Savage Smoke (22 page)

“Don’t even think about asking me to feel your tool. I witnessed what it does.” Trevor caught Lindsey’s gasp. “Not the way you think, darlin’.”

Rynd chuckled, and it sounded homey and warm, brotherly. “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want, Trevor. That’s not the way any of us work. You know I’m attracted to you, when and if you’re ever ready to enjoy some time together, Lindsey is welcome to join us.”

“Let’s go round those females up.” Trevor ignored Rynd’s comment, needing to get away from him and on with the business at hand. “Lindsey, warm up in those blankets and we’ll be back shortly for you.” Trevor bent down to kiss her fully, loving her sweet breath and the delicate touch of her tantalizing tongue. She remained seated, her fingers folded around his semi-hard cock, making it spasm as blood rushed and pulsed beneath her hold. “Oh gods, Lindsey.” He broke away from her before taking her right there in front of the crackling fire on a pile of blankets. His arousal jutted out, needing release. Her gaze held it hostage and Trevor fought with his wolf to keep from plunging it into her mouth or any other of her orifices.

He turned awkwardly away from Lindsey and met Rynd’s gaze. His look softened and then blazed as his gaze lowered, creating havoc with Trevor’s wolf. “Rynd, stop. I’m feeling vulnerable at the moment not being able to make love to my mate. Don’t piss me off.” Trevor pushed Rynd out the door, ripped off his blanket, and threw it back inside. He slammed the door and quickly shifted, not wanting to acknowledge Rynd’s aroused tool or the discomfort in his belly for noticing it in the first place.

The females howled again, close. If they reacted like the others had to Rynd and Zander, it wouldn’t take long for them to appear and eagerly follow.

Chance

They stopped and rested for Olivia and Jasmine. Both were almost healed, but Chance decided against pushing them and delaying the process. Dir, Jasmine, Damen, Zander, Olivia, and Chance were all in their furry-form to move through the wooded area faster.

Once they broke free of the forest, Zander shifted into human-form. “Rynd’s and my place is just ahead.”

The roof-line of Zander’s place displayed quite a design in the moonlit sky. The construction appeared the size of a resort lodge, at least three stories along with a number of different sized outer buildings. All were built of logs, looking majestic, yet rustic. A roof covered porch ran the length of the lodge that faced them. Chance had a feeling it circled the building.

“Olivia, you cannot shift, no matter how much you want to, you need to stay as wolf.”
Chance laid his head over her neck and licked her ear. She stood, unmoving. Chance nudged her shoulder to make sure she heard his telepathic message. He noticed how wary she looked, although she no longer limped, her gait had improved during the last leg of their travel.

“I know, my love. I won’t compromise our babies any more than I already have.”

As much as he didn’t wish harm to his younglings, his request for Olivia was for her own safety. He understood she went wolf for a good reason, even though he wasn’t clear on what initiated her shift. For her to shift back now would surely be even more dangerous for her survival.

Chance shifted into human-form, and so did everyone else, with the exception of Olivia and the seven newbie females. Olivia lowered her head and followed Zander toward the buildings. The seven females formed a single line and trotted behind Olivia.

When they reached the steps to the grand-looking porch entrance, Zander stopped, turning toward the crowd.

“Everyone is welcome inside. Our main room is quite large to accommodate Kodiak-were in their natural form if we ever have guests stay with us, which we used to quite often.” Zander looked down at Olivia and her followers. “Olivia, you may stay inside here or we have other cabin-like buildings around back that are even more accommodating for a were’s natural form. You are welcome in either.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any extra clothing, would you?” Jasmine stood behind Dir, which was unusual behavior for her. All of Chance’s pack behaved openly with their human form, skin no different than fur, especially Jasmine. Dir glanced at Chance and shrugged his shoulders.

“Yes, we have some clothing we can share with anyone who wishes it.” Zander turned and climbed the steps, opening the double-door entrance for everyone to go in.

Chance stepped up to Olivia’s side as they entered. The interior looked magnificent, like the exterior. Finely finished knotty-pine wood ceilings and floors added cozy natural warmth to the place especially the slight creaks as they walked to the center of the massive room. Zander stacked logs into a huge stone hearth and started a crackling blaze. Plenty of large couches and chairs filled the room, enough for everyone in the entire group.

