Nature's Destiny (18 page)
He growled, and the vibrations from his chest was like sweet music to my ears. It turned me on. I slid down his legs and found my footing, not before feeling the length of his hot arousal. I rushed to pull his shirt off, and ran my hands across his tight torso.
With a skilful touch he unclasped my dress and I felt it sashay down my body to the floor. His gaze never left my body, and my bare nipples hardened under his stare.
“You’re so beautiful, Luna. I can’t wait to taste you.” My breathing hitched as I began to panic. He kissed me hard, and his rough hands teased my nipples. I ached with the need to be touched lower, to feel Riley moving between my legs.
His hot mouth replaced his hands as he sucked gently on my hardened nipples.
“Oh, Riley,” I moaned, as the pleasure absconded my panic. He trailed butterfly kisses across my stomach and slowly pulled down my lace underwear.
“Did you do this for me?” he asked at the absence of hair. I nodded shyly.
He scooped me up in his arms, and carried me to the bed. I reclaimed his mouth and ran my hands down his body, pulling him closer. I needed to
feel
him.
Riley skimmed his hands across my belly, and it quivered in response. He cupped my sex and teasingly stroked my wet folds. I raised my hips, letting him know I wanted
more
. His finger slid in gently and he set a steady rhythm. I was overwhelmed with the new sensations.
He moved his body down the bed while his hand continued to please me, and I watched as he positioned his head between my legs. His hot tongue lapped at my clit and I almost came from the sudden pleasure of his skilful mouth.
I was building to a crescendo, and my muscles tensed, ready for the release that was sure to come. “Riley!” I moaned, and the waves of my orgasm crashed around me.
“Was that good for you, babe?” He grinned, as he got up, still dressed in his trousers.
“It was alright,” I joked, feeling naughty at my complete nakedness.
“It’s a good thing I’m not done with you yet then.”
He quickly framed his body with mine, kissing me fervently. I dug my nails down his back, and squeezed his taut buttocks before working my way around to his zipper. I pulled his trousers down along with his boxers in one swift move, eager to have him moving inside me again.
I ran my hand along the length of his shaft, astonished by the size of him. I balked at the thought of him fitting inside me.
“Trust me, sweetheart.”
“What about protection?” I asked.
“Werewolves don’t carry diseases, and you’re not in heat. I’d smell it on you, and you’d know it too. No pregnancy until then.”
“Oh. No condoms?”
“No condoms.” He smiled, before crushing his lips on mine again. His body rested heavily against mine and it felt good. His hardened cock hovered between my legs, and he entered me slowly.
Pain shot through me, shaking me to the core. I stopped myself from screaming out, and concentrated instead on the toned physique that was essentially Riley.
He slid in and out of me, gradually building up the pace until all I could feel was the size of his cock stretching and filling me completely. The constant rock back and forth had me screaming with delight as a fire coiled within me.
I was burning up from the desire of his naked body moving against mine.
“Come for me, baby,” he called, and the sweet ecstasy of my orgasm burst; the tremors from my tight walls pulled at his cock, and he spilled his hot cum inside of me.
“Riley that was…”
“Are you hurt?” he asked as he settled beside me, and pulled me onto his chest.
“If I am, I’m too happy to tell.” A coy smile spread across my face, as heat flushed into my cheeks.
“You are adorable right now.” He kissed me gently while his hand ran through my hair. I sighed contentedly, before a yawn slipped from my mouth.
“Tired babe?” I nodded, and nestled in closer to Riley. “Sweet dreams my beautiful, brave, Luna.”
The scorching touch of Riley’s lips against my back sent delectable flutters across my skin as he continued to cocoon me with his body.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” He nipped at my ear and I giggled as the stubble on his face tickled me. I rolled into his arms and gazed up at him.
“You know, if you keep doing that, I may struggle to leave this bed of yours today.”
“That’s fine with me, baby. Being here with you is far more exciting than anything else I can think of.”
I smiled, Riley was just one big dessert, and he was all mine.
“Riley!” The bedroom door banged as Nick beat against it.
“Go away!” he muttered as he feathered kisses across my chest.
