Wild Nights (5 page)

deep. Her spirit tore, her wolf howled with grief. She lowered her

fork, her appetite dwindling, and shifted her attention to the letter.

Carter—

You must have been searching for Aya for some time now. Word

travels through the wolfen communities, even in California. I hope

you understand and accept why I kept her hidden this long. She

needed to grow, to learn, as any young woman would. It was her

mother’s wish.

Recently, I have become aware of a rebel pack hunting me. It’s

only a matter of time before they find us. I must know that Aya’s

future is secured. I have taught her the basic ways of the wolf. She

knows how to transform, to speak along the telepathic links, and

connect with her inner spirit. She has become extremely attuned to

her wolfen self, and I’m sure, with further guidance from you, she will

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blossom into a magnificent alpha leader. However, I have not

disclosed the legacy to her.

If you’re reading this, most likely I have perished and Aya is

running from danger. I trust in you to keep her safe and aid in her

development as the stunning white wolf we all dreamed she would

become. You have been given a sacred position as her mate. It is your

duty to keep her safe from harm, to give your life in place of hers.

Remember your vow to the spirits on that fateful eve and forever hold

her dear to you. She is one of the last white wolves.

With these words, I give you my niece. I will leave it up to you to

convince the other of his position in her life.

Charles White

The haunting sound of her uncle’s voice recited the letter in her

mind, bringing a swell of emotion to the surface. For almost sixteen

hours, adrenaline drove her without food, sleep, or tears of mourning.

She was rushing along on fear and panic, a grimy outer shell lacking a

pilot to direct her. Tears brimmed the barriers of her eyes, and she

finally allowed them the freedom to fall. Grief welled up like an

overinflated balloon in her chest. Pressure pained her, constricting

along her throat. Her chin quivered. The salty scent of streaming tears

stung her nose.

Her uncle knew someone was after him and never told her. It

explained his efficiency last night but didn’t make the loss of him any

easier. If he knew someone was after him, why didn’t he move her?

Why did he let them destroy everything they built? All of their

memories?

Why did he sacrifice himself?

“It might be easier to understand why he did what he did when

you hear about how you survived the massacre twenty-five years

ago.”

Lenox’s soothing voice unleashed the floodgates. Aya broke

down, lowering her head to her arms. She wrapped her hands behind

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her neck. The memory of the fire—its acrid scent, the intense heat

that billowed outward, the horror that befell her as she watched her

uncle dive straight into the madness, helpless to stop him—

overwhelmed her.

Lenox knelt down on the floor beside her chair. She didn’t resist

when he gently eased her off the chair and into his arms. She clung to

his waist and pressed her wet face to his hard chest. He rocked her,

stroking her back while the searing pain of her loss finally consumed

her.

“Shh, little one. Everything will be okay,” Lenox cooed.

Somewhere amidst her sprouting agony, warmth suffused through

her. Lenox pressed his mouth to her hair. “You’re in my care. Nothing

will harm you now.”

* * * *

Kyle’s eyes widened. Eliza looked over her freshly polished nails,

a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. She uncrossed her legs, teasing

her pets with a peek of her cunt. The thrill of a hunt made her wet.

Wolf or human, she was turned on, and she needed to be sated.

And if Riley wasn’t going to fuck her, she’d turn to the next man

waiting in line.

She spread her knees a little more, sliding her ass to the edge of

the chair. Her short skirt hiked up her thighs. Behind Kyle, Jared

licked his lips, his eyes flashing with heat.

“Where is she?” Kyle asked. His voice had taken a deep turn for

hoarse, rasping along her nerves and strumming the coiled cords in

her womb. The heaviness of arousal permeated the cool air.

“She’s found herself a local pack.” Eliza snickered. Her men were

practically salivating with excitement. The hunt, the chase, the kill. It

stirred together to create a potent toxin. “A bed-and-breakfast in a

remote location, although I’ve gathered the man she left with wasn’t

staying there.” She tsked when Kyle leaned down toward her.

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“Business first.”

Jared growled, his lip quivering. He began to unfasten the buttons

on his jeans. Kyle ripped his shirt over his head and fell to his knees,

his eyes glazing over with primal hunger as he drank in the sight of

her pussy.

“What do you want us to do?” Jared’s voice raked along her spine.

The delight in his dangerous tone made her wriggle against the chair.

“Where’s Riley?”

“Riley’s in town. You two will gather the pack. It’s time we take

the reins here. I don’t care how you do it. Kill the others. Slaughter

them.” Eliza laughed for a short moment. Then, she sobered and

leaned toward Kyle. She gripped his chin between her fingers and

drew her tongue up the side of his cheek. A silent rumble rolled

through him and down her arm. “Those two in Hood River maimed

my sister. I will have my revenge on them, but I want this one now. I

want Ayasha White, pelt and all. I want to see her suffer. I want to

bathe in her blood and have her head mounted to my wall. She is here,

and she’s under the protection of her mate.”

“She was appointed two mates by the spirits.”

Eliza’s jaw twitched. Ah, yes she was. But the second wouldn’t be

a problem much longer.

“I’ll handle the other,” she murmured.

“You know who it is?”

Eliza turned her gaze up to Jared. The silence thrummed with

energy. The potent mixture of arousal, musk, and need whipped

together the brewing of a storm.

“It seems I do.”

Oh, yes, I do. And he’ll keep me warm every night when I’m

through skinning him.

