Nocturne 040 – Scions 02 - Patrice Michelle - Insurrection (14 page)

Kaitlyn screamed long and hard as her body convulsed around Landon’s thrusting fingers. Intense pleasure swept through her body in heated shock waves that splintered to the tips of her breasts, her fingers, her toes, while sparks zipped up and back down her spine. She felt taken and shaken to the core in every sense of the word.

She was so lost in her own plane of euphoria that she came back down to feel Landon’s bruising grip on her buttocks as he thrust his tongue possessively inside her. The deep guttural groan he made when he withdrew his tongue and swallowed, then went back for more, both surprised and thrilled her on a deeply primal level. He acted as if her flavor was just as erotic and sinfully satisfying to him as her orgasm had been to her.

When he went back for a third taste, she asked, “Landon?”

Without removing his mouth from her body he glanced up, shocking her. His eyes held a wildness she’d never seen before…so very different from the intense calmness she’d always seen reflected in his face. The color was the lightest green, most arresting color she’d ever seen. She started to speak when a loud crashing sound exploded from another room in the house.

Landon was off the bed and leaping over the banister at the edge of the room before she could sit up and pull the covers to her chest. Kaitlyn blinked and shook her head. I’m losing it. From what she could tell from her position on the bed, the room she was in was a loft level. Surely Landon hadn’t just leapt to the second floor below.

Landon had shifted to his Musk mode by the time he landed on the floor below. He snarled at the intruder, who was also in Musk form, ready to rip him to shreds.

The black werewolf turned toward Landon and familiar hazel-green eyes stared at him. The feral grimace that was curling his muzzle smoothed out as he tilted his big head in a curious look. You appear unharmed. I answered your call as soon as I could.

Landon took in the deep claw marks on Caine’s chest. The blood had already started to clot and the wounds close.

“Landon?” Kaitlyn called from above.

Grabbing hold of Caine’s arm, he hauled his pack mate into the kitchen and shifted back to human form. “Everything’s fine, Kaitlyn,” he called upstairs, “It’s just my overzealous baby brother.”

By time he returned his gaze to Caine, the younger male had also shifted to human form. Pulling free of Landon’s hold, Caine crossed his arms over his naked chest and lifted an eyebrow in an annoyed expression.

“Baby brother?”

Landon frowned at him. “How the hell else am I going to explain you crashing into my home? Not to mention, you do have a tendency to act like one. You know better than to overuse your Musk form. You’re too close to the line.”

Caine’s face hardened. “I rushed over here to help as soon as I could get away, and this is the thanks I get?”

Landon let out a heavy sigh, guilt riding him. Glancing at Caine’s partially healed chest, he frowned. “What happened to you?”

The muscle in Caine’s jaw jumped. “Nathan.”

Landon’s chest burned with anger and thoughts of revenge. “Why?”

“Because I tried to answer your Alpha call.”

A sudden stillness rushed over Landon. “My Alpha call?”

“You know damned well you’re the rightful Alpha of our pack. Nathan knows it, too. We heard the anger in your howl. Several pack members started to come to your aid. Nathan went ape, attacking and slashing out at every wolf who dared to respond. I have a feeling when I get back he’ll try to cast me out of the pack.”

Damn, he hadn’t realized his Alpha tendencies went so deep as to resonate with his pack, especially from such a distance. “No, the hell he won’t,” Landon shot back.

Caine laughed and clapped Landon on the shoulder, his gaze sparkling in feral satisfaction. “You going to kick his ass again? If so, then getting kicked out will be worth the front row seat.”

Landon grunted at Caine’s steadfast support. How many of the other pack members would follow him if he challenged Nathan outside of the annual “run”?

“I’m sure your call will have stirred the Omega’s interest in your progress on the zerkers.”

Landon set his mouth in a thin line. “Noted.”

Caine suddenly grinned. “Care to share how your ‘anguished and angry’

howl fits in with the scent of a woman that permeates your home and is radiating off you like you bathed in it?”

Landon narrowed his gaze. “She was attacked by vampires in the city.”

Caine’s eyes widened. “Is that why you were in your Musk form when I came in? To protect her?”

