PackRescue (15 page)

“Enough. Please,” the woman croaked. “You win, all right?”
Warily, she glanced down at Fina then looked away. “Alpha,” she whispered to
Fina then deflated visibly.

With a snarl, Fina released her. Luckily the women standing
closest to her challenger caught the tall woman under the arms when her knees
buckled. Women pressed back against the wall, making a lane for Fina to pass.
She walked away but as she did she deliberately shoved her shoulders into
bodies. The other women grunted and moved aside obligingly. Still snarling,
Fina muscled her way out of the hallway. No one else challenged her. She was
ready for it, maybe even wanted it with all the adrenaline pumping through her,
but none of the other bitches met her eye.

Fina had proven herself tough enough, strong enough, to be
top bitch. To this group at least. She had no illusions about not being
challenged again. Surely there were other bitches out there with a hankering
for power and she was sure she’d be challenged in wolf form too. But that was a
fight for another day. Fina also knew her victory was a sham. Yes she possessed
the innate talent, the character and strength to be a top bitch. She was also
diminished. The rogues in Tennessee had ripped something out of the heart of
her. Her head remembered what strengths she used to possess, knew how to
exhibit them, but it would only be a matter of time before this pack sniffed
out the empty weakness inside her. Wolves had good intuition.

Until they did she’d keep faking it, giving Ryan status and
security until it was time to move on. He’d grow up with the innate strength of
a natural-born Beta’s son, become even stronger as the surrogate son of an
Alpha.

When she stepped back into the main area of the unnaturally
quiet café, every eye in the place turned up to her. Cutler watched her too.
She gave him the briefest of arrogant smiles then walked up to Dorothea Pike.

“My apologies for destroying some of the paneling back
there, Dorothea,” Fina said quietly but deliberately. “Send me the bill.
Please.” She turned and walked back to Cutler’s table.

“Did you have to fuck
every
woman in the county?” she
growled at him, pitching her voice for his ears only. For the first time, she
saw Cutler flush. “Come on. Time for me to get Ryan home and time for you to
get back to work. Stud,” she added with a sly grin and led the way back to the
children’s play area.

“No I haven’t seen that one yet. I don’t go to movies much
out here.”

The sound of Fina’s muffled voice drew Cutler to the shut
door of the home office. He shifted the bag of hot takeout chicken to his other
hand, stood still and listened.

“No! Really?” Fina laughed and it was a sound of guileless
joy.

Cutler grinned in response to the girlish sound of Fina’s
laugh. He sometimes forgot how young she was. How much she’d had to grow up the
past couple months.

“You’re such a flirt, Helen,” Fina gasped out between gales
of laughter.

The back door slammed and Cutler heard Ryan race toward him,
probably drawn by the smell of food…food that Fina hadn’t cooked.

“Hey, Cutler. You snooping?”

“Yes,” Cutler answered without a trace of shame. He handed
the exuberant and slightly sweaty child the bag. “Take that into the kitchen,
wash your hands and set the table.”

Ryan shot him a look of open defiance. It raised Cutler’s
brows. When he growled quietly Ryan took the hint, took the bag and took off
toward the kitchen.

“She’s just talking to stupid Helen from back home. It’s
just stupid girl stuff,” Ryan shouted with a hint of malice and enough volume
that there was no way Fina couldn’t hear.

The laughter on the other side of the door faded.

“I haven’t made up my mind about coming back for school.”
Fina’s voice was quieter now, more mature. “Well, I can attend lectures over
the internet. Yeah, I know…”

She sighed so quietly Cutler doubted the phone picked up the
sound.

“Either way I’ll send post-dated checks to the landlord for
my half of the rent this year. I won’t leave you high and dry.” There was a
pause in the conversation. “I guess it
would
feel like I’m already
leaving you. Yeah, it sucks but I appreciate how much you understand. It means
a lot.”

With a resigned shake of his head, Cutler headed for the
kitchen and the deliberately too-loud sound of slamming cupboards.

“Thank you for taking him, Trudy.” Fina unsnapped the belt
of Ryan’s booster seat then stood back for him to hop out of her vehicle. Ryan
grabbed his backpack. It held a few of his favorite toys, a change of clothes
and his toothbrush. He ran to the front door of Trudy’s home.

“My pleasure,” Trudy answered with a grin. “Koby’s been
bugging me to ask if he and Ryan could have a sleepover.” She lifted her thin,
slightly harried face up to the morning sunshine and her smile widened. “Thank
goodness summer break will be over in a few weeks. The kids were driving me
crazy until they found out Ryan was coming to visit.”

Grinning, Fina looked up at Cutler’s childhood friend. She
hugged the older woman affectionately then climbed back into her vehicle.

“Hey!” Trudy’s piercing mom voice ricocheted down the
driveway as she headed back to the house. “What did I tell you about climbing
on the porch rail? When you break your legs, don’t come running to me…”

Her grin widening, Fina shook her head, turned the ignition
and drove away.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Leaning against the doorframe of the
study, one long leg crossed casually over the other, Nathaniel grinned down at
Fina.

