Instinctive (27 page)

When his eyes met Jaclyn’s, a small smirk curled up his lip, and it was all she could do to suppress a shiver. Without his gaze ever leaving Jaclyn, he crooked his finger and motioned for Sunray to join him. She stood and walked over to where he stood. From Jaclyn’s distance she couldn’t hear the exchange between the two; she knew only that they were talking about her.

A moment later Vall dismissed Sunray and took a seat near the fireplace. A few women sidled up to him, showing submission to their alpha. Making soft growling sounds, they began rubbing their bodies against him seductively, like feral dogs in heat. Seductive music turned on in the background, and the room took on a new energy—heavy, sexual, carnal.

Jaclyn casually glanced around and realized the prerun mating had already begun. Dear God, she was smack-dab in the middle of a lycan orgy. Men and women were shedding their clothes in preparation for the shift. In one corner, a woman began servicing a man’s cock while a second man lubricated himself and took her from behind, driving his hard shaft in and out of her wet pussy. Everywhere she looked there were naked bodies engaging in every sexual act known to mankind—or dogkind.

Jaclyn licked her lips and feined interest, especially with the way Vall studied her and was gauging her reactions to the hedonistic acts. She prayed Sunray had something up her sleeve; otherwise the kitty was about to become the first snack of the night.

“Jaclyn.” The sound of Vall’s rough voice made her pulse leap with fear. She shifted her body and turned to him. Her glance raced over the two women as they tore his clothes from his body and ran their hungry mouths and hands all over his naked torso, paying extra attention to his stiff cock.

He motioned for her to join them. “Come, little one, it’s time for your initiation,” he murmured, his implication clear in his tone.

Oh fuck.

There was no way in hell she was going to join them, but if she didn’t, it was game over. Actually, either way it was game over, because if he got a whiff of her panther, it would drive the canine into a feeding frenzy, and soon the others would join in. She stood there immobilized, trapped like a snared rabbit.

Taking her by surprise, she felt Sunray’s hands on her legs, widening them and inching upward to dip beneath her short skirt. Her position exposed her sex to Vall, who had suddenly dropped his hand and stopped beckoning her.

Vall’s eyes widened in delight when Sunray pressed her lips over Jaclyn’s and giggled playfully. She then positioned her mouth close to Jacklyn’s ear and whispered, “Follow my lead. We need to stall.”

Jaclyn climbed to her feet and shot a fake seductive smile Vall’s way. Sunray gripped her hips firmly and joined Jaclyn and herself pussy to pussy. The two began moving to the sensuous music while Vall watched in fascinated excitement.

Sunray made short work of her clothes, then began to peel Jaclyn’s shirt and skirt from her shivering body—she shivered
from fear, not excitement. Warm hands closed over her breasts as the two women performed a sexy act for Vall. Jaclyn ran her fingers through Sunray’s golden hair and guided her mouth to her tightening breasts. The low growl coming from Vall told her how much he liked that.

Sunray flicked her tongue over Jaclyn’s nipples, turning them a bright red, and slipped a finger between her thighs to toy with her clit.

Jaclyn widened her legs and bucked against her. She stole a glance at Vall and watched as he guided one of his women to his cock. The woman cupped his balls, wrapped her mouth around his length, and bobbed up and down as Vall continued to indulge in their erotic sideshow.

Jaclyn glanced at the door. A few lycans had already shifted and taken to the woods, their howls cutting through the ominous stillness of the night. The panther inside her quivered.

Sunray dropped to her knees and pressed her mouth over Jaclyn’s sex. Vall growled out loud and began bucking against the woman who was devouring his cock.

Jaclyn cast her eyes down and noted the dark hairs on Sunray’s back, a good indication that Sunray was desperately trying to fight off the call of the moon. But for how long would she be able to resist? And if she changed, would she turn on Jaclyn?

Panting hard, Jaclyn moaned in delight and gyrated against Sunray’s tongue. A minute later, Sunray slowly made her way back up her friend’s body, her tongue trailing a lazy path over Jaclyn’s naked flesh.

“We can’t make a move until he’s seconds from shifting,” Sunray
whispered into Jaclyn’s ear. “Then he’ll be lured by the woods and you can escape.” Their mouths found each other and their moans of pleasure merged.

