Reclaimed (Wolf in Exile Part 4): Werewolf Shifter/Vampire Paranormal Romance (5 page)

T
hane and Kalena
arrived at the mansion a little later than expected, but once they arrived, brunch was set up for them in the dining room.

“I can have my food somewhere else while you have your meeting with Brant,” Kalena offered, as they walked hand in hand down the hallway.

“That’s not necessary unless that is what you truly want. Brant and I will talk some business, but it’s nothing that would upset you. I already told you what we’re meeting about.”

“All right,” she replied. “I just didn’t want to intrude.”

“There will be times when I require private meetings involving staff only or leaders from other Packs, but as my future mate, you are my equal. Even though my status of Alpha is in limbo, I have a dozen other businesses to tend to.” Grinning, he stole a sly glance at her. “Who knows…once I bring you up to speed on my portfolio, I could very well use some of your business and financial sense.”

She smiled. “We’ll have to negotiate that a bit more.”

Brant Cedona was standing when they entered the dining room. “Alpha.” He bowed curtly, and the pair shook hands. Brant then acknowledged Kalena with a short nod and a smile.

They seated themselves. Thane pulled Kalena’s chair out for her and pushed it under the table. Once they were all settled, Thane started the first discussion point.

“That will be the last time that you address me as Alpha,” he said.

Brant frowned. “I got the news from UCON, but you will always be my Alpha.”

The maids poured chilled water and fresh-squeezed orange juice in their glasses while the two men talked.

“I’ve already accepted UCON’s decision as final.”

“But they told me it was interim.”

“I don’t know how long it will take me to resolve this mess at Silex. UCON has reason to believe that Gavril got outside funding from another source to produce other illegal drugs. It could take months, even years, for me to get a handle on things. Luxar’s word was final, and I made my choice. There was no way I would hand over my mate to scrutiny. They have no evidence that Kalena committed crimes, so it’s against their own laws to force memories out that could ultimately kill her.”

The bluntness of his words left a pinching pain in her heart, but she wanted the truth. And Thane had promised her before they left his cabin that he wouldn’t sugarcoat anything.

“I fully expected to lead a Pack one day, but not this soon.” Brant rubbed his palms together and his brows furrowed.

“It’s soon, but it was forthcoming. When I was sentenced to exile, you should’ve claimed the title. You held down the Pack. You put your people’s needs before your own. Now I’m giving you my verbal invitation to claim the title and ascend as I have. Our Pack doesn’t need an interim. We need an Alpha.”

“But did you want this to happen this way?”

“I’ve made my choice and she is sitting next to me. You and I both know that I ascended to Alpha as a promise to my uncle.”

“I remember. You wanted to remain a Beta.”

“Yes,” Thane replied. “I’ve advised you for a very long time. There isn’t another wolf that I would’ve handed the title over to. If you don’t accept, this Pack will disband. Do you want that?”

“No. You were stripped from us once and I was proud to carry on your duties. I don’t want to lose you again as a Pack member either.”

Brant and Thane exchanged solemn glances.

“I’ll always be a member of the ShadowRock Pack. That will never change. The Silexes have pledged allegiance to this Pack since its inception. This is where my heart and duty lies. Whatever happens from here on out, my loyalties will always lie with ShadowRock.”

“Then I will accept.”

“I have one other favor to ask of you,” Thane declared.

“Anything.”

“As the new Alpha of ShadowRock, I’d be thankful if you would recognize the mating of Kalena and me.”

Brant grinned. “I’d be honored to, brother. Our Pack will be ecstatic to learn that you’ve finally chosen a mate.”

“I’m sure they will be.”

Kalena’s heart filled with warmth when Thane found her hand under the table and squeezed gently. She was ready. She wanted nothing more than to be recognized as Thane’s mate.

“I’ll get the word out about the ceremony,” Brant said. “I’m sure many will want to be here to witness this moment with you.”

“We’ll do this soon…before I leave again to join the hunt for my brother.”

Kalena tried to hold on to her joy, but the thought of Thane having to leave so soon again irked her.

“Now, let’s eat before the food gets too cold.” Thane said, waving his hand over the piping hot dishes.

* * *

Brunch lasted about another hour. Brant and Thane went off to discuss other items on their business agenda, and Kalena excused herself to visit the study she’d found comfort in the other day. Thane’s library collection was vast, including everything from non-fiction business reference books to biology and chemistry manuals to heart-stopping thrillers. When things settled down, she hoped she’d come to learn more about Thane by immersing herself in the things he liked.

Kalena was just returning a leather-bound book to its place on the shelf when Thane came inside the room and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She spun around and sensuously pressed her lips against his. His body heated and vibrated against her. Light, tender kisses turned hungry and aggressive. His tongue danced with hers and they found their own unique rhythm. Thane felt so good against her, kissing her senseless. She didn’t want to let go. She never wanted to let go.

“Someone’s a little excited,” she said, after parting from the kiss.

