Legend (A Wolf Lake Novella) (11 page)

"
Samantha
," he groaned in pleasure, his head falling back, his wolf blessedly silent.

Sam took her time working him in and out of her mouth, stopping to explore along the length of him with her tongue before swallowing him down her throat.
 

Nafarius slid his hand into her hair, fisted there but didn't impede her movements.

Wrapping her fingers around his shaft, Sam continued to stroke him. Moving lower, she gently took his balls into her mouth, rolling them carefully.

Nafarius nearly spent himself as he felt her slip his sac into the heat of her mouth. Reaching down, he grabbed her and tossed her onto the bed of blankets.
 

"Hey! I wasn't finished." Sam laughed as she landed on her back.

"Not in your mouth," he said. "Not yet. I need to be inside of you."

Sam shivered at the huskily whispered declaration, shuddered as he slid inside.
 

Nafarius wrapped his arms around her, sealed their bodies together at the core and started to move. Long, slow strokes that left him just barely there, before returning to touch her deep inside. He watched her face, watched as the pleasure slowly built. There was no hurry, no rush to finish.

They watched each other, eyes bright in the dark. They came together with a kiss, then separated to savor. Each touch and taste was meant to be remembered, a slow sensual goodbye that would take the night to say.

Lifting his head, Nafarius knew this was just the beginning of the night, that there was no need to deny them release. Reaching between their bodies, he stroked her, "come for me," he whispered, and took them over the edge.

SAM WASN'T SURE what time it was. Laying on the floor, Nafarius snoring softly beside her, she stared up into the dark. Her internal clock told her it was early, the sun not even up. It was time to go.

Untangling herself, she slipped out from under the blankets and reached for her jeans.

They had spent the night making love, coming together again and again, experiencing each other in ways both old and new. They had laughed, Nafarius showing a silly side she'd never seen and he didn't know he possessed. Their last release tumbling them into each others arms and into sleep.

"Were you going to say goodbye?" His voice came low, barely above a whisper, preserving the intimacy of the night.

Dressing quickly, she knelt on the floor beside him. "I would have woken you."

Nafarius searched her face, saw that she spoke the truth. "It's early. Stay for breakfast..."

Sam shook her head. "I think it's best I leave before the rest of the pack wakes."

"Sam..."

"Walk me out?" she asked, cutting off any objections.

Nafarius nodded. Rising, he slipped into a pair of jeans and watched as she gathered her things.

It didn't take her long. There was little that was hers. Her day pack had been salvaged along with a few of her MREs. "I'm ready," she said.

Nafarius didn't say anything, just led her through the den and outside.
 

Sam tipped her head back and stared up at the sky. The night was almost over, black lightening to purple gray. She watched as several stars disappeared in the coming light. "I'm going to miss the stars," she said. "It's too bright in the city to see most of them."

"You could stay," he said.

Sam looked at him, smiled.
 

Reaching out, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, tucked it behind her ear. "You sure you don't want me to send someone with you? It's a hard walk out."

"I'll be alright." Sam shifted her pack, settled it more securely on her back. "Oh, can you give this to Maddie?" She handed him a note. "I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

"She'll appreciate that." Nafarius tucked the note into his pocket.

"Well, I guess this is it," she said, in no hurry to leave.

"Take care of yourself," he whispered.
 

"You too." Sam stood up on tiptoe, pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

Nafarius watched as she walked to the edge of the clearing, turning at the last minute to wave before slipping between the trees.

Roland stepped out from the mouth of the den. "You're letting her go?"

"Yes," Nafarius said.

"Is that wise?" Roland asked automatically. He was surprised to realize that he wasn't worried that Sam would share their secret.

Nafarius stared at the place where Sam had disappeared. "Depends on who you ask."

No, no, noooooo!
Inside, his wolf howled.
 

"I'm asking you," said Roland.

Nafarius cut his beta a look before turning to go inside.