She looked up from the computer and smiled. Nath’s blue eyes
were brighter than usual and that was saying something. His smile was warm,
loving, maybe even a touch naughty. He scented the air in the house slowly.

“Ryan…?” he asked, deliberately letting his voice trail off.

“At Trudy’s, having a sleepover.”

“Ah.” If anything, his smile widened. His dimples looked
extraordinarily tasty today. He tucked his thumbs into the pockets of his
hiking shorts. The movement made Nath’s broad shoulders flex then drew her eye
to his lean hips and the very nice musculature of his tanned legs. “And you and
Cutler…while I was away…” The curve of his full, sensual mouth flattened for a
moment. “Mated.”

“Yes,” Fina answered, gentling her voice. Like always when
he came back from leading a trek, Nath smelled of wood smoke, pine, fresh air
and hot, hungry werewolf.

Only it wasn’t food he was hungry for.

An unsubtle glance told Fina the thick, seductive ridge
rising against the fastening of Nath’s sturdy hiking shorts wasn’t an errant
hot dog that had fallen off its stick.

His gaze dropped to his crotch then came back up to her. His
grin grew naughtier. “I want you. Although I guess you figured that out.”

“Hmm,” she hummed noncommittally. The corner of her mouth
lifted as she stood and walked over to him. Stopping just before their bodies
touched, Fina looked up into Nath’s shimmering eyes. The dimples on either side
of that very bitable mouth deepened, shadowed by a day’s growth of particularly
sexy, dark-brown beard. “In case you hadn’t heard, I’m top bitch around here
these days. You still up for that?”

Without hesitation, Nath snaked his arm around Fina’s waist
and pulled her against his thickening rod. “Yeah. I am,” he replied with quiet
honesty and rolled his hips gently, rubbing himself against her soft, warm
belly. “Cutler hasn’t ripped my throat out so he’s got no problem sharing. He
might not like it…” Dipping his head, Nathaniel passed his nose over Fina’s
neck then dragged his teeth over the delicate muscle capping her shoulder. “But
that’s only because he’s an Alpha. They’re not used to sharing. And you, my
beautiful, beautiful Fina,” Nath added with a sensual growl, “are far too much
woman not to share.” He kissed her. Capturing Fina’s mouth beneath his, Nath
sighed and a fine shiver made his big body tremble against hers.

Nathaniel’s mouth was warm and delicious. A hint of spice
and the scent of wood smoke made Fina’s wolf leap forward and shiver with
sexual enticement. It drove her tongue in deeper, making her, for the first
time with Nath, the aggressor.

Nath’s answering snarl told Fina neither he nor his wolf
minded. He tightened his hold on her, gripped her bound hair and anchored her
mouth to his. Nath’s kiss was gentle without being tentative. He explored her
like he was asking and sighed with pleasure when she allowed his every caress.
His tongue swept over hers, stroked the roof of her mouth, tested the sharpness
of her teeth.

“You taste so damned good,” Nath breathed when he finally
broke the kiss to rest his forehead against hers and pant. “Not a minute went
by this week without me thinking of you. Wanting you.” He kissed her again,
kissed her deeply and seductively and it was a long time before he pulled back.
“I need a shower.” Nath’s dimples reappeared when he grinned down at her. “Come
on,” he added with a sinful smile. “Wash my back for me.” Taking hold of her
hand, Nath led Fina down the hall.

Halfway there Nath let go and pulled his dark-green golf
shirt off over his head. Reaching out with her fingertips, Fina touched the
sun-darkened skin on his broad back. It was surprisingly soft, especially since
the thick muscles beneath were so hard. Glancing over his shoulder, Nath gave
her a wicked, self-satisfied grin. His eyes glowed with mischief and he started
undoing the button fly of his shorts.

Fina gasped when they and the briefs beneath dropped to the
floor. Nath stepped out of them nimbly and his ass flexed so sharply that Fina
ran her fingers over her chin checking for drool. His backside was firm, round
and impossibly pert…if a guy’s ass could be called pert. It twitched
seductively with the slow, sensual roll of his walk. Without asking, he turned
into Fina’s room then paused in the doorway to her en suite to tug off his
thick socks. She crowded him, pressed her breasts into his back and fondled his
ass.

Chuckling, the sound low and sensual, Nath took hold of Fina’s
hands, dragged them forward and anchored them around his cock. His head drifted
backward and he sighed. Bracing his hands against either side of the doorframe
and spreading his legs, Nath commanded the space. When she lifted her gaze to
peek around him, Fina gasped. The big mirror over her double sinks reflected
him perfectly. Her hands looked pale and small wrapped around his thick,
purplish cock. She moved one over the head and squeezed carefully. The other
drifted down to cup his shockingly smooth balls.

“Fuck. Yeah,” Nath hissed and rolled his hips into her grip.
Then his pelvis rolled back and his ass ground into her belly. He made her use
her strength to stand against him then rolled forward again, using the momentum
to pleasure himself in her hands. His skin smelled like fresh, clean sweat and
mountain air and tasted warm and salty when Fina dragged her tongue up his
spine. His cock felt hard and twitched in time with the beating of his heart.
Peeking around him again, she became mesmerized as his lean, angled body rocked
with delight.

