Wolf's Captive (9 page)

Sidney wondered the village for the rest of that day. Many of the Pack members came up to congratulate her on her recent mating with Josh and hale her as their new she-Alpha. However, all of them gave her a suspicious look and Sidney was beginning to worry.

It was Tricia, though, who made her realize what the look was for. Tricia had also met her in the village on her way to Josh’s home and looked at the marking on her neck, then had congratulated her for mating with Josh finally. She then got the same look on her face that Sidney had seen on everyone’s face in the village.

“Where is Josh?” Tricia asked.

“I don’t know,” Sidney blushed. “We got into a fight and he walked away.”

Tricia went from suspicious to understanding as a small comforting smile spread across her face, “Emotions are really high after a couple mates. Sometimes it’s too much to take in all at once.”

“I don’t think that’s what it was,” Sidney looked away from Tricia, biting her lip.

She darted back into Sidney’s view, “Then what happened?”

Tears welled into Sidney’s eyes and before she knew it, she was in Tricia’s arms as the woman cooed and comforted her.

“Come on,” Tricia said, pulling her along. “Let’s get you home so you can have a nice shower and clean clothes. You can tell me about what happened then.”

Sidney followed her back to the house and listened when she turned on the shower and told her to get cleaned up. As the hot spray hit her skin sobs racked her body and she felt like crumpling to the shower floor, but she held herself against the tiled wall.

In seconds, Tricia was there washing her hair for her and helping her get rinsed and dried off. Tricia treated her like her mother used to when she was little. It made Sidney cry more because she had lost her mother when she was a teenager, to cancer.

She remembered how her father had remarried—twice, after her mother died, but he never looked happy again. Their relationship disappeared, and now she was lucky to get a Christmas card from him and his new wife.

Tricia handed her the clothes she had set out on the bed for her and helped her dress, then had her sit on the bed while she brushed her hair.

“You have such beautiful hair, Sidney,” Tricia pronounced, brushing out another knot.

“It’s plain and dull,” Sidney replied, then felt guilt for lessening Tricia’s compliment. “But, thank you.”

“Nonsense,” Tricia huffed. “It’s beautiful and I think you should leave it down today.”

She put it over Sidney’s shoulders and then guided Sidney to a mirror to look at it.

“See?” Tricia said, still playing with the strands. “It’s beautiful, thick, and long.”

Sidney noticed how Tricia placed it to cover up the large bite mark that Josh had left and felt appreciation for her friend’s efforts. She smiled at Tricia in the mirror, and grabbed her fiddling hand to squeeze it.

“Thank you, Tricia,” Sidney said. “You’re a great friend.”

Tricia gave a watery smile and squeezed back. “Come on, you need to tell me what happened now.”

Sidney thought about how to word it for a moment, but the only word that came to her mind was foolish.

“Am I a fool?” she asked.

Tricia gave her a confused look in the mirror, “It depends on what happened.”

“Yesterday, I allowed Josh to claim me, and I think I remember drinking his blood. Is that some sort of bonding?” Sidney began with a question.

“Yes,” Tricia said. “Now you will live as long as Josh does, be stronger, and be able to know each other’s thoughts and feelings.”

“Is there a way to get him not to know my thoughts?” Sidney asked, biting her lip.

Tricia chuckled, “Men can become a bit intrusive with that. But yes, there is a way. All you have to do is picture a wall between his mind and yours, and you should be able to block him from reading your thoughts.”

Sidney closed her eyes and imagined the wall and sure enough, she felt, more than knew, that Josh was blocked from reading her.

She smiled at Tricia, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Tricia answered. “But I doubt that’s why Josh left you to wonder around the streets of the village aimlessly right after you guys mated.”

“It’s not,” Sidney said, and left the bathroom to sit on the bed with her head in her hands.

She felt Tricia’s hand touch her shoulder, “Talk to me. I want to help.”

Sidney looked at Tricia, “I love him.”

“That’s a good thing,” Tricia beamed. However, she frowned in confusion a second later. “So why are you so sad about it.”

“I’m afraid,” Sidney admitted. “Before I was brought here, I was with a man for a number of years. The only man I had ever been in a relationship with. I thought I would marry him, but I found him with his secretary recently.”

“Josh will never be unfaithful, Sidney,” Tricia said, placing her warm hand on top of Sidney’s. “Once we mate, we never wish for another. Besides, he has been waiting for you for so long, he would never do anything to mess it up.”

Sidney heard the sincerity in her words but something held her back still.

“The last time we fought, he said I was not as good as a real shifter. That shifters were better than humans were. I don’t think I was really what he wanted,” Sidney argued.

