Pride Before the Fall (15 page)

Vivian nearly screamed out as he pressed at her entrance and she settled on top of him, taking him in. He stretched her to the limits, inch by inch of perfection. Groans of pleasure slipped over his lips and he closed his eyes reveling in the heat of her body.

"Baby, I've been needing this so bad." He thrust his hips to meet her body as she rode him furiously.

Vivian moved on him until they went up in flames, climaxing together and laughing at their quick but steamy rendezvous in the woods.

"Uh-oh," Kasey said getting to his feet. Vivian tilted her head in inquiry. He pointed to his temple. "I'm being paged, it seems Tyrone and Amilynn have become a spectacle with their shooting skills. People are looking for us."

After one more long, sultry kiss the couple shifted and made their way back to the party. Kasey had been correct; the shifting took away the scent of their lovemaking. But their smiles were plastered on their faces as they moved through the crowd to see Amilynn with a rifle on her shoulder pointing behind her back. She was using a compact mirror to help align the gun like some sort of modern day Annie Oakley. As the crowd held their breath, Amilynn pulled the trigger and fired the gun. The bullet went right to the bull's eye. And a cheer erupted through the crowd. Amilynn smiled and took a bow.

Vivian searched the crowd. If Ezekiel had really claimed her, he would be nearby, especially with Amilynn's young male fan club. Vivian spotted him in the middle of some teenagers, arms crossed, eyes locked on Ami. His lips were curved into a controlled smile. Or was he growling? Vivian's eyes went back to Amilynn. There was a blond haired, muscled up cutie with a killer smile leaning in close and she was in no way brushing him off. Vivian vaguely remembered him from the club.

"Not good," Vivian mumbled.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Reading her mind, Kasey looked at Amilynn flirting with Martin and then through the crowd. Amilynn and Martin had been dancing around each other since the first time she sat in his office. He was worried about Conall, but that didn't seem to be the problem. He kept his eyes moving around. Nathaniel and Thomas, who had taken an instant liking to Amilynn, were happily laughing with her. It wasn't them.

Then his eyes landed on Ezekiel.
Shit.

Z was about to blow a gasket right in the middle of everything. His arms were at his sides, hands balled up in fists. The deep breaths he was taking to calm himself moved his broad chest up and down. Kasey's young nephew was no longer a teenager, but a predatory male. One of his pals asked him a question and Z pushed him out of the way and moved toward the house.

Kasey looked over at Vivian. "What did I miss? Does this have to do with why you and Amilynn left earlier?"

Vivian nodded.
Amilynn told me that while they were playing ball today Ezekiel's wolf surfaced
, she said
.

Damn.

She wouldn't say much. Tried to make light of it. Clearly, he's not blowing it off so easily.

Kasey furrowed his brow, nodded, and then slipped off to the house. Ezekiel released a strong scent and undeniably not some twenty-year-old's version of lust. His wolf had sensed his mate and was not being coy about it. Poor kid, thought Kasey.

Ezekiel had gone down to the basement while Amilynn and Tyrone took turns at knife throwing. Z was beating the crap out of a punching bag. Kasey surveyed him for a moment.

Z was going through the kickboxing routine that all the dominant males go through in training. And damn, was he good at it. How had Kasey missed his nephew turning into this skilled fighter?

With a sigh, he realized exactly how. He still looked at Z as a kid, the easygoing, mischievous pup who played creative but haphazard tricks on his parents. But the wolf battering the hanging bag in the gym was an unmated male burning off animal frustration just as Kasey had been not a month earlier.

Ezekiel jumped and swung his leg around, kicking the bag with enough force to send it crashing into the wall, breaking off the steel chain that was bolted to the ceiling.

"Wow," Kasey said. Ezekiel turned to face him, his eyes burning. "That's some impressive stuff there, Z."

"I'm not really in the mood for company, Uncle Kasey. And I'm sorry about the bag. I'll fix it." He rubbed the back of his neck and shied away from his alpha. It only took a second for him to gain control again.

Kasey walked over and examined the damaged bag. "You know, nephew of mine, it's been a long time since I've knocked down a punching bag."

