Found: True Mates Book 0.5 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) (5 page)

“Hmmm,” she replied, snuggling closer.

“We need to talk…”

“Why? We’re mates — true mates. Marcus is dead…”

“Because—” A noise from the doorway cut me short. Grabbing Claire, I leapt to my feet, moving her safely behind me. “Who’s there?” I shouted, readying myself to another fight.

A young boy appeared in the opening, barely sixteen years old, if I had to guess. His eyes were round, like saucers, his skin nearly as pale as the surrounding snow. He was naked. Suspicious, I sniffed the air. Coyote.

I started forward, but Claire thrust out an arm.

“Adam, he’s scared stiff. Look at him,” she murmured.

He
was
shaking, though that could be from the cold.

“Who are you?” I barked out.

“Jason…sir.” He looked like he was about to pee his pants, if he’d had any on.

I gestured impatiently for him to continue.

“I—I was with them. He,” he glanced at the motionless body on the floor, visibly blanching, “was my Alpha…”

“He isn’t anymore—”

Claire nudged me. “Adam, not all the coyotes were bad. They had to follow orders, or Marcus…” Claire trailed off.

I took a deep breath, I could do without this, he wasn’t even my pack — but the boy looked lost, abandoned in the snow.

“Son, this is when you decide whether you want to become a good man, or a bad man,” I explained, pointing at Marcus with disgust. “You don’t answer to him anymore. The choice is yours. Drugs,” the boy flinched, “are bad news — they screw with your mind, and your body. Make you do all sorts of things you’ll regret, when you’re not high.”

“I know…he…we just didn’t have a choice!”

“Well, you do now. Go back to your pack, tell them that Marcus is dead. That they all have a choice. Fight for your pack, son. If you don’t…well, you’ll regret it. Now, get these bodies out of my house. You can bury them in the woods.”

Nodding, Jason darted across the room, heaving his packmate and Alpha onto his shoulders, before returning to the doorway. Turning to leave, he looked back over his shoulder. “And who do I say killed him? When they ask?” Jason asked, the shaking gone, purpose squaring his spine.

Shit. Here goes nothing.

“Adam Colstone, Alpha of the Colstone Pack.” Hearing Claire’s gasp, I winced inwardly.
Not
the way I had planned to break it to her. Though…maybe this was like a band-aid?

“Got it,” Jason said, nodding first to me, then Claire, his posture respectful.

“And, son…if those drugs cross into my land…I will hunt those responsible down. Do you understand me?”

Fear flashed across the young man’s face, before he turned and hightailed it back into the forest, carrying his load. He got it alright.

“You’re the
Alpha
of the Colstone Pack? The biggest wolf pack around here? Now, just when were you going to mention that little fact?” she asked, her tone incredulous.

***

Claire

I recalled asking if his pack would take us in, whether his alpha would protect us…and all this time!

“You asshole!” I cried, shoving him in the back.

He turned, holding up his arms to ward off any further blows.

“Claire, I—”

I didn’t know if I wanted to hit him again, or jump him. Those delicious abs that I had been admiring earlier, sculpted a path down his stomach, jutting into a ‘v’ shape, that drew the eye directly to…the most perfect example of a man I had ever seen. His cock lay, thick and heavy on his thigh, twitching and growing before my eyes, until it jutted proudly, pointing straight at me. I don’t think I blinked for at least a couple of minutes as my gaze stayed locked, feasting…

“You should have told me…” I mumbled, trying to remember why I was mad at him. Yes, right — Alpha. I dragged my eyes away…“We’re mates, and you kept
this
from me? When exactly were you going to tell me? When we got to
your
packhouse—”

“I tried to tell you—”

“Not hard enough! And, not early enough. It should have gone something like this… ‘Hi, Claire. Pleased to meet you. I’m Adam — and I’m a
goddamn
Alpha!’” My voice raised to a shriek, sounding slightly hysterical, even to my ears.

“You don’t like Alphas—”

“I like you!”

“You still do?” Hope filled his face, as he took a cautious step toward me.

“Of course I do. You’re not an asshole. Well, you are — a bit, ‘cause you didn’t tell me. But not
that
type of asshole…” I muttered, watching him stalk stealthily toward me, like I was his prey. But, I’m
not
prey — not anymore.

No, we’re not
, my wolf growled her agreement.
But…we could be his prey…please
, she whined, drooling inside my head.

My hormones agreed.

Meeting him halfway, I placed a hand on his chest, smoothing my fingers over the ridges of muscle. “I will not submit…” I stated, cocking my head in question. Would he agree? Would his alpha-ness let him?

He grabbed my hand, pressing it against his heart. I could feel the rhythmic thump inside his chest, beating in time with mine.

“But
I
will. Claire, you would always be my equal —both inside…and outside of the bedroom,” he said, grinning wolfishly, “I would be your slave, if you’d have me. I would do anything for you. I just want to make you happy. I
love
you, let me love you…” he asked, endearingly earnest.

My eyebrows flew up to meet my bangs. This big, strong Alpha was giving me the choice. Not making it for me. I nearly didn’t know what to do, I was gobsmacked.

“Yes,” the words flew out of my mouth, straight from my heart, bypassing any thought process, “I’ll let you love me. And, if you’re very lucky…I’ll love you back.” My mouth curved up in a grin and I threw him a saucy wink, not worrying about consequences for once. I was not afraid. I would never be afraid again — not with Adam by my side.

I nearly had everything I had ever wanted. “Now, I think the next part involves a hunt…?”

“The mating hunt,” he returned my grin, his voice low and husky. “I thought you’d never ask.” His eyes glittered with excitement as he looked around the small room, fake concern on his face. “It’ll be a short hunt, I think…” Quick as a flash, his arms shot out.