Tricia gasped, “What? Why would Josh say such a thing?”

Sidney blushed, “Well….he had accused me of not putting my clothes away because I thought you were my maid. I told him at least I don’t require any special services from you.”

Tricia laughed, surprising Sidney, “That a girl. Don’t let him talk to you like that.”

“But I insulted you,” Sidney said, apologetically.

“Oh, I’m not offended,” Tricia said. “I know you were just getting him back for being an ass. We both know you were too tired and disoriented to know you should have put the clothes away. He just wanted a reason to bitch.”

Sidney laughed, even though she still cried, and hugged the woman who had become her best friend, “I love you like a sister, Tricia. I would never want to offend you in any way.”

Tricia hugged her back, “I know, and I love you, too.”

They pulled away from each other giggling, and then Tricia became serious again, “I’m still lost.”

Sidney swallowed, “Well. I told him about Brian and then I pointed out he also made me afraid because he told me I was lesser than everyone else because I was human. I didn’t want to be his slave until he tired of me and killed me.”

“Oh wow,” Tricia said, sympathy coloring her tone. “I see how that could have hurt a bit.”

“I know I hurt him,” Sidney replied. “But I’m so afraid to tell him how I feel because I’m afraid he will use it against me.”

“Josh would never do that,” Tricia said, sounding offended for him. “He’s a good man underneath all the grumpiness and he loves you.”

“How do you know?” Sidney countered, wondering if Josh had confided in her.

“I can see it in the way he looks at you. You are the center of his world and all he sees when you’re around,” Tricia said, wistfully.

“Did you ever want to be Josh’s mate?” Sidney asked, feeling almost jealous for their past together.

“Goodness no,” Tricia said, immediately. “I always knew I was Richard’s mate. He was the stubborn one, who thought I was too young and foolish for him. Josh and I have always just been friends. Sure we fooled around when we were teenagers, but we were always just friends.”

Sidney felt guilty for her jealousy, and looked away from Tricia, causing the woman to laugh.

“You were jealous,” Tricia announced, laughing.

“A little,” Sidney admitted, her face burning.

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Tricia giggled. “It shows you care for the fool.”

Tricia stood and grabbed Sidney’s socks and shoes, “Put these on. We’re going to go out for a while. I have a feeling I know where Josh wondered off to, and you two need to reconcile your differences, so you can live happily ever after.”

*****

Josh stood on the edge of the stream, staring into its rippling waters as if it would give him the answers he sought.

He loved Sidney so much, but he couldn’t find a way to convince her of it. Even when he let her into his head, she still pushed him away.

Rustling in a bush on the other side of the stream drew his attention, and he positioned himself for a fight until he smelled the sweet vanilla scent of his mate wafting to him on the breeze.

His body was still rigid when she emerged, alone, but it was more localized than it had been before. Mainly on lower parts of his anatomy.

He couldn’t help his sudden arousal when seeing his mate with her hair down, biting her beautiful plump lip. She was everything he had ever wanted in a mate and both—his heart and body ached for her.

Still, he tried to act indifferent, even though the evidence of his arousal stood proudly between them.

“What do you want, Sidney?” he said more harshly than he meant to.

Hurt passed over her face, but she quickly looked down at the ground hiding her expression.

“I-I’ve come to say I’m sorry for hurting you earlier,” she whispered, so low a human wouldn’t have heard it, but he did. “I was afraid and stupid for the way I acted.”

He growled, hating it when she demeaned herself in anyway. She looked at him in surprise, and then fear. It made him even angrier.

In seconds, he was across the stream and holding her chin to push her head up to look at him.

“Don’t you ever call yourself names again,” he commanded.

She backed away, but he wouldn’t allow her to get far. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him.

“I don’t like the fear I see in your eyes, Sidney,” Josh growled. “It pisses me off to think you would ever fear me.”

“Well then stop growling at me,” she sassed, before biting her lip as if she realized her back talk too late.

With that, all tension left him and he wanted to laugh at her mouthiness. But a different idea came to mind, instead.

“I don’t like how that mouth of yours back talks me,” he said, rubbing his finger against her bottom lip to pull it out from her teeth. “I think there should be a better use for it than talking.”

He saw the spark of desire flash in her eyes as she licked her lips with her little pink tongue, and he groaned.

“On your knees, Sidney,” he commanded, his balls aching so bad to come down her throat, he didn’t know how much control he had. “I want to see that mouth wrapped around my cock, while I fuck it.”

