Cat's Howl: A Macconwood Pack Novel (The Macconwood Pack Series Book 2) (12 page)

Tall, naked, and proud. He looked every inch the warrior.
And she wanted him to claim her so badly. She purred and bucked. Her teeth
snapping as she lifted a hand to his chest and his stomach.

His black eyes glowed. His Wolf as close as he had ever felt
him before. The rush was exhilarating and frightening all at once. An
incredible feeling.

Tate fit his swollen head to her center. His need to take
her stronger than his need to breathe.
One last time, ask her one last time.

“Cat?,” he could hardly make out the words. His voice an
almost unrecognizable grumble. Low and deep. More Wolf than human.

“Tate…now, I need you now,” she answered him softly. Her
Wolf as in control as his it would seem.

Her whole body felt as if it were on fire. She had just
shattered beneath his mouth, but this, this would be something else entirely.
She needed him. Wanted him.
Now. Oh God, now.

He pushed inside of her. His raised his eyes to meet her wide
ones. She was tight, so tight. Hot too. And very, very wet.
Virgin?
His
head begged the question, but his Wolf didn’t need him to voice it. He knew she
was meant for him and him alone.

Pride made him move faster than he intended too. She cried
out his name. It was a breathtaking combination of pleasure and pain.
A
beautiful sound
, he thought. Just before he lost the ability to think at
all.

His first few thrusts were hard and slow. He plunged himself
all the way inside of her agonizingly tight body only to come all the way out
again. Slowly at first.
Sweet torture.
Then a steady pace.
Oh, God.
Finally, he moved with frantic urgency.
Grrrr...Mine.

White hot light erupted behind his eyelids. It encircled her
entire body as both he and Cat came together in chorus of growls and cries.

Tate couldn’t think straight. He didn’t even want to try.
His whole body, both his beings, seemed to rejoice in the knowledge that he had
just experienced true ecstasy.

Their sweat soaked bodies were prone in an exhausted heap on
top of the thin blankets that he had put down for them earlier. Just on top of
the rug by the softly glowing fireplace.

He added another log to the dying flames. Then he came back to
Cat’s side and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She brushed his short hair away
from his forehead. Her pink lips tilted into a smile that he reciprocated.

He felt that smile all the way to his toes. She was
beautiful like that. Stunning. A soft glow seemed to emanate from her entire
body. Unlike the usual Wolf magic that seemed to light up every Werewolf he
knew.

It was as if their lovemaking had altered her chemical
make-up. He didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of looking at her like that.
Gorgeously rumpled and nude. In his home.

He couldn’t put a word to the emotion he felt welling up
inside of him.
Happiness
? Was this true happiness? He damn well thought
so. 

“Cat?” 

“Mm?”

“Are you okay?”

“Uh huh.”

“Are you, uh,
happy
?”

“Happy? Yes, Tate, I’m happy. Hmm, I’ve never been happier,”
her smile was groggy and contented. She snuggled closer to him.

Mmmm.
He took a deep breath. He was so loving the erotic
combination of his and her scents as they encircled them both.

“I think,-”

“Don’t Tate, please don’t overthink this, let’s just savor
the moment.”

Tate’s eyes narrowed. It sounded to him like maybe Cat
thought this was a one-time thing between them? Doubts clawed their way into
his mind. His Wolf bared his sharp fangs at them.

No. It is done.
Tate tried to regain control of the
turn his thoughts were taking. And of his Wolf too. If and when Cat did have
second thoughts, he’d deal with that then. But not before. Besides, it may very
well be too late. Now was probably a bad time to tell her that he had marked
her with that bite on her thigh.

He gripped her waist with a possessive hand and swept it up
and down the length of her body. His Wolf seemed to chant her name over and
over again.
Catriona, Catriona, Cat..my Cat…

Cat listened to the wind as it whistled through the trees
surrounding the cabin. Her supernatural hearing picked up on things like that
all the time. It eased her overactive mind.

Was it her or was Tate brooding? She hoped he wasn’t
regretting what they had just done together. It was better than anything she
had ever imagined. She never imagined she would feel quite like this. Like she
wasn’t alone anymore. Like she had another half. It was an intense feeling. A
little scary too. But so very good.
Prrrrrr.