His cock twitched against her belly, reminding her that there were only a couple pieces of fabric preventing their skin-to-skin contact.

“What can I say? Every time I scent you, I want to claim you over and over again,” he replied.

She palmed the side of his face and traced her fingers down his jawline. “I hope all of this mess is over soon. I want to start my new life with you.”

“Soon. Very soon,” he whispered.

Kalena nodded and then walked over to the end table where she’d left a couple books. She scooped them up and took them back to their respective spots on the shelf as well. “I checked my phone messages about a half an hour ago and my parents tried to reach me from a tourist rest stop in Greece. I haven’t spoken with them since they left for their cruise,” she told him.

“I hope you reach them soon. You can give the cruiseline my main line just in case they try to reach you again.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. Thanks. This is the longest I’ve gone without talking to them.”

“Oh. yeah…I invited Tracy and her father over for dinner. I thought you might like that since you two communicate so well,” Thane explained.

“I would,” she said. “I need to go check the closet to see if I have something to wear. I think I wore everything I had over the last few days, and Anna’s already gone for the evening.”

“Let’s take some time out tomorrow to go get your stuff from your apartment,” he offered.

“I’d like that. I don’t miss that place, but I miss my things. Plus, my rent is due next week and I don’t exactly have a job anymore.”

“I’ll take care of all of that. You can have my bank card for whatever you need in the meantime.” Thane kissed her cheek. “I’ll meet you in the bedroom in a bit. I’m going to see if I can catch Brant before he pulls out. I forgot to tell him something.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Kalena sauntered out of the library and headed towards the stairs, literally grinning from ear to ear.

T
hane’s
familiar footsteps thumped toward the room. The door handle rattled before he let himself inside. “There you are.”

Kalena smiled when she caught the scent of honey and sandalwood.

“I was just changing,” she said, thinking that she should slip back into the dress. As she gave it a second thought, she realized that being with Thane made her feel comfortable. It didn’t matter if she was nude or fully clothed in front of him. She’d bared all to him already and she didn’t want to hold anything back from him.

Thane walked up slowly behind her while she was still standing in the mirror and encircled his arm around her waist. He pressed his nose against her nape and breathed deeply. His fingers spread across her belly and she let her shoulders fall back against him. He met her eyes in the mirror as he smoothed the pads of his thumb against her skin. For a moment, he looked troubled.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he warily averted his gaze. “Tracy and her dad should be here any minute. I should change into something else, too.”

Kalena turned around and unbuttoned his shirt for him. “Good idea.”

“Were you able to reach your parents?” he asked.

“No answer. I left a message and told them I was okay. I hope they get it as soon as they return from their cruise.”

“Good. We don’t want them to worry about anything,” he said, peeling out of his pants.

She smiled. “Although, it’s not unheard of for us to play phone tag for a week or two until we get to speak with each other in real time.”

Kalena couldn’t resist checking out his perfect physique. Like her, he was nearly naked, except for his boxer briefs. He was semi erect and the tip of his cock literally popped out past the waistband. When he looked up and met her gaze, that was all the encouragement she needed.

“Tracy’s not here yet.” She hooked her finger in the elastic and pulled him closer to her. “Why don’t we pass a little more time by taking care of this?”

He growled when she palmed him, sending spikes of pleasure across her skin.

“Good idea.”

“I learned a lot today hanging out with you and Brant,” she said, pushing her body into his and making him walk backwards.

“Yeah?”

“You were born to lead. And to take charge. You know when to concede, but you also know when to take the lead. You’ll always be a leader, no matter what title you sport,” she said.

His eyes sparked brightly and his markings appeared. “Kalena…”

“And as long as you accept me, I’ll always be your woman,” she said. “I trust your judgment. I’ll never go against your word again.”

“Kalena. You’ll always be my woman and my mate.” He pressed his palm against her face. “And remember, a wolf is stronger with a mate because she complements him. She knows when to concede and also when to stand up for what she believes in. We are stronger together. For the first time in my life, I’m looking forward to my future.”

The back of Thane’s legs hit the leather sofa behind him. He gripped her by the waist, and she lifted herself on her tiptoes to kiss him. He fell back into the chair and led her down to straddle him. Their mouths collided again, and her tongue swept his gently.

His thick shaft pushed out of the opening of his briefs and made its way between them. The head throbbed against her navel. He reached around her back and unhooked her bra. She threw the garment to the floor just as he bent his head and suckled her breasts. Her nipples were already ultra-sensitive, but now his tongue felt like heaven against them. She arched up into his mouth offering herself fully.

He gripped her cotton panties and pulled them aside until her pussy was bared to him. She lifted herself up slightly and then led her sex down over his erection, taking him inch by inch. They found a rhythm—a compromise—and followed each other into climax.

Thane remained inside of Kalena as they came down from their orgasm.

Someone banged violently on the bedroom door and it flung open, colliding with the wall with a thud.

Kalena’s heart literally jumped into her throat.

Her gaze jerked toward the sound and her heart reeled in shock as Thane’s twin brother, Gavril, appeared.