At first, he didn’t think she would listen to him, but then she slowly lowered herself until she sat against her heels. He grabbed her long, silky hair, noting the softness running through his fingers and tugged it until she rested straight on her knees. Then he took his cock in his other hand and rubbed it against her lips, smearing his pre-cum on them.

“Open your mouth, my love,” his voice had gotten huskier as he tried to hold his authority.

She licked the pre-cum off her lips and looked into his eyes from where she knelt before opening her mouth into a large O.

He was almost paralyzed by her eyes, falling into their depths, until her tongue snuck out and licked the mushroomed head of his shaft.

He groaned and fed his cock to her, making sure to go slowly this time, not wanting to lose control and hurt her.

His balls grew taut even as he was just slowly feeding his cock to her, the image she made making him want to spill right there. He gritted his teeth as he hit the back of her throat then used her hair to tilt her head so he could feed her more. He would not cum in her mouth like a teenage boy getting his first blowjob.

His cock was still too long to go all the way in her mouth, so he made her wrap her fingers around the rest.

“Wrap your fingers around my base,” he croaked out, his throat clogged with emotion and arousal. “Suck and lick my cock, while I fuck your mouth.”

He knew she knew what she was doing. She had given him a blowjob before. But telling her what to do helped him concentrate enough not to spill so soon.

As soon as her lips closed around his cock and she began to suck—he knew he was lost.

He tried to thrust slowly at first, but she closed her eyes and moaned around his shaft as if it were the most delicious thing she had ever tasted, sending hot currents of electrifying pleasure throughout his body, and he couldn’t stop picking up speed.

In moments, he was almost pounding into her mouth as he would her pussy, and she continued to keep up the sucking and licking, driving him completely out of control.

He felt his balls grow tight, and his orgasm shoot up his spine before his cum shot of out his cock, down her eager throat. He yelled out her name as pure ecstasy raced through him and took his breath away. She moaned and slurped up every drop, making him come and shutter even longer.

He was afraid he would lose strength in his knees and fall onto his beautiful mate, so he pulled her hair, pulling her away from his body quickly as he tried to balance himself on his shaky legs.

He saw the hurt expression on her face and cupped her chin as he let his knees give out and fell onto them in front of her.

“Sidney, you are so beautiful,” he stated, still winded by the power of his orgasm. “I love you.”

Her face softened and he saw her adoration in her eyes.

“Josh, I-“ before she could finish professing her love, a white flash appeared in front of Josh’s eyes, taking Sidney with it.

Josh looked to see a white wolf, standing on top of his mate, growling menacingly, and knew instantly—it was Alana.

Before he could change and lunge for Alana, Josh was knocked over as well, by a large, barreling force. After moments of fighting and struggling for freedom against the large gray paws holding him down, he shifted to his wolf form and bit at Russell, landing in his shoulder, causing him to yelp and fall off him.

Once he was up, he looked to where Alana had attacked his mate, to see Sidney had wiggled out from underneath her, and was now swinging a large branch at the wolf’s head. She got a direct hit and Alana went down for just a moment, before squirming to her feet and lunging for Sidney.

Josh lunged for Alana at the same time, but was held back by Russ, who pulled at his tail with his mouth, yanking him back until he pinned him with his mouth against his shoulders. Josh wouldn’t let Russ dominate him though. He whipped his head back, knocking the other wolf in the skull with a loud
thunk
, then whipped around to grab him by the throat.

'
What are you doing, Russ?
'
Josh spoke through his link to his old Beta.
'
Why are you helping her kill my mate?
'

'
Your mate is human
,' Russ sneered. '
She doesn’t deserve to be she-Alpha
.'

'
Why?
Because your mother was human and left you to your abusive father?
' Josh responded, knowing he had hit home when Russ growled.
'
You know your mother wasn’t your father’s true mate. He kidnapped her and raped her
,
impregnating her.
'

'
She could have taken me with her
,' Russ yelled in his head.

'
To where?
The grave?
'
Josh asked, seeing Russ step back and cock his head in confusion. '
My father was sick, so he never told you and forbid me to, as well. Your father killed your mother after you were born. He almost killed you
,
too, but my father told him he would banished from the
Pack
if he did.
'

Russ looked as if he didn’t believe him, and Josh knew he would probably have to kill his old friend in order to save his mate. Josh turned to Sidney, to see her still fighting more than any human he had ever seen. She had given a few good blows to Alana, judging by the wounds on Alana’s shoulder and muzzle, but she also had scratches and teeth marks all over her arms and legs.

'
Why didn’t you tell me?
'
Russ accused from behind. '
You were my best friend.
'

Josh turned to look at him, '
I told you, my father wouldn’t allow it, and I didn’t want you to hurt anymore than you already were.
'

'
I hated my mother because I thought she left me
,' Russ yelled.