She pictured the surrounding woods. How she loved living in
New Jersey! It had everything. Mountains, lakes, cities, beaches, hiking
trails, state parks, quaint suburbs, and awesome restaurants. Seriously, the
food was amazing.

Cat loved being able to experience all of the seasons too.
There was just so much to see. She never grew tired of exploring the region.
And if she did New York City was a car ride away.

She loved her job and hoped to elevate herself in the
Sheriff’s department. Loads of opportunity for women there! She had no
intention of leaving. She wondered what Tate would think of that? A lot of
Wolves liked their women to stay at home.

Cat saw nothing wrong with that. It just wasn’t for her.
Besides she felt it should be up to the woman. Either way she wouldn’t want to
leave Macconwood Manor. With New Jersey being a supernatural hub she needed to
stay close to Rafe.

Who knew, maybe he would see her new relationship with Tate
as all the more reason to make her a Guard? Lately there was loads of
paranormal activity and it all seemed to be centered in the Garden State. Never
a dull moment. That was for sure.

She stretched out her long legs.
Possibilities.
Her
head was swimming with them. Just outside the large windows it was dark and cold
outside, but inside, with Tate next to her and the low fire still glowing, she
was warm and feeling better than she ever had before.

He ran a long lean hand up her thigh, around the slight curve
of her buttocks to rest on her hip.
Just right.
His touch was perfect.
As if he knew just how she liked it. She leaned into his caress, purring deep
in her throat as she did. He really had great hands.

“You’re still the only Wolf I know who purrs,” she heard the
smile in his voice without opening her eyes, “You know something? I don’t think
I ever heard you howl before. Do you yowl like a cat the way you purr like
one?”

“
Prrrrrrr.
My name is Cat, but I am all Wolf. And I
only purr when I am really happy,” she closed her eyes as his hands found new,
more interesting places to touch and rub.

“I wonder, if I do this, will you purr louder?”

Cat watched his fingers move down her flat belly to the soft
blonde curls beneath. She sucked in a sharp breath. She was still a little tender
from before. But it was so sweet. She couldn’t resist parting for him.

She wondered if he would be gentle this time. Cat wasn’t sure
if she even wanted that. Not when the Wolf inside of her was begging him to
take her. Hard and heavy.

Slow, go slow.
Tate dipped his finger into her moist
center. He couldn’t help his predatory smile when she sucked in another breath
and parted her lips.

He added another and shifted her, ever so gently, so that
she was flat on her back. He moved with slow accuracy. Pinning her to the floor
while hovering slightly over her. Electricity seemed to fill the space between
them and Tate leaned into the delicious sizzle as he nudged her knees apart
with his own.

He moved between her legs. Tate’s chest pressed down into
her belly as he licked a trail from her neck to her firm breasts. The pink buds
tightened under his ministrations and pride filled him as she whimpered her
delight.

He lifted her hands to his head and she gripped his hair and
pushed him down. Lower. He kissed and nibbled his way down her body. Taking
great pains to lick and taste every inch of her until he reached her inner
thighs.

Cat nearly jumped out of her skin when his tongue found the
swollen nub at her center that was begging for his attention. She was taut and
ready for him. Her legs spread wider of their own volition. She tightened her
grip on his short hair in her hands and pulled.

He added another finger and she whimpered again. Together
with his tongue and fingers, Tate licked and sucked and delved into her. He
savored the honey fine taste that seemed to get stronger with each lick.

She was the epitome of perfection.
Breathtaking.
He
flashed his eyes up and saw her head thrown back, mouth open and damn him if he
didn’t get harder.

He knew instinctively that he was the only person who ever
gave her such intense pleasure. It made him want to howl with pride. He felt as
if his whole purpose was to make her
feel
.

Cat had always seemed out of his reach. That shining
pinnacle that he could never be worthy of. But here she was. With him. In his
cabin. His space. That he made with his own hands. And though he knew she could
protect herself, the Werewolf that he was swore to keep her safe. To keep
her.
Mine.