His eyes opened slowly, a blaze of blue set in his
sun-darkened, sculpted face. He met her gaze in the mirror. “Take your clothes
off, Fina. Slowly. I want to watch.” He stepped away from her, sat down on the
padded bench next to the shower stall, wrapped a big hand around his cock and
stroked himself. Leaning back against the wall and stretching his long legs out
comfortably, Nathaniel licked his lips and watched her.

She was fascinated by the slow, firm cadence of his strokes.
By the way he’d grasp the head, pause, tighten his grip and bare his teeth.
Gnawing on her lower lip, Fina lifted her t-shirt up and over her head, letting
it drop to the floor beside her. Nath hissed and gripped himself tighter.

“Squeeze your breasts, Fina. Make your nipples even harder.”

She looked down at herself and saw them standing out,
pressing against the thin satin of her bra. Nath’s unchecked and unfeigned
sensuality overrode any shyness Fina might have felt and she palmed her
breasts. Squeezing gently at first, she made them plump and swell over the
lace-topped cups of her bra. Nath’s naughty grin widened.

“Yeah, sweetheart. Harder. Play with them for me. You’re so
damned sexy.”

Fina squeezed harder, hard enough that she moaned and
dropped her head back as an ache of pleasure arrowed down her abdomen. Holding
his balls and tugging them away from his body, Nath smiled his approval. Still
stroking himself, he stared at her with those intent eyes and licked his lips.

His eyes narrowed when she ran her fingers down her body and
touched the top button of her linen shorts.

“Yeah,” he repeated with a jerky nod. “Strip for me,
sweetheart. Show me that sweet pussy I’ve been fantasizing about for weeks.” He
moaned when he tightened his fist around his shaft and tugged faster. Then he
stopped. “I’m going to claim you, Fina,” Nathaniel said in a deep, rumbling
voice. He lifted his gaze to her face as his hand fell away from his rod. The
grin and the lascivious twinkle in his eyes faded, replaced by a furrow between
his brows. “I will be your mate right alongside Cutler. You’ll bear his cubs
and
mine.” The furrow deepened as his eyes darkened. “I won’t be a fallback fuck
for you, a little variety or kink when you feel like it. When I mark you, you’ll
be mine just as much as you are his. You’ll accept us equally, treat us equally
in bed.” Nath’s mouth was now perfectly flat. “Are you clear on what I expect
if you become my mate?”

“Yes.” Fina’s voice was quiet but there was no hesitation in
her reply.

“Are you willing to accept me under those conditions? To
love me as much as you love him?”

Fina blinked. He asked for too much when he asked for love.
So did Cutler. Resisting the urge to shake her head, Fina kept her gaze locked
on Nathaniel’s. They asked for forever…for a strong, whole, loving mate. She
didn’t have that in her anymore but she did need their protection. She needed a
pack. Ryan did too. Knowing full well her first act as Nath’s mate was a lie,
Fina nodded, hating herself but doing it anyway. “Yes.”

Nodding, Nath exhaled slowly. The furrow between his brows
softened along with the darkness in his eyes. Fina realized that Cutler had
asked the same things of her, only Cutler didn’t ask. He made his demands clear
then took. She loved the difference between the two brothers. The stray from
Tennessee had found the best of both worlds in them. Instead of making her feel
more guilty, it took away some of the sting…like maybe, somehow and someday,
her acceptance of them might not be a lie.

Grinning cockily, Nath ran his sun-darkened hand over his
abdomen, palmed his balls then slid his fingers over his erection. “You’re
still wearing too many clothes.” Letting his gaze drift over her suggestively,
he moistened his lips and waited.

Feeling her eyes crinkle with excitement, Fina unsnapped the
top button on her shorts and eased the zipper down. She didn’t feel
self-conscious or even a little bit foolish. The werewolf lounging in front of
her was so obviously aroused by each little movement, every subtle twitch of
her fingers, that his eyes blazed as he watched. When the tip of his tongue
darted out and swept his lower lip, Fina thought about it moving over her body.
As her shorts slid down her thighs, she cupped her satin panty-covered mound
and slowly slid her fingers between her legs.

Nath growled his approval. “The bra next. Take it off.”

Tugging her lower lip between her teeth, Fina affected a
coquettish look and, if his deep, quiet laugh was any indicator, Nath approved.
His gaze was riveted on her as she reached behind herself, unsnapped her bra
then covered her breasts with her forearms. When the pale satin and lace
dropped to the floor, his eyes flashed.

“Bring them here. I need to taste you.”

Without hesitation but with teasing slowness, Fina crossed
the smooth, tiled floor. He took hold of her wrists and pulled her arms away
from her body.

“Beautiful,” Nath whispered. Fina’s nipples hardened even
more. Bending his head to her slowly, almost reverently, he smoothed his
whisker-rough cheeks over the inner curve of one breast then the other. He
kissed her sternum—a gentle drawn-out pursing of his lips—and inhaled. With a
deep rumble of contentment, he drew his cheek over the curve of her breasts
again. Rough, darkened fingers cupped her, pressed her breasts into his face,
cushioning the sharp cut of his cheekbones with her softness, and he smiled.