Landon rubbed the back of his neck, tension riding up his spine at Caine’s reminder that he had business to take care of. “Yes.” His certainty about Kaitlyn hit him hard, surprising him, but he continued in a serious tone, “She doesn’t know yet, but I will claim her as my mate.”

Caine’s eyes widened, concern etching his brow. “A human? The pack would never accept a human as their Alpha’s mate.”

Landon knew Caine was right. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not their Alpha.”

“Your pack needs your leadership, Landon, especially with the vampires making their comeback. Does this woman accept what you are?”

Setting his jaw, Landon shook his head. “She didn’t act fearful or treat me like a monster when she looked at me. I believe she passed out before she saw me in my Musk form.”

“Surely she would’ve known something felt different when you had sex.”

Landon set his jaw, but said nothing.

Caine raised his eyebrows and then laughed out loud. “Did I interrupt?”

“You could say that,” Landon said in a dry tone.

“I would apologize, but I’m a selfish bastard.” A stubborn expression settled on his face. “You are our rightful Alpha.”

Caine’s comment drew on the painful longing within him, but Landon wasn’t going to give up Kaitlyn. Ever. The woman jacked him up on so many levels. He’d never enjoyed pleasuring another or reveled in her taste as much as he did with Kaitie. The thought of finally sinking inside her and making her his set his entire body on edge.

Landon rolled his neck to relieve the pent-up sexual tension riding him.

“I’ll get you some clothes. I want you to guard Kaitlyn while I give the Omega an update.”

He started to walk away when Caine grabbed his arm. “I don’t want you to go back without me.”

Landon narrowed his eyes on Caine’s hand, then met the younger wolf’s steady stare. “Your job is to keep Kaitlyn safe.”

Caine’s jaw flexed and he released his hold. “Got it.”

He knew Caine wasn’t happy, but Caine saw him as Alpha and would do as he was told.

When he walked back upstairs, Kaitlyn stared at him with wide eyes, her grip on the sheet tight against her chest. “What was that all about?”

“Long story.” He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a new pair of jeans. As he stepped into them, he said, “I need to go take care of something. Caine will stay here and keep you safe until I return. Don’t worry, he’ll stay downstairs.”

“Landon…”

Her voice shook a little and he noted the deep wounds on her chest had been replaced by angry red marks. His gaze met hers. “Are you okay?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “Just really tired.”

Landon grabbed more clothes for Caine and a shirt for himself before he walked over to the bed and hooked his finger under her chin, tilting her face up. He pressed his lips against hers, then met her hazel-blue gaze. “Rest for a while. I’ll be back soon.”

She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes, her voice tired. “I’ll do that…just rest for a bit.”

He waited until her breathing was even in sleep before he walked downstairs.

As soon as he left his cabin, Landon pulled his backup cell phone from his hip and dialed Jachin’s number.

“Any news?” the vampire asked in a crisp voice.

“I killed two of your vampires a few hours ago.” He quickly described the two Sanguinas in the alley. “Were these two some of your rogue vamps?”

“Yes. That was Tomias and Ren.” Jachin’s tone was clipped, edgy. “What happened?”

“They attacked a human.”

“They were feeding on her?”

Jachin’s question made Landon pause as he entered the dense forest in the direction of Lupreda territory. His cabin bordered the edge of Lupreda land. The vampires had seemed to be toying with Kaitlyn. “No, they weren’t feeding on her when I got there.”

“I’ll let the Sweeper unit know that two of our rogues have been eliminated. From now on, I’ll take care of my vampires.”

“If they’re attacking me or my own, they’re fair game.” Before Jachin could reply, Landon closed the cell phone with a quick snap. A half hour later, Landon entered the Lupreda’s main house and immediately sought out Garius. While he made his way down the long hall, Landon didn’t smell Nathan’s presence at all in the big mansion. That surprised him. After what Caine had just told him, he’d figured Nathan would stay close to home, with his weres acting like they might mutiny at any moment.

The idea of a mutiny made Landon smile as he pushed through the heavy oak double doors and entered the elaborate library with its wall-to-wall shelving full of old leather-bound books.

“Landon,” Garius called out from his seated position in a plush reading chair near a tall front window. The thick book he was reading closed in his lap as he beckoned Landon forward with a sweeping motion. “I’m assuming you have news.”

