Taming Kiera (Therian Agents Book 3) (8 page)

With ears pinned back and teeth bared, the grizzly let out a deafening growl. Clouds of dirt and dust billowed behind it. The ground shook under Kiera’s feet as the bear loomed closer.

There was no way she’d be able to outrun it.

Adrenaline alone drove her forward, but her legs were numb, and she stumbled, her knees giving out on her. Scrambling, she grabbed a handful of rocks, and began shouting and throwing them at the goliath-sized bear.

Kiera’s lion surged under her skin, never closer to bursting loose then it was right now. Could she shift? It was her only option. Her only chance of survival. She closed her eyes tight and begged the lion to take over.

Her skin rippled, muscles stretched painfully, but nothing happened. The lion remained trapped, its roar more deafening than the grizzly’s.

Shit, shit, shit.

The bear towered above her, baring its teeth. Kiera grabbed a stick, a ridiculous weapon in comparison, and swung it at the animal.

“Stay away. Scram.” She inched backwards.

The bear’s massive paws pounded the earth beside her head. Gleaming brown fur undulated as the powerful muscles rippled beneath. It let out a horrific growl, its hot breath coating Kiera’s face with a layer of spittle.

The grizzly raised one giant paw and its nostrils flared.

This was it.

Kiera closed her eyes as tightly as she could, held her breath, and waited for the blow.

“Enough!” Jacob’s command boomed around them.

The bear made a disdainful snorting sound, then pawed at the earth beside her head, drool dripping from its black lips.

“I said enough, McConnell.” Jacob strode towards them, eyes dark, lacking the alarm that she thought should be there.

What the hell?

The grizzly huffed, turned and retreated into the woods.

Kiera scuttled back, twisting, trying to stand, but her body wasn’t working properly. She fell twice before her legs were able to hold her weight.

“It’s gone?” She was shaking uncontrollably. Her brain was in a semi-working condition. She clenched her teeth, determined not to let her emotions turn her into a sobbing mess. She squinted at Jacob, suspicion creeping down her spine.

“Why didn’t you shift?” His eyes blazed gold in the moonlight.

“It obeyed you.” It wasn’t a question. Her head spun, and she wobbled forward.

Jacob gripped her elbows to help steady her. His nostrils flared, and there was anger in his eyes. Anger directed at her.

Her eyes widened and her stomach twisted as she realized he was behind the attack. She inhaled through clenched teeth. “You sent it after me on purpose?”

Jacob pursed his lips. “McConnell is harmless. He wouldn’t have hurt you.”

“Harmless? It was a freaking grizzly bear.”

“Weregrizzly,” Jacob corrected. He picked up Kiera’s hands and examined the small cuts. “McConnell’s lived in these woods as long as I can remember.” His jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes on her. “Why didn’t you shift?”

“I tried.” She shook her head, still trying to grasp what had happened.

“You didn’t try hard enough.”

Kiera pulled her hands from his grip and pushed on his chest. “You’re a real asshole, you know that?”

She shoved him one more time, then turned quickly, walking away before she gave into the temptation to slug him.

By the time she reached the cabin, Jacob had caught up with her.

“I’m trying to help you.” He caught the door when she tried to slam it in his face.

“By having me mauled by a bear?” She opened the cupboard under the sink, and reached for the bottle of whisky she’d found during her search for the duct tape. She unscrewed the lid and took a long, deep swig from the bottle. 

“You weren’t hurt.” He leaned against the counter and scrubbed his hands over his face. 

She tipped the bottle back one more time, and placed it on the counter. The deep burn traveled down her throat, warming her stomach.

“Why is it so important to you?”

“Because I need to know that you can take care of yourself.” 

“Right.” Tears stung her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. “When you decide this whole ruse is up and walk away.” 

“It’s not a ruse, and I’m not walking away.” He moved across the room towards her, closing the gap between them. His deep golden gaze locked with hers, the color shifting in the shadows.

Her body reacted to his closeness.

She clenched her fists at her sides, refusing to reach out and touch him.

“You said–”

“I won’t walk away from you.” There was a fierce promise in his words.

