A Guardians Passion (15 page)

Girl, didn’t you learn anything?

It was too much for her to dwell on her failures, even if she had wanted to. Gasping, her moans piercing the air as Fenris slammed down and Rayne thrust up. Freya had no control over her next orgasm or the following two.

When they came, whether they came, she did not know, but Freya was drunk off sensation crashing over her as steady as the tide. The loss of both cocks left her racked with exhaustion and shuddering, not from cold but from nerves still flickering like short-circuited switches. Fenris covered her with his bearlike warmth, legs and arms pulling her just slightly beneath him.

She caught a glimpse of Rayne staring at her, his tongue worrying a distended fang, and knew what he was hungry for. And while she thought to reach out for her beta, Fenris gave a curt bark of a sound to Rayne. He then gestured to Ezra.

Rayne bowed his head submissively to Fenris, but when he turned to the omega, his chin was high and brow furrowed.

“Here, cur.” Rayne’s command was pure iron, firm and heavy.

Ezra came into Rayne’s chest, bowing his head to shower Rayne’s torso, then his hip with dozens of kisses. The heavy, dark length between his thighs looked eager as it jutted upward, but his attention was solely for Rayne.

Freya watched Rayne grasp Ezra by the hair as Freya had done so often to Rayne. He pulled the omega from him before clasping a taut hip and demanding Ezra turn.

The wicked smile that creased Ezra’s lips as he was put into position upon his hands and knees was nothing that he could disguise. White fangs showed in the darkness as Rayne moved atop his upturned ass and plunged within him with the animalistic needs of a wolf.

Freya was grateful to the young male, who took the energy and the hunger that Rayne would have used to decimate her. Fenris seemed to be calmed just by holding her near, which in itself was a boon.

As exhaustion fell hard upon her, Freya could hear Ezra’s yelps and mewls as Rayne took him hard and fast, but only for a little while. Soon the surf of her blood was the loudest sound in her head as she drifted off to some semblance of peace.

* * * *

Clutching the schedule of events in her hand, Freya was relieved that the Sohons offered brunch as well as breakfast. She could have ordered food in the room, but remaining there would have left her with the temptation of the bed. She had no idea how she ended up in bed or when, but she did know that she had missed three panels already: Teething Issues and When to Expect Them, The Importance of Playtime, and that morning’s session of mommy yoga. She had enough time to grab a bite and made her way into the dining hall. Once there, she wasn’t surprised to see that although the room was nearly empty of patrons, there were still plenty of food and omegas willing to serve it.

Ezra was nowhere in sight, but Freya suspected he had a good excuse as she took a plate heavy with banana-nut pancakes, steak strips, fried eggs, and mixed fruit to a table. While she might have the heightened metabolism of the supernatural, the combination of her lovers’ ardor and her child’s restlessness had tapped her reserves. As many times as she had gone up against beasts, kidnappers, and bounties, she had never expected the toll pregnancy
and
ravenous lovers would take.
Damn, but I had wanted to sleep the day away.

Wondering exactly where her males were, Freya only knew that they weren’t far as she dug into her breakfast. Still, she was sure that for the rest of the retreat, she would have her peace. That one or all of them had returned her to her room spoke volumes enough.

The thought of a beverage didn’t occur to her until halfway through her stack of pancakes, she had been so busy thinking about Fen and Rayne.

She was about to get up, had even scooted back from the table, when a familiar sight padded over to the table with carafe of orange juice and large wineglass.

Ezra set the glass down on the table and poured her drink with a shaking hand. His eyelids hung low, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

She wasn’t the only one looking under the weather, it seemed. Ezra had his braids pulled back and was dressed in dark red cargo pants. He set down the decanter and went down to his knees at her chair side.
Well trained indeed
. Freya took a sip of her juice before considering her new friend. “I hope my males weren’t too rough with you. But I did suggest that they were a handful, didn’t I?”

“You did, alpha.”

“So what happened after they dropped me off in bed? Did they tell you anything? Like where they were staying, because I know that they aren’t far.”

“They wanted me to tell you that they would be at the Blue Iguana down the block, only after Helena suggested it. She saw them when they brought you in. She said that a lot of alpha males were there already.”