“Please, feel free to look around. Go ahead and choose a room for the night or longer if it works out for you to stay a few days. I’ll grab enough clothes for anyone who wishes them.” Zander left, walking down one of the hallways situated at each end of the great room. It looked like a wet-bar along the opposite wall of the fireplace. A doorway behind the bar led to a good-sized kitchen, and upon inspection a well-stocked pantry and refrigerator.

“Damn, more than all the accommodations of home. This must have been a working resort at one time,” Damen said upon following Chance into the kitchen. “Do you feel comfortable enough with these bears to spend the night here?”

“Do you know anything about Kodiak-were?” Chance leaned against a high counter in the middle of the room.

“I’ve not personally met any, only heard of them from others. And they were afraid of them.” Damen joined Chance on the other side of the countertop. Olivia had followed with the rest of the females.

“Chance, the new changelings are hungry…starving. They haven’t eaten since they shifted.”
Olivia looked up at him.
“And neither have I.”
Chance thought of the younglings.

“Damen, we need to feed these females before they get hostile. Shall we go catch some fresh rabbit for them?” Chance glanced around at the females and noted their gaping toothy mouths, and a few snarled, sniffing the air. “Don’t know about you, but I could sure use a bite to eat also, and I know Olivia needs it.”

Zander walked in right then. “No worries.” He opened a refrigeration room door, a place Chance hadn’t investigated yet, and Zander waved his arm. “Look, all the fresh rabbit, fox, coyote, antelope, and squirrel anyone would want. Eat, please. We’ll have plenty of time to restock later.”

“Are you sure, Zander? That’s really a generous offer, but I don’t feel right about emptying your coffers before we’ve gotten to know each other.”

The she-wolves flocked around Zander, and Chance realized they weren’t simply hungry for food, they were still sexually stimulated…part of the side-effects of any shift, but greatly amplified for a first shift. A bold female licked the tip of Zander’s flaccid cock. He jumped back, smiling; the females moved a step or two away, snapping and snarling. Chance knew they didn’t understand Zander’s reaction.

“Maybe later, females. Right now you need food more than sexual gratification.” Zander walked into the cold room and brought out a number of fresh carcasses. “We have an excellent area to eat in furry-form.” He carried the load through a door leading out to the covered porch. Chance and Damen followed with Olivia and the seven wolves. “Help yourselves, there is more where that came from…eat up.” Zander nodded, dropped the goods, and went back inside.

A few minutes later, Zander led Dir and Jasmine out to eat, both in wolf-form. Everyone ate ravenously.

After about forty-five minutes of everyone obliterating the food, Zander came out with more carcasses, followed by Rynd in bear-form and three newly shifted human female werewolves. The three females gathered around the seven other newbie females, rubbing their scents over each other.

“Trevor and Lindsey will be dining inside. Just to let you know they made it, Chance,” Zander said.

Chance relaxed. His whole pack was back together, with the exception of one, Jase.
“Olivia, will you be all right with the females for a bit? I need to make some contact with the agency and let them know what’s happened.”

“Of course. The new changelings treat me as their Alpha. I believe they will continue to follow my direction and I’m able to calm most of them.”

“I’ll ask Rynd to show you the outer buildings in case there’s one big enough to accommodate you, me, and your following.”
Chance nudged Olivia with his nose to the side of her furry face.

“Maybe, you and me in one building, and our following can stay in another right next to us?”
Olivia moved just right to pop his nose with her shoulder.

Chance, surprised, jerked from the slight sting.
“Your wish is my command, you little minx. I’ll be a little while then I’ll come and find you. Don’t be afraid to rest.”
Chance licked her face, then stepped away and shifted to human-form.

Chance walked over to where Zander stood. “I’ll need to make some phone calls. Do you have that kind of access here?”

“I can’t wait to show you what we have, most likely similar to the satellite displays you use for monitoring.” Zander grinned and nodded toward the door. “Shall we?”