“Bloody hell, open the door dammit or I’m coming in,” Nick bossed, petulant as ever.
Riley pulled the quilt up over my body just as the door swung open. Nick raced into the room, his face reddening with anger.
“Next time, a closed door is closed for a reason,” Riley threatened.
“Yeah, and next time I may not have to tell you what I’m about to. I don’t have time for silly games Riley, and neither do you. We need this solved before the entire pack sees.”
“What are you talking about?” Riley asked as he sat up.
The quilt was comfy, and covered my body from Nick. The sudden eagerness in Nick’s voice had me sitting up too.
“There’s a dead body at the gates. Female. Unknown.”
“WHAT!” Riley shouted as he jumped out of bed, grabbed his trousers and ran out the room. I stared after him, and watched as Nick followed hot on his trail.
With the room empty, I leapt out of bed, and grabbed Riley’s shirt that lay on the floor from last night. I raced after them, regardless of what I looked like.
The day was bleak as dark clouds gathered in the sky like an army preparing for battle. The slight chill in the air reminded me of what little clothing I had on, and I tried to run as gracefully as I could, hoping Riley’s shirt as long as it was, was covering everything that needed to be.
I could see the gates in the distance. They were for our protection, our safety, and all I could think was how grateful I was that they were there. It stopped whatever monster it took to leave a woman dead at the gates. At least, that was my thought. Nobody turned up dead by their own volition. Being dead kind of took that luxury away from you.
I caught up just as Riley knelt over the body.
“Do you know her?” I asked him, fear stopping me from moving forward. As inquisitive and curious as I was in my life, I didn’t venture into the morbid curiosity. That wasn’t me.
He stayed quiet for a while, and I inched closer. The colour of muddy blonde hair caught my attention, and the slight frame of a woman with a tattooed wrist sent a hot shrill of recognition through me.
I didn’t need to get closer, I could already tell who it was.
“It’s her, isn’t it? From last night?” I asked.
“Yes,” said Riley as his eyes flickered to me, and then to the others surrounding the area. There were plenty of pack mates standing beside us, including Shane and Nick, and they’d been quiet enough for Riley’s examination. It only left a hollow feeling inside of me, as they continued to be silent. It was harrowing.
“At the restaurant?” Shane asked.
“Yes, she was our waitress,” I filled in the gaps.
“Oh,” said Nick.
I paced about the driveway, trying to understand why she’ d come here, or more importantly why she’d been dumped here.
“Did you know her before last night, Riley?” I asked. I hadn’t missed the way she kept ogling Riley, or how plainly she portrayed her obvious lust for him. She craved for his attention last night.
“I’d never met her before,” he answered as his hands deftly searched her pockets. He stood with empty hands. And it was the first real glimpse I’d had of the body.
She lay on her back, with arms sprawled at the sides. They were misshapen as they contorted at odd angles, disguised with a layer of dark, sinful bruises.
Her pale white legs, thankfully closed, were a stark contrast to the grey concrete beneath. She was clothed in part of the same uniform as last night, at least her lower half was. The dark, black skirt was the only tell-tale sign she was a waitress. Her bright pink blouse, was no doubt her vision of sultry as it struggled to contain her boobs, but really it was trashy.
My head was swimming from the sheer evilness of my own thoughts. How could I think so poorly of a person that was dead?
The tattoo on her wrist was an amalgamation of stars and hearts, with intertwining lines of differing thickness. It was small enough to cover with a watch, but large enough to see with my new senses.
Nick and Shane both moved towards her body as Riley stalked towards me.
“Are you alright?”
I laughed. Not the flattering giggle I wanted, but a great, big, snort.
“Luna?”
Death wasn’t something I was accustomed to, even if the girl on the ground had been trying to steal my man last night, it didn’t mean I liked to see her dead.
“I’m fine.” I’d gotten used to relaying the phrase over the years, it was simpler than explaining my true feelings, or even having to go into any detail as to why I felt the way I did. I couldn’t explain it half the time as it was.
“Right,” he stared me down, seeing right through my lie.
“Got something over here,” said Nick.
Riley and I walked forward, but it was obvious he didn’t want me anywhere near her. Nick handed Riley a piece of paper, and soon I was tearing my hair out over his silence.