Cat’s moans grew louder. Tate felt himself grow harder and
longer. As if that were even possible. But it was true. He needed to be inside
of her! Now!

He quickly withdrew his hand and tongue. He wanted, no he
needed
her.
God, how he needed
. He leaned down and kissed her lips. Letting
her taste the honey sweetness that was all Cat. Then he entered her.

She was hot and sweet.
Honey.
And all his.

He tightened his arms around her as they moved together. In
unison. As if they were made for each other.

He watched her eyes dilate with each shift of their hips.
They moved together, faster and faster. She was perfectly in time with him.
Soft moans and throaty growls came from both and Tate felt as though his heart
would pound right out of his chest.

Cat’s ice blue eyes met his. He saw the Wolf behind them and
he felt his rise to greet her.
Mine.

Her beautiful face tilted backwards and Tate wanted to howl
with the gift that was her bare throat. He closed his mouth over it. Gently,
ever so gently. Then he bit down hard enough to mark her, once again, but softly
enough that she would take pleasure from it.

“You’re mine now,” he growled in a gruff voice. His eyes
glowed as his Wolf peeked through and Tate licked the side of her neck and
pumped harder. 

“Tell me something about your childhood, something good,”
Cat smiled and ran her hand over Tate’s smooth chest.

His skin was all bronzed and muscled. Hard and smooth at the
same time. A feast for her hands and eyes. She waited patiently as he
considered her question.

“I cannot remember much of my childhood. My father and
mother were young when they had me. Still in their teens. They were poor and
pretty much alone in the world. They were never really happy. I can remember
short bursts of time before my mother killed herself. Like flashbacks form a
movie of my life with her. Back then she used to sing. Old native songs of magical
wars and times when supernatural creatures walked the Earth without hiding. My
father used to call her crazy. That time was forgotten before men learned to
write stories. Those songs were lost to many. He called her too young to possibly
know them. But I always felt like she was singing the truth.”

“I’m sorry Tate, for your loss. I didn’t mean to bring up something
sad. I understand, you know, my mom’s gone too.”

“It’s okay. I’m not a child anymore. I like those memories.
I almost forgot about them. Anyway, what about you? Tell me something good from
your childhood,” Tate’s voice was deep and husky. Cat loved the way it made her
vibrate all the way down to her toes.

Hmmm…her childhood?
Yuck.
Not her favorite
thing to talk about. It wasn’t that she had such an awful childhood. She was
clothed, fed, and she
did
have a father. Technically. But she didn’t
want to talk about Zev. Or his warped idea about parenthood.

Tate already had an idea of what her life had been like. She
wanted to just leave it at that for now. Besides, she didn’t want to spoil the
moment. Cat wasn’t certain he meant this to be a permanent thing. Regardless of
the fact that her Wolf had already considered herself mated and marked. Cat
wasn’t so quick to rush in with her heart in her hands.
Not just yet anyway
.

Let’s see, a memory. Hmmm.
She brightened as she recalled
one particularly fond memory from when she was a little girl. She felt her
smile deepen and knew she must look like a kid, but she didn’t mind. This was a
good one. Tate would enjoy it! She was certain of that.

After all, Cat had observed Tate for years. Chasing after
her brother and his buddies, Tate had been an object of fascination for her since
she was in pig tails. She knew him better than she knew herself. At least,
that’s how she felt.

Cat rolled onto her belly, giving him an unobstructed view
of her toned legs and sculpted backside. What could she say, she had a great
ass! That much she knew for sure. She appreciated the little caress he gave it
as he snuggled closer to listen to her tale.

“Once, a few years before my Change, I had this great
babysitter! It was the night of the full moon and my father and Rafe were out
on a run. My dad got me this babysitter because he said I was too young to stay
alone. I was so mad! I mean, what ten-year old girl wouldn’t be?”

“Especially you,” he smiled and Cat nearly lost her place.
He could knock the breath out of her with that smile. His dark eyes full of
laughter and something else. Something she didn’t dare put a name to.
Not
yet.

“Uh, anyway, the old woman who came over turned out to be my
grandmother. She was a normal, but her father was a Werewolf and so was her
daughter, my mother. She had this accent, you know? Like some people from North
Jersey do? She said ‘watuh’ for water, and ‘mirruh’ for mirror.”