She sighed, imagining a gang of riled males stewing over the perceived actions of their mates, but the thought that at least she wasn’t alone in her predicament was a comfort. “She wasn’t too pissed by the interruption, eh?”

“No. It has happened before. Worse cases even.”

Freya exhaled in relief and took a long sip of her juice. “So. You’re looking a little worn still?”

Ezra worried his lip. “I haven’t slept,” he admitted.

“Why not?”

“Vetting.”

Hells yeah, Freya thought. She could just picture the omega shaking beneath Fenris’s and Rayne’s inquiries…possibly under more. “And did you pass?”

Ezra looked up to her with a tired smile. “I did. I assured them that the Sohons did extensive background checks, but they wanted to make sure. I think…I think Rayne gave me a truth serum.”

She didn’t doubt it, feeling more than just a little pity as she finished off the last of her pancakes.

“Oh. I almost forgot.” Ezra cocked his head and peered up. “Helena has invited you to a private tea. Tonight at six.”

Freya tensed at the notion. While she had developed a respect for the Sohon matron, the idea of being alone in a room with the woman wasn’t the most appealing. Between her own short temper and Helena’s razor-sharp tongue, the opportunity for disaster loomed. “What?”

“Tea.”

“Oh, I heard what you said. Shit.” Freya shook her head before starting in on her sausages. Surely Helena was going to rip into her, or worse, try for a more in-depth lesson in controlling her mates.

“You don’t sound all that enthusiastic.”

Freya finished chewing before responding, “No, really. I’m fine. I’ve dealt with much more bougie bitches than her.”
Not.

“Helena is quite nice actually.”

Freya cast a baleful look down at Ezra.
Everyone seems nice to an omega
. “She’s a good alpha.”

“And so are you.”

Freya finished off the last of her food, ignoring the praise. When she looked back down, brown eyes that looked like expensive chocolates, decadent and way too inviting, were staring back at her. She chuckled to herself as memories of Ezra’s gasps and squeals came back to her. “They fucked you good, didn’t they?”

Color blossomed under dark flesh as Ezra lowered thick coal-dark lashes. The answer surely leaned to the affirmative. Ezra seemed invigorated even by the recollection, shifting his hips over his bent legs.

Freya returned to her plate for the last remaining morsels before finishing her juice. The idea of having an omega around at the lodge was becoming sweeter by the second. The things she could get done while Ezra dealt with her mates’ extra energy! Fenris had commanded the omega into service the night before. That had to mean something good, possibly that Fenris would be okay with an addition. Maybe she could discuss that with Helena? Perhaps she could change the topic of whatever rant the matron planned on tossing her way in place of a negotiation.

“Allow me to get that.” Ezra had sprung up and was reaching for her empty plate. “Would you like me to get you more of the same? The breakfast enchiladas are nice too. They have steak and shrimp, cheese and egg, little diced onions.” His eagerness was more evident than normal.

“Did they tell you to make sure that I was well fed?” Freya drawled suspiciously.

“Yes,” he answered after a moment of fluttering lashes and faltering grins. “Well fed, comfortable, and relaxed.”

With a complaint frozen upon her tongue, Freya counted her blessings. At least she had been able to return to the retreat. Fen and Rayne might have enlisted an omega to do their bidding, but Ezra was at least one whom she had a chance in hell of controlling. Arguing with an omega was beyond cruelty anyway. “Yeah. Get me two of those enchiladas and one more pancake please.”

Ezra’s face lit up as he took the plate away. “Yes, alpha.”

Chapter Nine

All the confidence that Freya had felt she possessed regarding handling newborns dissolved after an hour and a half of listening to the common and uncommon issues that could befall cubs in their first years. The session covered a number of stomach ailments, vitamin deficiencies, and teething difficulties that she had never even heard of. Freya clutched the slight paperback that held helpful tips and early signs of caution with terse fingers. Werewolf cubs were nothing like humans—they could recover quickly, but then only if the ailment were diagnosed properly.

Rayne could heal many ailments, but for grown werewolves, as far as she knew. What if Bun was sick with something Rayne couldn’t mend or diagnose? That she could hear her mother or Gaea snickering in the event she had to ask them for help only made her more relieved that she had attended the panel.