His lips were suddenly on hers, his tongue taking possession of her mouth. He kissed her with such force, such male dominance that she forgot her anger and submitted fully.

Heat raced through her, scorching her from head to toe. She strained to get closer, gripping his hair, pulling herself deeper into his embrace. His hands slid down her back, gripping her hips, pulling her against the hard wedge of his cock.

He pulled back, amber eyes glowing with need, and something more. “If anything happens to me…”

Kiera’s breath caught in her throat. She finally understood what he was afraid of. She frowned up at him, heart clenching. “You’re worried about dying.”

“No.” He shook his head, one corner of his mouth twitching. “I made peace with death a long time ago.” He brushed his thumb along her bottom lip, and sighed. “I’m afraid of leaving you alone, unprotected. I know what losing a mate can do.” His expression twisted in a pained grimace. “I won’t let that happen to you.”

Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Kiera placed a hand on his cheek. “Nothing’s going to happen to either of us.”

He smiled sadly. “I hope not, but if it does–”

“It won’t.” She stood on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, needing to erase the fear she saw in his eyes. Erase the premonition that tightened her own chest.

She dug her fingers into his hair and deepened the kiss. If all they had was today, then she’d make sure they enjoyed every moment of it.

Fear thundered just beneath the desire rushing through Jacob’s body. He should be preparing her, training her, not thinking about fucking her, but the scent of her arousal was like a drug, and he was an addict.

His cock strained against his pants, hot and heavy.

She smiled up at him, blue eyes smoldering with promise, like a siren, hell bent on destroying what little control he had left.  

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Make love to me.” She nipped at his chin. “Now.” She ran her tongue along his jaw. “Tomorrow.” Her fingers tangled in his hair. “And every night after.”

He groaned and slipped a hand under her shirt and cupped her breast.

“You have too many clothes on,” she whimpered against his mouth, tugging at his belt.

He reached back to pull his shirt over his head.

“Better?”

“A little.” She grinned wickedly, and unsnapped the top button of his pants.

A rumble vibrated from his chest. He lowered his mouth to her neck, and grazed his teeth over the mating mark. Kiera moaned and tipped her head back.

His lion growled possessively.
Mine.

He undid her jeans and slipped them down her legs, along with her panties. His hand slid down her belly and slipped between her legs. She opened her thighs for him, and whimpered as his finger slid inside of her. He found the small nub, and stroked it lightly. She made a small mewling sound against his lips, encouraging him to plunge his fingers deeper.

“So good,” she whimpered, bucking against him, her nails digging into his shoulders.

He leaned down and took her nipple in his mouth, flicking his tongue over the swollen bud. She bucked against him as his fingers worked the pleasure from her body. She cried out, her sweet flesh convulsing around his hand.

Her body melted against his, trembling with the aftershocks of her orgasm.

“I can’t stand,” she said weakly.

“I’ve got you.” He gripped her ass, lifting her so that her legs wrapped around his waist. “Hold on to me.”

He carried her to the bedroom and eased her onto the bed. She protested with a small groan when he pulled back to shed his pants.

“So beautiful,” he said, easing himself above her, sliding her thighs apart with his knee.

Emotion threatened to undo him. He felt more for her than just lust, more than mating heat. If this was only physical need, about pleasure, he might survive. But there was no surviving the feelings clogging his chest now.

He took her mouth, his tongue sinking past her lips. She arched against him, opening her thighs. His cock pressed demandingly against the wet warmth of her silken folds.

“What have you done to me?” He held himself above her, struggling for control.

She placed her hands possessively on his cheeks and gazed up at him. “Made you mine.”

Something broke inside him. He wanted a future with her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. Not just a future. A life. A family.

A harsh groan tore from his lips as he sunk into her. Her body opened to him instinctively as though she too knew exactly where he belonged. She clenched around him, her warm, slick juices allowing him to take her completely.

For a moment, he stilled inside her, marveling at the feel of her, tight, wet, a perfect fit.  He couldn’t get enough of her.

“My mate,” he growled.

Slowly, he pulled out, then thrust in again, hard and deep. 

Kiera gasped, eyes widening.