“Yes, I know what you mean. I conduct Pack business for Rafe
in Hoboken and Jersey City quite often. There’s something about that Hudson
County accent that I find intriguing,” she narrowed her eyes, not sure if he
was making fun or not.

“No, seriously. There’s this Wolf family that lives on
Hudson Street. They have a bunch of kids,” Cat raised her eyebrows at Tate’s description,
“What? I like kids. Anyway, you know Rafe started this program where he and his
Guard spend time with some of the families with pups. So sometimes I visit.
They all speak with that kind of accent. It’s cute.”

“I didn’t realize you were so active in the Pack family
outreach program.”

“Yeah well, it’s cool. And I was the one who investigated
when their oldest didn’t make it after his first Change. I want to make sure
the younger ones do, the program gives me the ability to make contact with them
and form a relationship with the kids that will hopefully get them to open up
to me in the future. I’m sorry I distracted you, please continue,” the change
in his tone was subtle, but loaded with feeling. Cat could feel the depth of
his sincerity down to her toes.

It warmed her to know that this big bad Wolf Guard was
deeply involved with the outreach program designed to help the Pack’s young. She
wondered if he knew she had helped Rafe with the initial idea for the program?
That was another thing they had in common. After all the children were the
future of their Pack.

It only made sense. Zev had ignored them, but Rafe refused to
make the same mistake. An idea began to take hold in her mind, but she pushed
it away for now. Now all she wanted was to be near Tate. And to share this
intimacy she had never really had with anyone else before. She kissed him on his
shoulder. His salty skin tasted good. Almost too good.

“I’m sorry. I know your job is difficult sometimes.”

“Yours is too. Now, go on, finish your story, I really want
to know what your grandmother told you. Was it a family secret or something, a
fairytale maybe?”

She hesitated at first, not sure if he was really interested
or not. Tate kissed her on her head and insisted again. So she continued.
Confident he did want to hear.

“She told me the tale of the first of Wolves who founded the
Macconwood Pack. They travelled over from the British Isles hundreds of years ago.
Their names were Alice and Owen. She had this old cloth with her, like a
tapestry I guess. It was thin and faded, and she kept it wrapped up in tissue
paper that smelled like lavender. On it were two Wolves on one side and a man
and woman on the other holding hands. It was beautiful. I didn’t understand
what it said, but she explained that it said their names. It said A-i-l-i-s and
E-o-g-h-a-n, old Celtic spellings for their names.”

“I have heard Rafe mention them, but I do not know their
story. Will you tell it to me, Catriona?,” Tate’s voice was deep and it rang
with sincerity. As a cop that much would have been obvious too her. As a
Werewolf it was more than that. His desire to learn more and to hear her tell
it inspired confidence in her. He wasn’t feigning interest, he really wanted to
know. Cat kissed him once on the lips and continued.

“Okay. Well, what I remember is that Eoghan was a young
dominant Wolf. The son of the Alpha, strong and brave, destined to take over
his Pack. He was betrothed to a very beautiful female Wolf. The daughter of a
high standing Wolf from a neighboring Pack. Her name was Ailis.”

“She was tall and willowy, with hair like golden thread. Unlike
most She-Wolves who were thin and muscular, Ailis was all things feminine,
which were to the tastes of the time. She was soft and curvy with a voluptuous
figure. Pink lips, noble cheekbones, wide eyes the color of bluebells. But most
of all she was honest, obedient, and loyal. The perfect bride,” Cat was never
one for long speeches. She ducked her eyes as she spoke, but Tate reached out and
tucked a stray hair behind her ear at the same time lifting her chin to look at
him.

“You know, I rather like thin and muscular. And Cat, there
is absolutely nothing un-feminine about you,” she felt the blush heat her
cheeks and ducked her face. But Tate was having none of that. He lifted her
face by the chin with a gentle but firm grip.

“You are beautiful. Got it?”

“Uh huh,” she licked her lips. If he kept looking at her like
that she’d never finish her story.

“What happened next?”