As she filed out of the room with the other anxious mothers, Freya planned on returning to the vendors’ room to inspect the medicinal booths. Attaining a few minerals and herbs for Bun wouldn’t be too pragmatic.

Heading down the corridor that led to the largest of two ballrooms, Freya noted the hundred-watt smile of Benna Sohon aimed directly at her. She cursed her luck.
Little Miss Congeniality
. Benna winked suggestively even as she carried on a conversation with the retreat’s black sheep, Emily McTavish.

Emily’s attention was locked on Benna as Freya approached. “You really don’t see how old conventions have hampered our growth, do you?” Emily asked, her face pinched. “Our clan almost died off because of weakness. My child will be the first born in twenty years, the first one to live in fifty. I haven’t done any disservice to the pack.”

Benna nodded, doing a shitty job of looking like she cared. She gave a welcoming gesture to Freya. “Some are just narrow-minded and stuck to tradition, Emily. You mustn’t let it get to you.”

Freya had no plans on joining the two, certainly not wishing to touch upon status or pack politics when she truly wasn’t sure how she felt about them. Yet Benna moved in front of her, blocking anything but a blatant attempt at avoidance.

Emily considered Freya with a sidelong glance of big brown eyes. The look might have been a threat. Her face showed a hint of fire easily extinguished as Freya met that glance and held it. Unlike an alpha, she didn’t maintain the stare for long. Emily dropped her eyes and returned her ire to Benna. “Oh, I’m not letting it get to me at all. I have learned so much here. And despite everything, I
am
enjoying myself.”

“Are you?” Freya asked keenly, her nose full of the scent of aggression wafting from the girl.

“I am.” Emily purposefully evaded Freya’s gaze. “Others may not like me being here, but Benna and her pack have gone out of their way to make me feel wanted.” With a sigh that seemed to release at least a measure of the angst within her, she addressed Benna with a more cordial look. “I have to say thank you for the special gift. Really, I love the crib.”

Benna’s cheeks glowed like fresh-rubbed apples, possibly because the conversation had returned to her territory, the land of frivolity. “It was carved from the finest wood, procured from Africa.”

“Yes. Only the best from the Sohons. Your pack has impeccable taste.”

Freya agreed with Emily on that notion. “That they do.”

Emily reached out and put her hand upon Benna’s slender shoulder. “Their success benefits us all. They are too kind to share it.”

If there was one thing Freya could smell a mile away, it was bullshit. Emily might have been smiling, saucing Benna up, but Freya could see the disdain in the girl’s eyes. Many were jealous of the Sohons. It was understandable. Sad but understandable. She wondered if Benna even took notice, beaming as she was. But then the Sohons weren’t all that altruistic, and Benna was not slow in the least.
Probably gets off on catering to the downtrodden
. Hell, it might have been the impetus for the charity doled out by the Sohons.

“We do it for you. Really.” Benna smiled demurely. While her eyes shone with pride, her tone was all saccharine and humility.

Emily seemed to accept the laurel leaf as the two shared a silent moment of mutual ass kissing. Freya was about to allow them some privacy when Emily directed a question at her. “So. How are
you
enjoying yourself? I heard your males were here.”

Freya cringed. Everyone surely had to know, yet that didn’t make it any easier. “My berserker and beta are gone.”

“Berserker.” Emily snickered, looking pointedly between Freya and Benna. “As in what…a Luna?”

“Figure of speech, hon.” Outside of the Sohons, Freya was certain that only a few knew what Fenris was, other than a giant of a beast, because many had never encountered one. In the event that they had, the notion that a Luna could be mated, much less serve as a pack alpha, was considered absurd. Either way, Freya had no intention of giving away a secret that few would believe anyway. “He’s just a big, bad Viking of wolf. That’s all.”

Emily’s smile faded, almost like she was relieved. She coughed out the last of her humor into a balled fist. “Surely. Lunas are uncontrollable.”

It was Freya’s turn to be curious. “Have you ever seen one?”

“No, but I—”

“Right then,” Freya cut the girl short. She was in no mood for wild yarns and “I heards.”

Emily shrugged. “I figure you must have seen a few. Being a warrior-wolf and all.”

“Two or three. They can be very nasty.”