He held a gun in one hand and had a maid by the throat with the other. The maid’s eyes were lifeless. She was already dead.

Kalena screamed.

“A whore and a traitor! You sent UCON after me!” Gavril yelled. He pointed the gun in their direction.

Thane acted quickly, picking Kalena up by the waist and throwing her out of the line of fire. She landed on her back on the bed just seconds after Gavril had fired the first shot.

The bullet blasted through the window and glass shattered and fell to the floor.

Kalena grabbed a sheet from the bed and brought it up to cover her naked body.

She looked back and forth between Thane and Gavril. They were both in the middle of a shift. She could tell the way the atmosphere vibrated around them, and the way they allowed their animals to growl and tremble in between the shifting.

Thane shifted first. His naked body dissolved into thin air and his wolf emerged almost out of nowhere.

But Gavril never really completed his shift. After all, he didn’t actually possess the shifting gene. He just
changed
…

His body transformed first. His head was next. He went from human to beast in three seconds flat. Fur and black skin expanded until his clothes tore from him. He thickened and lengthened until his body was monstrously tall and wide. The top of his head was literally only inches away from the ceiling. He was, in fact, a monster. A hideously big beast.

The wolf and were-beast collided with each other.

Kalena saw nothing but blood and fur. She was witnessing a massacre right before her very eyes.

Her position next to the bed and on the side of the room away from the door, didn’t allow her escape. Her screams were no use. The only chance she had was to join the fight to immobilize the were-beast.

She picked up a lamp and hurled it at its back. That didn’t affect him and Gavril’s beast shrugged it off like an annoying fly.

Thane’s wolf and Gavril’s beast rolled around on the floor and toppled each other like two rabid dogs.

Kalena grabbed what she could reach and continued to hurl what she could lift and throw at the beast. It did not good. The beast was stronger, deadlier, and obviously out to kill.

As the beast clawed at the wolf, she grabbed up the thickest piece of glass near the window, ran toward the beast, and stabbed the sharp end into its back.

It howled and knocked her to the opposite end of the room, near the door.

“Oh my God.
Help!
Somebody fucking help us,” she cried out into the hall.

As she peered down the hallway, she saw the carnage and destruction that Gavril had committed to get to Thane. Three bodies lay on the floor.

Kalena gasped and grabbed at her heart as her body shook in panic.

Where the beast was leaning over the wolf, she saw a pool of blood on the floor.

“Thane!”

She charged again, this time with the broken leg from the nightstand. She took a mighty swing and connected the thickest part of her makeshift bat with the head of the beast.

“Graaaahh.” The beast turned swiftly, growled, hoisted her body up, and flung her across the room again.

This time her head landed against the hard metal chest near the bed. She saw black, red, butterflies, and…

…a shiny object lying on the floor. The gun!

She reached for it as blood and spit dripped from her mouth.

With what little strength she had left, she aimed at the beast and fired.

The beast spun around. He held up his hands as if in surrender.

She shook her head.
No.
He’d tried to kill her before. He’d try it again.

Gavril couldn’t be trusted. He’d kill her.

He took a step forward.

She put two bullets in his chest.

The beast charged.

She aimed for his head, squeezed her eyes shut, and fired once…twice…

The beast landed with a thump, mere inches from her feet.

Someone touched her shoulder, and she jumped and screamed. She almost shot the person before she realized it was Thane. He had shifted back into human form and was bloodied from head to toe. There was a large wound in his side.

He pried the gun from her hand and knelt over the beast.

The thing actually started mutating back into a human.

“I….” the human-beast croaked. Only he was no longer a beast. The beast was Gavril.

“What the fuck did you do to yourself?” Thane’s demand rushed out of him.

“Cure…” Gavril croaked again.

“Don’t try to talk…” Thane urged, clutching at his own wound, barely able to speak himself as blood coated his skin.

“I…wanted to be. More like you…and…Dad. Please forg—” Blood gushed from Gavril’s mouth and his entire body shook in seizure-like convulsions.

“I know.” Thane nodded and pulled Gavril’s head onto his lap. “I know.”

“Forgive…” Gavril pleaded.

Thane squeezed his brother’s hand tightly. “I forgive you, brother.”

Gavril let go and passed away in Thane’s lap.

Thane glanced up at Kalena and reached out for her.

“Oh, Thane…oh, God. What do I do?” she gasped.

“My babies.” His eyes were unfocused as he spoke. “You will take care of my children.” He slumped over his brother’s lifeless body.

“No!” She shook his motionless body, but to no avail. “You can’t…damn it, you said you wouldn’t.” She pounded on his chest.

Kalena shot up from the floor. She became sick to her stomach and threw up the food she’d eaten during brunch as she took off down the hall, but she didn’t care.

As she came to the bend in the hallway, she collided with someone—David McCarthy.

“What in the Sam Hill happened here?” he asked.

Her knees gave out.

“Help them…” were her last words before she faded.