Josh saw the pain in his friend’s wolf eyes, and felt his heart break for him.

'
I’m sorry, Russ, I thought I was doing what was right
,' Josh responded
.
'
I made a mistake.
'

'
Damn
straight
,
you did
,' Russ growled right before he lunged for Josh again, and they began fighting with their teeth and claws.

A blood-curdling scream froze them both, and they looked to see Alana had taken down Sidney with her teeth lodged in her shoulder.

Josh went to lunge for Alana, but was beat by Russ, who jumped on Alana and knocked her off Sidney.

Alana fought against Russ.

'
What are you doing, you idiot?
'Alana screamed in both their heads.

'
I can’t let you do this, Alana
,' Russ responded.

'
You’re useless,
'
she snarled. '
Get off me before I kill you
,
too.
'

She bit into Russ’s muzzle, and flipped until she faced him as she was still underneath him.

'
I knew about your mom
,
too,
'
Alana said. '
Why do you think I never fucked you? You’re a disgusting human mutt, and I can’t stand you. As soon as I’m she-Alpha
,
you will be executed for being an abomination.
'

She scratched at his eyes, but it was her revelation that caught Russ off guard. She was able to push him off and grab Sidney again before Josh knew what was coming, biting into her throat, intent on ripping it out.

Josh screamed, “Noo,” and lunged for her, but Russ beat him again, biting her stomach, causing her to release and yelp, before he flipped her on her back and ripped her throat out.

Josh changed back to his human form as he went to Sidney, gently grabbing her up into his arms.

“It’s over, baby,” Josh whispered. “You’ll be okay.”

Sidney smiled, weakly up at him, as blood poured from her throat. She was so pale and fragile, Josh feared holding her, but wouldn’t let go.

“Please don’t leave me, baby,” he begged, even though he knew it wasn’t up to her. “I just found you.”

He felt the wetness running down his cheeks from his eyes but refused to wipe the tears away.

She looked at him adoringly, and whispered, “I love you, Josh.”

Her declaration had him crying harder, wanting to howl at the gods for taking her from him.

“I love you too, baby,” he responded, through a lump in his throat.

A shirt was flung around her throat in seconds, startling them both as Russ wrapped it around the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

“We need to get her to the healer,” Russ stated.

“I don’t think she’ll make it,” Josh answered, fearing the worst.

“Give her some of your blood,” Russ commanded, making Josh look at him in confusion. “If you give her some of your blood, it will start the healing process faster and we will be able to get her back so the healer can do the rest.”

Josh didn’t question how Russ knew this, he just let his incisors grow until he could bite into his wrist and let his blood pour down her throat.

She choked and coughed, and the blood continued to pour out of her neck. Josh closed his eyes against the pain of watching his mate die in his arms, and continued to feed her his blood.

After minutes of feeling her fragile body shake as she tried to breathe, he felt her grow still and her breathing stop completely. He opened his eyes to see her eyes were closed and she was dead.

He howled into the sky, crying out his pain as his heart broke into a million pieces. In that moment he only wished for death, so he could follow his mate into the afterlife.

He hugged her head to his body, and cried into her flowery smelling hair, kissing her head over and over.

“You’re squeezing my head too tight,” he heard her scratchy voice whine, and pulled away in shock.

Her eyes were open, but she still looked as pale as death. He looked to the wound on her throat where her blood once poured, to see it had clotted off and the teeth marks had become nothing but minor scratches.

She gave him a weak smile, trying to lift her arm to touch his face. He grabbed her hand as soon as it rubbed against his cheek, holding her too him.

“You’re alive,” he whispered, in wonderment.

She just nodded, smiling at him as tears streamed down her face, and he couldn’t help but crash his lips against hers, kissing her with all of his strength.

Large hands grabbed her, trying to pull her out of Josh’s arms and he growled, pulling her out of reach.

“You do not touch her,” he snarled at Russ. “You have betrayed your Pack and do not deserve to touch my mate.”

Russ’s body went limp as he stood there, the look of remorse clear on his face. However, Josh didn’t care. Russ had not only betrayed the Pack, he had betrayed their friendship, which was as close to a brotherhood as it could get.

Sidney touched Josh’s face, bringing his attention back to her.

“Josh, it’s okay, he saved me,” she whispered, but Josh didn’t care about Russ’s sudden change in heart.

“No, he’s right,” Russ said, causing both of them to look at him. “I betrayed everyone going with Alana. I don’t deserve forgiveness.”