"You talk like you're so old Uncle Kasey. You're only like, what, thirty? Prime of your life, man." He unintentionally mirrored Kasey's stance: both men shoving their hands in their pockets and rocking back on their heels. "Why aren't you with your new lady?"

"Believe it or not, we aren't attached at the hip." Kasey grinned, his mind going to a few moments ago when they were most definitely attached at the hip.

"Vivian's hot, man. I bet you guys get attached all the time." Ezekiel laughed mischievously. This was the side of Z that Kasey knew well. It was the side of him that took out the punching bag that he worried about.

"I'm going to tell Bianca to wash your mouth out with soap," he jibed. "And yes, my mate is extremely damn hot. Every time I look at her, it blows me away." Kasey went to the mini-fridge and grabbed a couple bottles of water, tossing one to his nephew. "You got a girl like that? Some chick that makes your jeans tight?" Kasey wiggled his brows.

Z looked away for a moment. "You're no dummy, Uncle Kasey. Neither am I. You got something to say, spit it out. You got something to ask, just do it."

"Simply wondering why you are holed up in here, brooding, not out there socializing with all the pretty girls."

Z let out a huff. "Not completely on my game, that's all."

Kasey nodded, pursed his lips. "Would a certain female have anything to do with that?"

"Maybe." Z gave a one-shouldered shrug. "Not that she seems to give a shit."

Kasey smiled and narrowed his eyes at this younger version of himself. It was eerie. Had he found Vivian as this age, he would have been the same. "You really think you could take on a female that crazy?" He didn't have to say her name; they both knew exactly who this conversation was about.

"She's just another chick."

Laughing out loud, Kasey called his bluff. "Bullshit, and you know it, son." He clapped Ezekiel on the back as they walked towards the stairs to the main floor. "Just be careful Z. Amilynn, she's a wild one. And the wild ones tend to break your fucking heart."

"I just need to get laid, Kasey. It's not what you think. She's a cat, after all, and only you would have the insanity to go after a cat."

Kasey chuckled, letting the lie slide. "Do yourself a favor, find a distraction." Ezekiel nodded, understanding exactly what Kasey was implying.

"Now, I need to go find my mate. Can't risk anyone trying to steal her."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

As the sun set and the lights came on around the house, Vivian walked the grounds, taking it all in. This was everything she could ever want for her Pride. Melissa and Ty would have a safe atmosphere for a family. Amilynn and Conall would have more options for mates—maybe not Amilynn so much—but even that situation brought a smile to her face.

She glanced at all the people gathered under a tent lit with strings and strings of lights. They were dancing and having a good time, wolves, bears and cats all together. She sent up a prayer of thanks that nothing had gone terribly wrong so far. Conall was making friends. Amilynn had two teenage admirers who seemed to be entertaining her and Martin. Melissa had found kindred spirits in some of the ladies, and even Ty eventually joined in the conversation with Conall, Sampson and Kasey. Perhaps this was where they belonged.

"You have something troubling on your mind, Miss Blake." The man came from the shadows, wolfish eyes glowing in the dark. Vivian remembered him, one of the council members, the black wolf. Alias.

"Not hardly. I was just thinking how nice today has been, wouldn't you agree?"

"You know, Vivian. Is it okay that I call you Vivian? I was Kasey's father's advisor. I've watched this Pack grow and evolve over the decades. When Ian came to us and asked that we merge with his bear Clan, I have to admit I was not happy with the choice. See, I knew that Richard, Kasey's father, would have thought twice before intermixing the species. He believed in keeping shifter blood pure within each race. Kasey, though." He shook his head ruefully. "He's more liberal in his beliefs."

The way his eyes surveyed her body made her skin crawl. But Vivian would not let this old man who thought he had a taste power try to intimidate her. She had dealt with worse enemies in her life.

"Kasey is an incredible man and a great alpha."

"Oh, no question about it, Vivian." He leaned into her. "But even great alphas can make a mistake when blinded by such beauty." Alias looked down at Vivian's chest. "A female can make a man do things he would not usually do. And I have no doubt, after seeing your show personally, that your seductive ways can make a man do whatever you want."

"What are you insinuating, Alias? Because I don't think I like where this is going." Vivian stood her ground. The tiger considered this man a threat.