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Chapter Four

Aya stayed beneath the methodical patterning of the shower water

until it became cool, washing herself until her skin was pink from

scrubbing. She couldn’t bear to wear the physical memories from the

fire. Most of her wounds were healed, or in the advanced stages of

healing. A benefit of being wolf, she thought solemnly.

Lenox left her a fresh change of clothing. She couldn’t help but

chuckle when she held up the oversized pair of jogging pants and

long-sleeve shirt. He was massive next to her, a sure foot taller and

packed with honed muscle. Charles always said she was deceptively

meek from birth, hence her name meaning “little one.” Throughout

the years, she’d proven what she lacked in size, she made up for in

stubborn wit.

“You may look small on the outside, little one, but you’ve got fire

and the call of the wild burning inside your spirit.”
Charles’s

supportive words resonated in her mind and she sighed.

No more tears. Charles wouldn’t want them.

Aya emerged from the steamed bathroom, tying the string at her

waist as tight as it would allow. Lenox kicked himself off the sofa and

killed the television. He met her at the edge of the hallway in a fresh

set of clothes that did little to dissuade her sexual drive from

switching to high heat. Again, simple clothing, from the soft polo

shirt to his dark blue jeans and leather belt. She noted the crisp scent

of soap and outdoors on him beneath the sheen of thick lust.

She managed a small smile, warmth caressing her cheeks. Lenox

lifted a hand to her face, tilting her head before he lowered his mouth

against hers.

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Rhea Regale

Aya stilled. Blood pulsed against her head and poured into the pit

of her womb. Her thoughts whirled in time with her stomach.

“Ayasha,” he whispered into her mouth. She moaned, lifting onto

her toes and looping her arms around his neck to meet him fully. The

satiny ends of his hair brushed her fingertips. A shudder coursed

down her spine. Gods help her, she wanted Lenox right where he

stood.

His lips eased hers apart. His hot breath was welcoming, as was

the cautious slide of his tongue as he sought hers. He pulled her

against him. Power and strength thrummed all around her. His hands

stayed planted, one against her lower back, one against her face. She

drank in his kiss, the slow glide of his hot tongue, and the taste of

pure male. He was mind-numbingly delicious. Every bone in her body

buckled beneath the pressing intensity of his desire. The hard bulge of

his cock dug into her belly. She shifted, rubbing against him. A deep,

guttural growl vibrated from his throat down to her toes.

Lenox drew back and she nearly fell into him. She swayed on her

feet, thankful for his arm holding her up. She licked her bottom lip,

savoring the rustic flavor of his mouth against her tongue. The fog

lifted from her mind, but the ache in her pussy remained. Lenox

pressed his lips together.

“Take a seat. Let’s discuss some important things you should

know,” Lenox said. The heady husk of his voice curled around her

spirit, and for the first time, her restless wolf pawed for release.

Usually such a calm beast, she wanted out in the presence of her mate.

Aya allowed him to lead her to the sofa. She dropped into the

corner seat.

“Are you feeling better?” Lenox asked, making himself

comfortable in a chair angled next to her. He leaned forward, elbows

on knees, and hands folded between his legs. A mixture of emotions,

from appreciation and admiration to fierce hunger and determination,

swirled in his eyes.

Aya nodded. “The shower helped. Thanks.”

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37

“Do you have an appetite?”

“Not at the moment. It’ll return.” Aya smiled, surprised how

easily it came in his presence. She pulled her legs beneath her and

curled against the arm of the sofa. “You’ll wish it hadn’t when it

does.”

Lenox chuckled. “I’ll be thrilled to satiate your hunger for years to

come.” A shadow crossed his face, and the playful grin took on a

darker, more carnal appeal. “
Any
hunger.”

Her breath hitched as a new wave of need washed over her.
Easy.

You’ve known him for mere hours.
And still, being with Lenox simply

felt right and…natural. She had little experience when it came to men,

but never had a man affected her like this. Her thoughts were easily

severed when his eyes took on that dusky appearance and his lips

curled with a sensuality that begged to be tested. The air around him

soothed her.

Aya cleared her throat with a little cough. “It’s nice to know I

won’t have to worry about starving. I’ll earn my keep, though. I

promise—”

“Shh.” Lenox pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. “You

won’t have to worry about earning keep or repaying me. I’ve worked

all my years for you.”

She caught the flicker of wonder in his eyes as he slipped his

fingers between hers. The dangerous shadow that had taken hold of

his features softened.

“I need you to understand that everything about you is my

business. It has been since the night your parents were murdered and

Charles slipped you out of Hood River.”

“And why is that?”

“What did Charles tell you about the white wolves and the beliefs

linked with them? The Blood Moon Legacy?”

Aya shrugged, but her stomach flipped uneasily. She stroked the

back of his work-roughened knuckles thoughtfully. The air, which

moments ago was cool and light, became dense and heavy with the

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onset of revelation. Instinct whispered warning of what was to come,

but the man sitting across from her would shelter her through the

turbulent waves.

“Ayasha, I need you to tell me what you know,” Lenox urged.

“About five years ago, Charles sat me down,” Aya began. The

vivid memory of that day flew to the surface and she smiled. “He had

a blanket and a robe. I had no idea what he was about to do.”

She sighed, finding security in his touch. Somehow, he fed her

strength as she traced the lines over his palm. The constant fire in her

spirit licked along her veins, fueled by Lenox’s intense focus on her.

“He started by telling me that our family had a secret. He asked if

I wanted to know what that secret was.” She laughed quietly and

shook her head. “Well, of course I wanted to know. That’s when he