“Well, on their wedding night Eoghan’s younger brother,
Lyall, became jealous of all of his brother’s good fortune. Like insanely
jealous. So Lyall bargained with a dark Witch and had his brother cursed. While
Eoghan struggled through a terrible fever dream, his younger brother stole his bride
on their wedding day.”

“Now this is where it gets tricky. You see, no one knows for
sure how Eoghan fought through the dark Witch’s trap, but he managed to break free
of the fever dream and upon finding Ailis gone, he went after his brother and his
bride.”

“I’d kill him. Brother or not,” Tate growled the words and
she watched as his Wolf shined from his eyes.
God,
he was amazing.
Powerful and beautiful. She wondered if he meant that for her sake. Neither of
them said anything about love or commitment, but Cat was Wolf and she knew what
those bites had meant she only wondered if the man felt the same way as his
Wolf.
Marked
.
Mine
.

“The couple had not consummated their marriage. In fact,
they spent precious little time alone as was the custom back then. Lyall’s plan
was to mark Ailis and take her away from Eoghan. As far as he knew the couple
had no matebond. He figured he was safe under the dark Witch’s protection and without
the matebond Eoghan would never find his bride.”

“I’ve heard of that.
Matebonding
. Does it even happen
anymore?”

“I don’t know. I think so. We should ask Rafe.”

“Well his might be different since his wife is a normal. But
anyway it sounds beautiful, right? Having a perfect communion with another?
Like pieces of your soul and theirs have mixed into something else, something
new,” Tate lifted her hair to his face and breathed it in. Cat wondered if that
was longing in his voice. Whatever it was it made her heart pound almost as
much as his words did.

Matebonds were something of a myth to modern Werewolves.
They seemed to happened less and less often. But, oh boy, you better watch out
when they did! They were the stuff of legends. Cat knew that if Tate and she
were to be together, they would matebond. Without a doubt.

“Well, to Lyall’s surprise Eoghan managed to catch their trail.
Lyall had her locked in a dungeon in the Witch’s dark fortress. Now this place
was built to stop all manner of man from entering. A cop’s worst nightmare, you
know, high walls, few windows, one door heavily manned. And it was three weeks
till the full moon.”

“Lyall figured he was safe. As he made his way to Alilis’
chamber he pulled open the curtain from the window and shoved her beautiful
face through the metal bars so she could see her husband as he paced below
them, helpless and impotent. He had his men hold her down as he yelled down to his
brother whatever the obscenities there were at the time. Lyall told Eoghan how
he planned to rape her right there within hearing. And he promised to name
their first born after Eoghan.”

“As Lyall neared her the strangest thing happened. Ailis
snarled and snapped her teeth. She threw her head back and again form side to
side. As if she were possessed or having some kind of unholy fit. You know
people were very superstitious back then. Even the supernaturals. So, the
guards backed away and she crouched down on the cold floor on all fours. Ailis
threw her golden head back and in her human body, she howled. A cry so loud and
so fierce that the other men in the room fell to their knees and covered their
ears. She persisted on and on despite Lyall’s shouts for his guards to restrain
her. Within minutes Eoghan charged up the hall, but he wasn’t just Eoghan. He
was his Wolf. Fully formed. Huge with black fur and one white forepaw.”

“His ice blue eyes found his brother half naked and on the
floor, blood coming from his ears. Of course, that didn’t stop him from ripping
out Lyall’s throat. Ailis stopped howling and stood with her hand on her Wolf-husband’s
back. Together they left the fortress, but not before setting it on fire. With
Lyall’s body inside of course. His father, the Pack Alpha, forgave Eoghan his crime,
but he was forced to make a home across the ocean. And so he did. In the Pine
Barrens of New Jersey.”

“Wow,” Tate’s one-word response was truly appropriate.

“Yeah, isn’t it great? It’s one of my favorite childhood
memories.”

“And this is your ancestor?”

“Well, yeah, I guess. But even if they weren’t, isn’t the
story awesome?”

“Heck yeah! Bloody and romantic! My favorite,” but Tate
wasn’t thinking of forgotten tales or faded memories. He was looking at the
woman beside him.
Mine
.