Alias trailed one finger down her cheek, a sickening smile on his face. "You are an undoubtedly attractive woman. I've seen the way you use your body on stage. And I've heard for a bit extra, I could see you use it much more intimately." His finger went down her neck and touched her shoulder before she let out a hiss in warning. He smiled. "You are nothing more than a seductress, Vivian. A woman seeking a rich, successful man such as our alpha to sleep with so that you and your degenerates will be taken in as the strays you are."

"You should watch your tongue, Alias. You're speaking lies against me and my family and your alpha." The cat was roaring so loud inside of her that her voice was more animal than human.

Alias just laughed, his green eyes glowing. "Oh, don't worry, siren, I won't say anything of my opinions. It will only take a short while for the new to wear off and Kasey will toss you aside like yesterday's news. You're a plaything, a toy. You're not the kind of woman men keep for too long. Once he uses your body up for his pleasures and realizes that you are not the mating type, he will wise up to your real intentions."

"How dare you!" Vivian tried to slap him, but he caught her wrist in a powerful grip.

Alias's expression turned hard as stone. "Our alpha deserves better than a cheap stripper, Vivian. If you actually cared for him, you would see this. Will you bear him children? Will you be the submissive mate he needs to lead? Will you be able to put the good of the Pack over the good of the Pride if a situation arises? Can you honestly say that the members of his family will one day mean just as much to you as the members of your own, that you would give your life for a bear or wolf? Because I think your answer to all of these questions is 'no'. And when you think about more than just the sexual aspect of your relationship with Kasey, you will move on because this is not a role you were cut out for. Just don't stick around for too long, Vivian. Your family will do a lot of damage before all this hype fizzles out."

Vivian stood paralyzed as Alias walked away with nothing more than a nod. His words had cut her deeper than any strike Trace had ever laid on her. Alias didn't attack her body or her strength, but her heart and soul. The air struggled to go in and out of her lungs like she might have a panic attack.

Kitty cat, what's wrong? Where are you?
 

Kasey's voice in her mind stopped her heart for a beat. He cared for her, right? Or was Alias correct? Were she and Kasey nothing more than bed buddies who were doomed to end one day? He had been right about one thing; she wasn't willing to give him children, especially anytime soon. She tried to envision loving anyone more than she loved Melissa. It was so hard to do. Her Pride had been the sole reason for living the last five years.

Then again, she never thought she could fall for Kasey so quickly or deeply. Had that merely been sexual needs clouding her mind? She and Kasey had come together in a time of confusion when she was not herself at all. Her mind was on one thing and Kasey had just been a tool to ease her suffering.

"Stop this!" Kasey was in front of her in a blink, his hands on her face, his lips pressed to hers. "Never,
ever
do I want to hear you think things like that again. Do you understand me, Vivian?" His gaze pierced her hazel eyes, his voice rocky. "Vivian?"

"He's right, Kasey." Vivian kept her tone calm, void of all emotion. "I'm a stripper and you deserve better."

"He who? Who told you that Vivian?" he commanded, furiously gripping her shoulders.
 

"It doesn't matter. I told you this would bite us in the ass."

"It
does
matter. You are my mate and God help the sonofabitch who would speak to you like that." He pulled her against the security of his chest. "I will not allow someone to put these thoughts in your head and not suffer the consequences." He could tell Vivian had withdrawn and it made him fume that someone in his Pack was already trying to put a wedge between them.
 

Kasey would not allow it. Closing his eyes, he peered into Vivian's mind and saw the eyes of the man who had come to her, touched her, and verbally beaten her. The wolf came to the surface with protective rage that he could barely control.

"Kasey, stop!" Vivian cried out and pushed him away. He looked at her as she grabbed her sides. "You hurt me." She looked at him with disbelief in her eyes. His anger had shocked her.

His claws had come out and dug into her back, leaving puncture wounds that seeped blood onto her shirt. He rushed to her, hating the beast within him that would war so quickly as to harm his mate. "Oh baby, I'm sorry. Oh God! Forgive me, Vivian, I'm sorry, so sorry." He ushered her inside to their room and closed the blinds. She removed the shirt, unable to look at him, not sure if it was pain or shame keeping her eyes averted. Kasey brought a wet cloth from the bathroom and dropped to his knees to clean her. He cursed himself. "Please, say something."