Before they entered the lodge, Chance turned toward Rynd. “Rynd, would you mind showing Olivia and the newbie females a couple of your outer accommodations? We were hoping there’d be one for her and me and another next to ours for the ten females.”

Rynd nodded.

Damen shifted into human-form and followed Chance and Zander inside. Trevor stood at the stove cooking something, while Lindsey sat at the counter across from him.

“Hi, Lindsey, Trevor. Thanks for rounding up those three female newbies. Where’d you run across them?” Chance stopped close to the high counter to hide his male equipment. His thought was not to embarrass Lindsey, and apparently Damen had the same thought as he sidled up beside Chance. Human females had all different thoughts on nakedness. Zander, however, stood next to her, sniffing, his arousal obvious. Trevor turned to answer Chance and his jaw went tight, his lips pinched together, and his eyes narrowed when his gaze settled on Zander.

“Stand down, big boy, she’s mated to me.” Trevor slammed the spatula down so hard on the counter it broke, the flat part of the spatula shot straight at Lindsey’s face. Zander reached out and grabbed it in mid-air before it hit her.

“I respectfully understand the mating thing, but I’m clueless on why no Lycan wolf wants to share. It isn’t like I’d take away anyone’s mate. If she’s mated, why would I?” Zander sighed, and looked from Trevor to Lindsey and back. “Threesomes or foursomes are naturally so much more stimulating, Trevor. For you and for your mate, together with Rynd and me.”

“Rynd already made it clear, gave me a proposition. I’m not ready for anything like that.” Trevor’s expression softened as his gaze moved to Lindsey. “I’ve hardly enjoyed my mate by myself.” His eyes narrowed again as he looked back at Zander. “Like I told Rynd, I’m not ready to share her with anyone.”

“You don’t have to share Lindsey. Rynd and I would love
you
to join us anytime without her.” Zander smiled and winked, then turned and stalked off to the door. “Chance, it’s this way.”

Before Chance made it to the door Trevor spoke up, “In answer to your question, Chance, the females were highly attracted to Rynd and practically chased him all the way here from the Westlyn community.”

“Thanks, Trevor. When you’re finished, I’d like to have a meeting. Find a room upstairs for Lindsey to rest a bit, then come and find me.”

Chance and Damen followed Zander into the great room and then down the opposite hallway from what Zander had used earlier. They walked to the end. Zander opened the double door and led them into something very similar to their own intelligence operations room. Monitors, radios, computers, and other electronic equipment covered a couple walls and desks. One wall had a number of tall cabinets with card-slide locks. Chance looked at Zander.

“That’s where we keep a few weapons and body protection.” Zander led them over to a row of large chairs. “Sit, I want to show you something.”

Chance and Damen exchanged a glance then sat.

“You still trust this guy?”
Damen’s telepathic comment reflected Chance’s own questioning thoughts.
“Something doesn’t seem quite kosher with this kind of set-up in the middle of nowhere,”
Damen added.

“Let’s hear what Zander has to say before we jump off in the wrong direction. I don’t want to spook him or get him on our bad-side. Be patient, Damen.”
Chance had no reason to distrust Zander or Rynd. Up until now they’d both been upfront and more than willing to help all of them, even the newly shifted. But seeing their lodge and all the electronics in the room had him wondering what Rynd and Zander actually did for a living.

A huge flat screen slid up from the floor. “This is where Ria and her henchmen reside.” The screen came alive with an image of a sprawling concrete wall, and above it a large fortress-like building. A few narrow windows glowed in soft light, but mostly it looked dark and foreboding.

“How do you know this is where Ria resides…and just exactly what is the location?”

“Rynd and I have been searching via satellite ever since we heard there were vampires in the Yukon, but you know how vast that area is.” Zander brought up an overhead satellite image of the fortress and the immediate area surrounding it, snowy rocky cliffs and mountainous. The building actually blended in as if camouflaged.

“We got a direct location from a Kodiak-were who came across this monstrosity while in search of his missing partner. Rynd and I are members of an elite group such as your pack, Chance.” Zander walked around from behind the chairs to stand in front of Chance and Damen. “We protect all lycanthropy beings, especially those close to extinction. Maybe you’ve heard of us, Lycanthropy Stewardship Operations.”