“What does it say?” I asked. He handed it to me, and I read it aloud.
“Last night was only the beginning. Next time, you won’t escape from me. I’ll make sure of it.
” I held my hand to my mouth, shocked.
“
Blake
,” I whispered, remembering the name of the arsehole from last night. Riley echoed my thoughts, as he wrapped his arms around me. I was shocked, true, and I was afraid. Not for me, but for Riley.
“This guy is a psycho,” said Shane.
“Did you find out anymore?” Riley asked, hopeful.
“I did, and I’m not sure whether it’s interesting or disturbing,” he exclaimed.
“Looks like we need to have a de-brief,” Riley muttered, and Shane and Nick both nodded. “Let’s move the body before the spectators swarm. This isn’t going to go down well.” Riley sighed.
“Shouldn’t we call the police?” I asked, uncertain.
“No. They couldn’t help even if they tried, this is pack business now.” I trusted Riley, but the idea of him dealing with a dead body outside of the law I’d grown up respecting made me feel a little uneasy. There was a lot I had to learn about Lycan law.
“Luna, I think you should go get dressed.” Riley eyed the little clothing I had on. “You look exquisite in my shirt, and all I want to do is rip you out of it. I fear for the lives of my brothers if I were to do that, I couldn’t have them looking at what’s mine,” he whispered in my ear as his eyes glowed hungrily.
I swallowed hard. “You could follow me you know…” I teased.
“Any other time I would. Now, I must be the Alpha people depend upon.” He kissed me goodbye and sent me on my way.
My shoulders bristled at the thought of being dismissed. The dead waitress finally had the attention she’d desired.
The sun had burned the last of the clouds, and
Nature’s Destiny
glistened. The fresh grass gleamed happily, and my throat constricted from its beauty.
I found Riley sat on the patio furniture talking in depth with Nick and Shane. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I was just as curious to find out what had happened during the morning. I was dressed and determined to learn the truth.
“What do we know?” I asked as I settled into the chair beside Riley.
“Quite a bit actually. Shane did well,” said Riley. “But that doesn’t mean I liked what I heard. We’re walking the path of an unsteady wolf.”
“Blake is Lycan?” I asked. “Like us?”
“No. He’s a volatile rogue,” Riley spat.
“Someone needs to explain what I’ve missed because I’m struggling to understand here,” I said.
“Blake is a Werewolf, yes, but he’s gone rogue. Shane found a connection we hadn’t expected,” Nick answered.
“Which was?”
“Blake had been in line to become the Beta of the Birmingham pack.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“I spoke with the Alpha late last night. Blake has been forbidden as a member of the pack because he couldn’t control his wolf. They thought, and I quote, ‘He was becoming untrustworthy, and fighting with pack mates for the sake of medals. The boy wanted to exert his authority, and made the pups suffer with torturous games that profited only himself,’” said Shane.
“He was tormenting kids?” I tried to swallow the bile that was threatening to escape.
“Luna, not every wolf is in harmony with the human. It doesn’t happen often, but personalities can clash. What happens then is the monster takes over, and the beast controls what little instincts the human has left.”
“Why didn’t you warn me about this possibility Riley? I trusted you, but I could’ve easily become a monster!”
“Do you honestly think that if I thought you were a threat to yourself that I wouldn’t have done everything I could to make it right again? I could sense you, Luna. There’s not an evil bone in your body.”
“Why didn’t Blake’s Alpha help him then?” I countered.
“It’s complicated. Not everyone has good intentions embedded in their soul like you do.”
“But…”
“No buts, Luna. That’s just how it is. Blake was troubled, and instead of fighting for what was right, he gave in to the darkness. Now he’s leaving us dead bodies and attempting to run us off the road. My patience has worn out.”
I nodded. Riley was right, he’d had his chance.
“I do not take kindly to someone threatening the pack either,” he bristled.
My temperature rose from the pit of my stomach as I remembered the note that had been attached to the waitress. I was furious at the thought of my new family in danger, and the need to protect flooded my thoughts
Anger ignited and rage consumed me as my vision turned red. I snarled, and stood from the chair. A bubble of energy grew within me, and I felt restless with the need to move.