“Enough,” Vall bit out, his silver eyes darkening with desire. “Bring her to me.”

Sunray turned and gave him a seductive, playful grin. “First I want to thank you properly for gifting me with a new plaything,” she murmured. At first Vall seemed confused by her words, but as understanding dawned, he quickly dismissed his two submissive playthings. They both shifted and bolted out the door, leaving the den empty except for Vall, Sunray, and Jaclyn.

Sunray dropped to her knees before Vall and he let out a snarling bark of victory.

Suddenly, Drake’s words of warning came back to haunt her. Was Sunray turning on her? Had she been working with Vall all along? Hadn’t she vowed she’d never submit to Vall or any other man?

Jaclyn shook her head to clear it. No, Sunray would never turn on her. Jaclyn diligently fought off the seed of doubt, hating that Drake had planted it there, but understanding nonetheless that he had only his pack’s best interests at heart.

When she heard Sunray mumble, “Forgive me, Ray,” under her breath, Jaclyn’s heart turned over in her chest, knowing that she submitted to Vall only as a distraction to buy Jaclyn and Slyck more time.

Fierce instinct to protect the ones she loved kicked in. She
couldn’t, wouldn’t let Sunray give herself to Vall like this. Not like this. Not for her. Which was probably why Sunray had never filled her in on her plan. She had to stop this. She’d rather die before she’d see her friend do the one thing she swore she’d never do.

With Vall’s attention diverted, Jaclyn crept around the back of the sofa and looked for a weapon, strategizing her next move. Sunray’s warning glare stopped her cold; then her pretty face morphed to wolf and she growled Jaclyn away.

In that instant, Vall started to shift. His bones and skin stretched and slid into place, his hair thickened and darkened to a mixture of black and silver. He surged upward, then dropped down on all fours, growling, pacing, and radiating strength.

He was bigger and more powerful than any dog Jaclyn had ever seen. In fact, he was the scariest fucking animal she’d ever encountered. The panther in Jaclyn trembled in reaction to the treat before her.

Sunray’s voice pulled Jaclyn’s attention as she lowered her head in submission and said to the wolf, “I want to run with you tonight, Vall.”

With that, Vall let out a long, overjoyed howl as he brushed against Sunray, as though his new “cub” and her initiation were temporarily forgotten. Legs pumping, his powerful, streamlined body took to the woods. He moved with a speed no mere canine possessed. Before he disappeared into the thick foliage, he glanced back at Sunray, waiting for her to follow.

Long, unsteady strides carried Sunray to the door. When the light of the moon spilled over her, she began shifting. She cast
Jaclyn a quick glance. “As soon as I get into the woods with him, you need to go.”

“I can’t leave here without you.” Jaclyn reached for her, but when Sunray nipped at her fingers, she quickly pulled them back. She tried to reason with her friend, plead with her even, but was unsure if Sunray could comprehend the words in her current state. “When I go missing, Vall will figure it out and kill you.”

Jaclyn glanced back out the door in time to see Vall’s large, dark-haired body duck into the woods. His howl carried in on a breeze, beckoning for Sunray to join him.

Sunray’s glance went from Jaclyn to Vall, back to Jaclyn again. She clutched her stomach and growled. “Jaclyn, please, if you don’t go now, I can’t be responsible for what happens to you.”

Then, suddenly, the pull of the moon became too strong to fight off, and Sunray completed her transformation. Standing before Jaclyn was a golden-haired werewolf, nails extended, eyes glistening, and teeth bared, hungry for nourishment. Growling, Sunray made a threatening step toward Jaclyn. With fear ruling Jaclyn’s actions, her survival instincts kicked in. In one fluid movement, she shifted to panther.

Slyck paced restlessly outside the den. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. He could feel it in every fiber of his being. He’d watched Vall and his pack take to the woods minutes earlier, but Jaclyn and Sunray hadn’t surfaced yet. Had Vall discovered she was panther? Was Sunray unable to distract him or
take him on
? Whatever that was supposed to mean
.

No longer willing to wait, Slyck stalked forward, hell-bent on rescuing Jaclyn and getting the fuck out of Dodge. So help anyone who tried to stop him. As he rounded the corner, his thighs connected with something muscular, something hairy.

