada?”

“Release. Her. Now,” Ryan growled, laying a threatening hand on Nathanial’s shoulder.

Nathanial’s gaze snapped to his. He grunted and then released his grip on the woman.

Immediately, she tried to bolt.

“Not so fast,” Ryan said, grabbing her wrist. She struggled, trying to break his grip, but he held fast. “Look at me, darlin’,” he said, his tone gentle and reassuring.

Surprised, she raised her gaze to his. She flushed instantly, clearly pleased with what she saw. He watched her bite her bottom lip as if to stifle her reaction as her gaze raked over him. She was turned on just by looking at him, that much was clear. And then her eyes fell to Orion in his arms, indicating that he was already mated and his mate had borne him a child, and he was sure he saw a look of disappointment flash in her eyes. He smiled with amusement.

“You’re…him,” she breathed.

“Him?”

“The Wolf King. You’ve returned,” she said, her eyes lighting up.

Right, of course that’s what she meant. Wow, I’m not used to this…recognition.
“Your brother leads the wolf resistance?”

She hesitated, her gaze flitting to Nathanial. Nathanial growled low in his throat at her and she looked away quickly.

Ryan adjusted Orion’s weight in his arms and stepped closer to her. “Jada, right?” he asked softly.

She nodded, her eyes regarding him warily.

“I’m not gonna hurt you, darlin’. And neither is he,” he said, gesturing to Nathanial. “Right, Nathanial?” he called over his shoulder, without looking at him. His gaze remained with Jada. She needed the reassurance that his eyes promised her.

“Yes. No harm will come to her,” Nathanial responded after a few tense moments.

Ryan knew how hard it must have been for him to relinquish control, especially over a chief member of the wolf resistance that threatened his very kingdom. But Ryan had come to know Nathanial to be a wise king. Despite all the bullshit in their tragic past, that much was undeniable. Nathanial knew that Ryan had to be the one to take control of the wolves, not him. It was only Ryan who they would pledge their loyalty to.
He
was the Wolf King, not Nathanial.

“Take me to your brother,” he commanded.

“You will…kill him?” she asked.

Fuck, the look in her eyes. So much distrust, so much naked fear.
“That’s for
him
to decide.”
If he challenges me, I’ll have to take him down. That’s how wolves work.

“I will lead you to the edge of the dark forest and he will come to
you
,” she responded, her big, blue eyes fixed on his.

Christ, those eyes of hers. They do things to a man. And her scent…fuck me…so sweet. Stop it! You’re married, you asshole. You’re holding your son in your arms right now. You’re just horny. It’s been a while. That’s all. Fuck! Stop thinking like a wolf.

“Good,” he answered.

Before he could say anything else, he started coughing violently, the force of it causing him to lose his grip on the girl. To his surprise, she didn’t try to bolt this time. He tightened his grip on Orion so that he didn’t slip from his arms as a result of the violent tremor of his cough. He could feel himself sweating, but he wasn’t hot. He felt ice -cold.
Shit, I have a damn fever.
His hand trembled as he wiped away the beads of sweat on his brow with the back of his free hand.

“Again?” Nathanial asked, coming to his side. He whispered quietly to him, “I know what you are planning to do, Ryan. You are too weak right now. You can barely shift into wolf form for more than a few minutes, because of your sickness. You cannot take on the leader of the wolf resistance in this state.”

Ryan met Nathanial’s intense stare and whispered back, “I may have the birthright, the royal blood that declares me King of the Wolves, but until I
prove
that through my actions, it’ll mean nothing to any of them. It’s not our way. And, as King, I should be able to smack down any challenge that comes my way, whether I’m at my best, or not.”

Nathanial nodded and stepped back. “As you wish.”

Ryan saw surprise in his eyes. And…pride?
Pride? No, he isn’t a father figure. He murdered your father…don’t fucking forget that. There’s no father-son relationship between the two of us. No. No. No. That’s not what’s developing between us. Ridiculous.

“Lead the way,” Ryan commanded Jada.

She nodded and turned around, leading them out through the marketplace, towards the dark forest in the distance. Calling it a forest was generous. It was nothing more than a series of dead trees situated on dry, lifeless soil. There was no beauty in the Dark Realm. Once the Dark Realm and the White Realm united, that would all change, though.