Landon approached the older man. Short, slightly graying black hair framed his round, deceivingly innocent-looking face. The man’s meaty hands could crush a six-inch steel pipe as if it were a piece of aluminum foil. Garius was the most respected Omega for good reason. Landon seated himself in a chair. “I came to report on our missing zerkers.”

Garius raised a dark eyebrow. “You didn’t come to calm the weres you stirred up with your call earlier?”

Landon met his challenging stare with an unrepentant one. “That wasn’t my intent.”

“You know that’s as good as an open challenge to Nathan. He has never been able to command the entire pack that way.” An amused smile lifted the corners of Garius’s lips. “Ever.”

Before Landon could respond, Garius cleared his throat and got right down to business. “What is your news on the zerkers?”

“Two of them are dead. One is still missing.”

Garius’s expression hardened. “What of the Sanguinas’ involvement?”

Landon shook his head. “It wasn’t the Sanguinas. One of the zerkers was left, quite literally, on the vampires’ doorstep.”

Garius grunted. “Do you know who’s doing this? Who would have the ability to find the Sanguinas’ territory when we haven’t been successful?”

He had an idea, but it was just speculation. He had no definitive proof.

“Not yet.”

“But you have some thoughts.” Garius’s blue eyes narrowed. Landon shrugged. “I think someone or something is trying to ignite a war between the Sanguinas and the Lupreda.”

Stroking his stubbled chin, Garius said, “And they would’ve been successful if you and the Sanguinas’ leader hadn’t forged a truce.”

“Where is Rourke? I smell the bastard!” Nathan’s imperious voice reverberated throughout the huge mansion.

Landon jerked his narrowed gaze to Garius. “Do not allow Nathan to kick Caine out of the pack.”

“Tell him yourself.” The Omega smirked and waved his hand toward the door at the same time Nathan burst through it.

“What the hell are you doing back in my home?” Nathan snarled. The pulse on his temple jumped a threatening beat when he stopped in front of them.

Landon stood. “Your home, Nathan?” He glanced to the weres, who’d crowded the doorway the Alpha had just come through. “This home belongs to the pack, of which Caine is still a member.”

Nathan’s hands fisted by his sides and he shook with suppressed fury.

“As much pleasure as it would bring me to kill you on the spot for daring to invade my home and dictate who is or isn’t a member, I have pressing business that needs to be addressed.” Jerking his head toward the doorway, he finished through clenched teeth. “Get out.”

Landon could feel the emotions emanating from the group of Lupreda standing in the background. They reeked of anticipation. He’d never felt so much hyped-up adrenaline mixed with concern. Something was very wrong. “What business?” he said in a calm tone despite his desire to rip Nathan to shreds.

Nathan’s upper lip curled back to reveal his teeth. “That’s none of your concern—”

“The other Omega are here. Speak this business now, Nathan,” Garius cut in, his tone commanding and intense.

Nathan whirled around to see the weres had separated to allow the five other Omega to enter the room. Jerking his gaze to Landon, he gritted out, “I won’t discuss pack business with outsiders present.”

“Speak!” Garius slammed his fist on his chair’s arm.

Landon jerked his gaze to Garius. While it was true the Omega were a council made up of retired Alphas, he’d never seen an Omega pull rank before. It surprised the hell out of him.

Nathan gnashed his teeth. “Someone left one of our zerkers on the edge of our property. His body was partially burned.”

“Someone?” Garius raised an eyebrow.

Nathan’s narrowed gaze darted between Landon and Garius. Landon could tell the Alpha truly wanted him gone. Dead would be preferable, he was certain. Nathan’s news made his stomach knot. He knew what this meant. The Alpha would blame the vampires.

“The Sanguinas.” Nathan spat, his tone spewing hatred and revenge.

“You smelled vampires?” Landon asked.

Nathan glanced at the group of weres watching their exchange. He cut his gaze to Landon. “Yes.”

The son of a bitch would throw them into a war with the vampires all for what? The need to show his leadership? “You’re lying,” Landon snarled. Rage sent his claws to the tips of his fingers, a stinging sensation rippling across every fingertip. A firm hand clamped down on Landon’s shoulder before he could leap for Nathan’s throat.