Something that walked on all fours.

“Jaclyn . . .” He dropped to the ground and wrapped his hands around the black panther mewling before him. “Thank God, you’re okay.” Jaclyn purred and brushed against him. “Shake it off, sweetheart. We need to get you out of here, and if you stay like this, the wolves will smell you.”

He held her tight while her bones slid back into place and she returned to her human form. “Where’s Sunray?” he asked as he pulled her to her feet. Slyck tore off his T-shirt and pulled it over her head, covering her naked body.

“Running with Vall.”

“Fuck.” It suddenly occurred to him just how Sunray had taken Vall on
.
“Come on, we need to get to the gate while they’re all distracted.”

Their heavy footfalls echoed in the still night as Slyck and Jaclyn ran through the deserted streets and made their way to the front security gate. He spotted Drake inside the booth, his hand on the controls. They were close, so fucking close to making it, Slyck’s body began to shake in anticipation.

“Going somewhere, kittens?”

Slyck spun around and surveyed the street. Vall moved, advertising his presence some twenty feet away. Once again fully dressed, he stood beneath an awning, just outside the grocery store. Instinctively, Slyck grabbed Jaclyn and positioned her behind him, protecting her from the beast.

“Back off, Vall. We’re going to walk out of here, and you’re not going to do a damn thing about it. If you try, I’ll stop you, and trust me, you’re not going to like it.”

Amusement passed over Vall’s face. “Did the kitty just threaten the big bad wolf?”

“So you want to do this the hard way then?” Slyck snarled.

Vall cocked his head, his expression smug. “Is there any other way, kitten?”

Just as Slyck detected movement around them, he identified
a few other members of Vall’s pack, his easily led minions. Goddamn it, he really hadn’t anticipated an ambush.

“Here, kitty, kitty,” Vall taunted, hackles raised. Still maintaining his human form, he kept his distance, using the awning to protect him from the pull of the full moon.

The pack cantered forward and closed around them. Vall
tsk
ed and shook his head. “You should never underestimate your opponents, Slyck. You really are past your prime, aren’t you?” He let out a bark of laughter and announced, “I knew what you two were up to all along. I thought I’d go along, just for the hell of it, and then take you all down at once.”

When Slyck fisted his hands and took a threatening step forward, Vall laughed out loud and said, “Look around, Slyck. You’re outnumbered.” He rocked on his heels, his glance menacing. “What were you thinking, venturing outside on a night like tonight?” He waved his hand toward the moon. “When the town wakes up tomorrow to find you gone, they’ll never blame me, since I can’t be held accountable for my actions in wolf form.”

“But you’re not in wolf form,” Slyck countered.

Vall gave a humorless laugh and cut his hand through the air, motioning toward his loyal followers. “Oh, but they are.”

“What is it? You need your mongrels to fight your battles, Vall? Is it because you’re afraid to get your hands dirty? Or is it because you’re afraid of me? If you want me, come and get me yourself.”

Vall let out a growl of fury and dropped to his haunches.

That’s a good little doggy. Let your anger take over until you can’t fight the shift,
Slyck mused silently
.

Jaclyn wrapped her hands around his waist and whispered in his ear, “Where’s Sunray?”

Slyck trained his focus on the pack and did a quick count. They were outnumbered by at least twenty, and Sunray was nowhere to be found.

His eyes shot to Vall. “Where’s Sunray?” When Vall didn’t answer, Slyck pushed. “I guess she opted not to run with you after all.” Jesus, he hoped she’d managed to get out of the gate already.

Eyes enraged, Vall snarled, stepped out from the awning, and advanced with purpose.

“Don’t worry about her. I fucked that ridiculous kitty fetish right out of her,” he crooned.

Slyck peeled Jaclyn’s hands from his waist in preparation. “Bummer to learn she only submitted to your wolf to save her kitty friends.”

“Bullshit. She’s mine, always has been, and she wanted to submit to me.” Vall ripped his clothes from his body as anger whipped through him and the pull of the moon became stronger. His bones began to shift, but he continued to fight the inevitable transformation.

Slyck angled his head and instructed Jaclyn to get in the control booth with Drake, but to walk slowly. Any quick movements would attract the wolves.