“Luna? What’s wrong?” Riley asked, moving towards me with his arms outstretched.
I growled at him, unable to control the instinct to fight. He backed up a little, but not before Nick and Shane advanced towards me.
I felt cornered though I had plenty of space around me. “It’s alright, Luna. We aren’t the enemy,” Nick soothed. It didn’t help, it only stirred the fire of my rage into an inferno.
I needed to attack and crouched ready to pounce. I had to damage those that endangered my friends, and my family. Riley.
Logic seeped through, and I ran. I ran as fast as I could to get away from hurting them. I couldn’t control the emotions that had my mind in turmoil. It was the only way I could keep them safe from
me
.
“Luna!” Riley howled, but I ignored him.
My vision blurred as trees and greenery passed me by in a scenic whirlwind. My stomach was turning from the constant movement and exhaustion, but I couldn’t
stop
. I’d lost complete control, and all I knew was that I was running, and
fast
.
Stay safe, baby. I’ll find you.
The interruption of Riley’s thoughts trickled into my mind, but the connection was lost just as soon as it appeared. Had I read his mind?
The energy flowing through my body began to ebb away, relieving me of the need to move. I slowed my pace, until eventually I could stop.
I was lost in the middle of densely populated woods, where the smell of fresh dirt and moss assaulted my nose. I rested against a tree to catch my breath before making sense of where I was.
I collapsed to the ground, no longer able to stay upright. The muddy ground felt damp and cool on my arse. My eyelids drooped as fatigue claimed my body, but I resisted the urge to sleep.
I gathered the little strength I had left and walked through the thick brush of the forest, attempting to find some landmark I recognised.
My mouth was dry, and my throat struggled to swallow the little saliva I had left. I’d walked through fields without a break, and the same green colour stared back at me. I was hot and thirsty, and desperately lost.
I tried to ignite the connection with Riley, but nothing happened, the silent echo of my thoughts encased me. I tried to call on my wolf, but even she was exhausted. What chance did I have?
I stumbled into the woods again, and tripped over branches that scattered across the floor. I didn’t have much energy left to pick my feet up. I was giving up, the woods held the shade the fields didn’t and the temptation to rest brought me down.
The clearing was ahead, and in a last effort to make sense of where I was I followed the path. I held my head high as a wave of relief flushed through me. I’d found the treehouse.
I sluggishly made my way towards the wooden haven. I was near when a black wolf burst through the trees. I sighed with relief at seeing Riley. He was the salvation I yearned for.
“I was so lost, Riley,” I croaked.
The wolf cocked his head to the side, sniffing the air as he inhaled.
“Riley?” My body ached with the pain of exhaustion, but my stomach cramped with the tell-tale signs of danger.
I took a step back and looked at the wolf some more. It was big like Riley, and as black as his coat too, but the eyes were different.
Those weren’t the emerald eyes I’d adored. They were as dark as onyx with the intelligence of a man long gone. He stalked towards me and I faltered. My wolf and I were too drained to do anything. I couldn’t shift. I couldn’t run. I was helpless.
“Luna!”
“Luuunnaaaaaa!” The distant sound of Riley and Lara’s voice carried in the air.
“Luna?”
Faye?
I kept my sight on the black wolf, willing for Riley to hurry. He stepped closer, the distance between us closing and bared his canines at me. Saliva dripped from his muzzle as a growl escaped his mouth.
I straightened and defied his attempt at making a coward out of me. I searched for my wolf and together we growled.
“Luna!” Riley was near.
Conflict spread in the black wolf’s eyes, as he turned to look at the woods from where he’d come.
I’m here.
I tried to send the thought to Riley, but it went without reply. Did it work?
“Luna!”
The black wolf turned, and vanished, disappearing into the woods.
“Riley!” I called and slid to the ground. The sound of running footsteps assaulted my ears and soon my pack mates entered the clearing.
“Thank god, Luna!” Riley scooped me off of the ground and cradled me in his arms. His body emanated with comfort and shelter and I struggled to keep my eyes open.
I was safe.