“Don’t even think about trying to run off. I am a vampire, I will have no trouble catching you,” Nathanial warned.

Ryan watched her tremble at his threat. He rolled his eyes at him. The girl was scared enough as it was. Or, so he’d thought.

Until he watched her sneak a look at him and wink slyly before turning back around.
Oh fuck.
He watched her hips sway, her sweet little ass teasing him.
She’s doing this on purpose. She’s a wolf—she can sense my sexual appetite and my desperation to get laid. Dammit!

Nathanial chuckled, obviously having caught her look. “Not the damsel in distress that she’d led you to believe, is she?”

“You knew?”

Nathanial smiled. “Of course. Why do you think I reacted the way I did when I saw her? And you knew it, too. You just chose to ignore it, because of your guilt.”

“Guilt?” Ryan snapped.

“You like strong women, women that challenge you. You’re drawn to her.”

“You can’t smell her like I can. She’s….”

“She desires you to take her,” Nathanial finished for him. “Looking and fantasizing does not equate to betraying your love, Ryan. Forget your guilt.”

Ryan smiled with amusement. “Is that advice that you’re offering me?”

Nathanial chuckled. “Apparently so.” And then he added, “It concerns me that we might be starting to get along.”

“That
is
concerning.”

It wasn’t more than a few minutes before they reached the edge of the forest. Jada stopped suddenly and let out a wolf cry—a howl that echoed hauntingly around them. A moment later, they heard rustling among the trees.

Ryan shot out his hand as he felt Jada about to bolt. His fingers wrapped around her upper arm and he held her steady against him. She looked at him in surprise. He’d expected her to fight him, but she didn’t. Instead, her eyes locked with his, the heat from her desire burning right through him. He fought to calm his body.
Fucking hell.
Her mouth opened slightly as his fingers fondled the soft silk of the robe covering her arm in an attempt to readjust his grip.

“You’ll like what’s underneath,” she whispered, her gaze darkening, tempting him.

He swallowed hard. “And what’s that?”

She grinned and unbuttoned her robe with her free hand. She pushed it back so that it rested just off her shoulders, exposing every delicious thing that was underneath. A plated bustier covered her ample tits, pressing them together into a cleavage that left his mouth watering. It bared her midriff. It was covered with black tattoos. Pack markings that Ryan didn’t understand, because he wasn’t a member of her pack. The tiniest shorts he’d ever seen barely covered her lower half and they hung low around her hips. A golden belt stocked with ammo and with two hunting knives holstered to either side of her hips encircled her waist. Her boots were made from some sort of animal skin that extended halfway up her thighs. She was a warrior—a smoking hot one.

Ryan had never been at a loss before with any woman. But, as he looked her over, his throat became dry. His heart thumped so violently in his chest that he could barely breathe, let alone, get a word out. He felt his cock stand to attention, responding for him.

“I know all of the rumors about you,” she said. Her gaze dipped to the bulge in his jeans and she licked her lips. “
Everything
that you have to offer.”

Before he could respond, Nathanial ripped her away from him and moved her to his side, away from him. “That’s enough, wolf
whore
. He is already mated. You can see his son with him,” Nathanial chided her, disgust evident in his voice.

Ryan nodded, a silent thank you.
Christ, what is wrong with me? It’s not as if I’m not used to women throwing themselves at me. I should’ve been able to handle that easily enough. Instead, Nathanial had to step in and save my ass. Damn, I need to get a fucking grip and stop letting my cock rule my head here. I’m married. My cock is only for one pussy. Cora’s. Yeah, keep thinking of her. Her warm lips, her inviting hands, the look in her eyes when…okay, okay. Enough. The mission, Ry! Focus on the damned mission, you fuck!

The rustling from the forest escalated to a reverberating thunder. A few moments later, six guys emerged, flanking someone who was hidden behind them. Part of a wolf pack. They were protecting him, their Alpha. The leader of the wolf resistance in the Dark Realm.

“Ryan Winters. You’ve finally returned,” a commanding voice boomed from behind the six muscle-bound guys. They were all shirtless, wearing only brown pants that were made from the same material as Jada’s tiny shorts.