* * *

Later that morning, Nafarius ordered the others to sparring practice. The routine kept the pack strong. Nafarius had proven himself worthy of command this way, and he decreed the practice would continue under his leadership. Twice a month, opponents squared off as the pack watched. It entertained the pack, and it kept fighting skills sharp. Today though, it had a very different purpose for their alpha.

Nafarius shook out his shoulders. "Again," he ordered.
 

The pack whispered among themselves. Nafarius had already gone through several opponents. Three of them lay nearby watching and licking their wounds. The fourth was unconscious.

Roland stood back and watched. He knew a man punishing himself when he saw one, and had no desire to interfere.
 

"Again, I say!" bellowed Nafarius.

Marcus attacked, going in low. He swept a well muscled arm, hooking behind Nafarius's knee. Marcus pressed forward, and lifted his leader's leg from the ground. Nafarius was pressed back, lost his balance and crashed to the ground. On his back, he saw the towering Fir trees above, swaying in the afternoon breeze.
 

Then Marcus was there, leaping upon him, bearing down for a punishing blow. Nafarius saw the man's fist swinging. The trajectory was good, and the force was excellent. If it connected, Nafarius might just lose this match. He flashed pride in Marcus's ability.

But pride instantly shifted to survival. Nafarius twisted his body, turning his head to the side. Marcus's brutal punch came down like an avalanche, but the alpha's head was no longer there. Marcus's fist slammed into empty ground, and both men heard bones snap. Marcus bellowed in pain, and instinctively looked down at his already swelling hand to judge the damage. It was all the distraction Nafarius required.

Survival now shifted to aggression. Nafarius's wolf craved Sam. But if it could no longer have her, then blood would do.

Nafarius lost himself then, and his wolf rose to power. Conscious thought slipped away as a primal force took command of the pack's alpha.
 

He repelled Marcus's attack with vengeance. The men were a blur of fists and kicks and body blows.

Dimly, casually, Nafarius was aware that he just broke two of Marcus's ribs.

The gasps and cries of the pack were hollow and far away. Nafarius could not make them out, and did not care to.

A puny voice within Nafarius told him that Marcus was now bleeding internally. His first reaction was that Sam would be horrified. He shoved thoughts of her away.

Nafarius's wolf reveled in the violence and could remain in the background no more. Nafarius shifted in a moment, falling down on all fours, canines eager for skin.
 

Now fully wolf, he leaped at Marcus, slamming into the man's chest. Marcus fell back, bleeding, defeated, but struggling for life. He went down hard, and now it was Nafarius who was on top. His cold wolf eyes saw the man's weakness, and searched for the right moment to strike.

When Marcus's head turned to the side and exposed his neck, the wolf saw nothing but glorious opportunity. Jaws opened, and he dove in for the kill...

"Nafarius!!" screamed Roland.

The wolf heard the urgency in the tone. Something about it made sense. Should be listened to.

The wolf froze.

Nafarius came back to himself, the red haze over his vision slowly fading. Beneath him Marcus lay unmoving, his chest heaving.

He held Marcus's neck within his jaws. It would be a simple thing to kill the man, to break his neck.

"Sire, please," whispered Marcus, blood bubbling from the corner of his mouth.

It was an ancient title, one used to appease the old monarchs. It calmed Nafarius, and he scanned the watching pack. Each and every one of them were down on their bellies.
 

"He yields," Roland urged quietly.
 

Nafarius released Marcus. Slowly, painfully, Marcus rolled over onto his belly, surrendering at his alpha's feet.
 

Nafarius bent his head and licked at Marcus' wounded neck. His saliva, especially in wolf form, would help speed healing. Carefully, he nosed the man's face and hair in silent apology before turning and slipping off into the woods.

It was several minutes before anyone moved.

* * *

Nafarius ran.
 

It had been decades since he last lost control of his wolf. He'd been born alpha. Faster. Stronger. Powerful. Control was critical. Even in his youth, when control was at its weakest, his wolf had never surfaced so violently.
 