With a squeal, I dodged capture, adrenaline and lust flooding me. “I’ll
try
and make it interesting for you…” I murmured, dodging another sweep of his long arms.

CHAPTER SIX

Claire

I jumped over a fallen couch, its frame sagging in a broken shamble on the floor. A low growl filled the cabin as Adam stalked toward the obstacle, his body rigid with lust, the pheromones wrapping around me in thick waves, heating my blood to boiling. It was like wading through molasses, I knew I had to run, but every cell in my body screamed for him, wanting him near, to caress…and lick…and bite.

I shivered, my nipples hardening with desire, my pussy growing damp and welcoming. I wanted to wrap myself around the thick, hard length of him, rubbing until the ache in my belly erupted…

“Tired of the games already, sweetheart?”

“Never,” I quipped back, gripping the side of the couch, waiting for him to pounce.

He moved to the right, I stepped to the left — too late to realize he had doubled back, and he had his arms wrapped around me, lifting me up, his long strides eating up the room.

Yeah, I had wanted to be caught, I admitted to myself, rubbing my breasts against his chest, marking him with my scent.

Mine
…

I opened my mouth to echo my wolf, only to be silenced by his firm lips capturing mine, aggressively possessing and worshiping, all at the same time.

My tongue darted out, tangling with his, tasting him. Sweet Mother, I wanted
more
— I growled my demand into his mouth, my nails digging into his back, urging him closer.

Shoving open a door, he strode across a room, toward the largest bed I had ever seen, the white linen all fluffy and inviting.

“Mother of All, you’re killing me, Claire,” he groaned against my mouth, lowering me to the bed. “Need to go slow…”

“No! Don’t you fucking dare…I want you — here…” I grabbed his hand, pulling it down my stomach until his fingers tangled in my moist curls.

“Fuck, you’re all wet and…” He rubbed his thumb in slow circles, grazing my clit — sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me.

“Enough talk, more action,” I panted, thrusting my hips towards him, and pulling his lips back down to mine. I threaded my free hand down, tracing the dips and ridges of his stomach, until I reached my prize, grasping firmly and drawing a strangled groan.

Pumping slowly, I smoothed the silky skin over the core of steel, my thumb brushing the tip, collecting the sticky evidence of his arousal.

His spine arched, his fingers probing between my lips, tentative at first, then thrusting deep inside me, stroking in and out.

“Yes,” I hissed, my thighs trembling, as a void deep inside of me started to fill, expanding and swirling, every nerve ending focused on the pressure building inside of me.

He pulled his fingers out, lifting them to his mouth. With intense deliberation, he slowly licked them clean. One…by…one. “You taste like Heaven…” he growled, “and I want a proper taste.” He started to lower himself down my body, kissing and licking every piece of skin his lips passed.

He paused in his journey, his head cushioned between my breasts, his fingers rubbing and rolling my peaked nipples. “Now these,” he gave one a gentle pull, “are truly a sight to behold.” This time
my
spine arched, leaving the bed, as he pulled on the distended buds.

“Adam…please…” I gasped, my thoughts blurring as he pushed me higher, my legs scissoring, wanting something to grip, to hold on to.

“I think I could make you come…just from doing…
this
,” he growled, blowing gently across one rosy tip, before gently sucking it into his mouth, and flicking it with his tongue.

A mangled moan left my lips, as I lost the ability to speak, my breath ragged.

He let go with an audible pop. “Maybe another day, sweetheart. If I don’t taste you soon, I think I’ll go crazy,” he mumbled, already moving down, then down, until he gripped my thighs, spreading and holding them wide.

There was no gentle exploration, no, he didn’t hold back, his tongue attacking my pussy, driving deep at first, then flicking back and forth, circling and teasing. His thumb resumed its position, rubbing between my lips, spreading my moisture around my clit, teasing me…tormenting me…

I thrashed, helplessly pulled under by the pressure, building…

He lifted his head, his lips glistening and spread in a wide grin. “Like I said…Heaven. I’ll make you come like that later too, but this time — I need to mate you, claim you. And for that — I
need
to be inside you…”

Incapable of words by this point, I pulled him up my body, wrapping my legs around his hips, pleading with my eyes that he take me, love me.

Understanding my unvoiced plea, he thrust deep inside in one smooth movement, filling me, completing me.

And I welcomed him, accepting his long, thick length into my body, squeezing him tight, wanting to never let him go—

Then he started to move. His hips swiveling back and forth, his hands cupping my face with a tenderness, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I love you, Claire. My sweetheart. And I always will. When we’re old and gray, playing with our grandbabies — I will still love you,” he whispered on a groan, his hips continuing their sweet assault, driving me even higher, our skin glistening with sweat, rubbing and sliding. “I take you, Claire Kendal, to be my true mate. I will run with you, live with you and love you — only you. I swear by the Mother of All!”

The answering vow flew from my lips, as automatic as breathing. “And, I take you, Adam Colstone, to be my true mate. I will run with you, live with you, and love only you. I swear by the Mother of All.”

With a roar, he lent down, his teeth finding the soft spot above my collar bone, sinking deep and puncturing the flesh.

Twisting my head, I searched for the right spot, and finding it, bit down, the salty taste of blood seeping into my mouth.

The floodgates burst open and the mating bond clicked into place — all of his emotions, feelings, filling me, our souls connecting, our hearts joining.

And then he thrust…once more…then again, and the pressure building inside of me reached maximum, bursting, like a tidal-wave crashing through me, drowning me in a pleasure so intense, I struggled to hang on.

With a hoarse yell, he spasmed on top of me, locking himself tight inside of me, his body shaking as he pulsed, coming deep inside me.

I looked up into his craggy face, a sight so dear I felt my heart skip a beat.