It had been a mistake. He'd been restless since Sam's departure that morning, his wolf pacing like a caged animal. He had thought the physical demands of sparring would provide a safe outlet. Instead, he'd put his pack in danger and injured one of his most trusted males.

Guilt ate at him, clawed its way up into his gut where it threatened to fester.
 

Never forget your responsibility to the pack
. It was a message Nafarius had been raised on.
Everyone is weaker than you, and most of them already know it. That makes them all yours to protect.
 

Nafarius had always known what his duty to the pack meant and had never shied from it. But things were starting to spiral out of control. His affair with Sam had been a distraction he couldn't afford. Only he wasn't the one forced to pay the price. The pack was unsettled and Marcus was seriously injured. If Nafarius didn't clear his shit up and soon, someone was going to end up dead.

Still thinking about Marcus, Nafarius turned towards home.
 

Back in human form and dressed, Nafarius dropped down beside Roland. "How's Marcus?"

"He'll live." Roland eyed his alpha critically. There were lines around his alpha's eyes, shadows that hadn't been there before.

Nafarius nodded as Maddie handed him a plate. The scent of deer meat and fire roasted potatoes rose up, bathing his face in fragrant steam. He was surprised when she turned to leave. "Madelyn."

"Yes?"
 

"Where are you going?" Nafarius asked, a hint of censure in his voice.

"I thought..." Maddie felt herself flush as several pack members turned to stare. "I thought with Sam gone you wouldn't need me anymore," she finished quietly.

"From now on, you take your meals here unless you choose otherwise." Nafarius went back to eating, satisfied when she returned to take a seat. Maddie had been Sam's to protect. With Sam, gone that duty fell to him. But it wasn't duty that had him calling Maddie back. They shared a link, a connection through their time spent with Sam and he wasn't ready to let that go.
 

Suddenly no longer hungry, Nafarius set aside his bowl and stood to go.

"You do not like the meal?" Maddie asked.

"It's delicious," he said, touching her lightly on the head as he passed by. "I'm just not hungry."

Roland watched as Nafarius slipped outside. "Shit."

"He could still catch up to her," Maddie offered quietly.

Roland frowned at her, his scar bunching grotesquely.

Maddie held his gaze, her face void of any aggression.
 

Heaving an exaggerated sigh, Roland stood and went to find his alpha. "What a cluster," he muttered.

Maddie smiled and settled in to finish her dinner.

Roland stepped outside, found Nafarius staring out into the forest. "You don't have to let her go."

Nafarius shook his head but didn't turn.
 

"She...is your mate," Roland admitted.

"I've already committed to taking Dimitri's daughter as my mate." Nafarius ignored the tightening in his gut.

"We can deal with Dimitri," Roland stepped up beside his alpha.
 

"Why do you care?" Nafarius asked. There was no accusation to his voice, only curiosity. "You've made it clear how you feel about her being here."

Roland nodded. "As a human, she's dangerous. As your mate, she's pack."

Nafarius turned away. "There's no guarantee..."

"Is she worth the risk?" Roland asked

Nafarius nodded. "She is."

"Then go," Roland told his friend and leader

Roland turned, and returned inside. Nafarius watched him go, then slipped into the forest. A moment later, he broke into a run.

SAM PUSHED BRANCHES aside, slipped between Fir trees and told herself to keep going. She watched the forest floor, focused on putting one foot in front of the other, ignoring the beauty around her. She could never come back, she realized. There was nothing here for her.
Nothing at home either
. Ah...the voice...It was back.

She didn't want to think about the man she was leaving behind, the life she would never have. More than once, Sam found herself turning to glance back the way she had come, tempted to go back.
Half a life is better than no life
, she thought.

"Shut up," she muttered.
 

Too late, Sam realized that there was something moving through the forest. Whatever - whoever - it was, it was moving fast and headed straight for her. She knew Nafarius would never have let her go, only to send someone else to take her down. But his wasn't the only pack in these woods.

Sam started running.