“I could lose myself in you,” he whispered against her lips.

She gave him a breathtaking smile that made his heart clench. Her hips arched toward him, drawing his length deeper. “Let’s get lost together.”

He kissed her slowly, memorizing her scent, her taste, exploring her mouth as she met his hips readily with each thrust.

Easing out, he reveled in the soft, pleading sound that escaped her lips. He bucked into her again. Each thrust harder, faster than the next. She clawed at his back and bowed against the bed.

“More,” she cried out, her voice a desperate sob.

He could feel her pleasure building, his own release teetering on the edge. He buried himself so deeply inside of her it felt as if their bodies fused.

His lips collided with hers as he plunged into her again. Her fingernails raked across his back as her legs locked around his waist, anchoring herself to his body.

“You feel so good,” she moaned.

He slammed into her faster, and she met him stroke for stroke.

Shockwaves of sensations rippled across his flesh.

His control was slipping. He was close. Too close.

“Come for me, beautiful.” He watched as her face responded to the command in his tone.

He could feel her tipping over the edge.

“Jacob,” she cried out his name as she clamped down on him, her body arching, pulsating with pleasure.

He gazed down at her, watching her expression as she exploded around him. His muscles clenched and shook, riding her harder, unable to hold back any longer. A growl ripped through his chest, and he emptied himself into her completely.

When his body went still, he eased out and pulled her against his chest. She snuggled against him and sighed. A sense of belonging filled him.

“I like it here,” she murmured, running her fingers down his chest. “I wish we didn’t have to leave.”

Her comment brought him back to the harsh reality. He couldn’t keep her there much longer. He’d allowed himself a brief moment to lose himself in the fantasy, but they had no future except the one the wolf had cursed him with when he was twelve years old.

Jacob’s chest tightened as he felt the familiar darkness creeping closer.

Death drew near, and it was coming straight for him.

Yellow eyes glittered in the darkness, sharp fangs dripped with blood.

“You’re ours,” the silver wolf sneered. “There’s nowhere to run.”

Howling laughter resonated from the growing shadows.

The wolf lunged.

Fangs tore through flesh.

Ripping, burning.

Cold.

Death.

A deep, mournful growl jolted Kiera awake. Jacob bolted from the bed, his body gleaming with perspiration, eyes huge, dazed.

“Jacob?”

“We need to go. I need to get you back to the agency.” Hysteria threatened his usual calm. His eyes darted around the room, glazed from whatever nightmare had woken him.

“It’s still dark out. We can wait until morning.”

“They’re coming. I can feel it.”

“Everything’s fine. Come back to bed.”

Jacob sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, with his elbows on his knees, face buried in his hands. She moved behind him and wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head against his shoulder.

“Talk to me,” she whispered, choking down the lump forming in her throat.

“He was out in the shed,” Jacob started to speak. “Working on a project. I wasn’t supposed to be there. It was a school night. Past my bedtime.” 

“Who?” She placed her hand on his cheek and gently forced him to look at her. Anguish burned in his amber eyes, and her own chest clenched because of the grief she saw there.

“My father,” he said, voice strained. “They killed him in front of me. Tore his throat out. Gutted him.”

She started to say something, but the words died in her throat.

“When they were done, they turned on me. I thought they’d kill me. At the time I wanted them to.” A bead of sweat formed on his brow.

“But they let you live.” She understood the pain that his past had caused him, but not the fear he had for the future.

“With conditions.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, then over his face, letting out a hiss of a breath through his teeth.

“Conditions?”

“The wolves have fought against the Therian Agency for centuries. They don’t want to be bound by rules, so they create their own. My father was part of a mission to bring the packs to justice for their crimes against humanity. He was successful, but he paid for it with his life.”

“You’re worried they might come back for you?”

“No.” He stood, lips pressed in a tight, thin line, and shoved his pants on. “I know they will.”

“It was a long time ago. They could be dead, or forgotten about you by now.”

He chuckled darkly. “They’re alive and they remember.”

“You can’t be sure–”

“The leader...” Jacob winced and paced the small room. “He did something to me. Got into my head. Marked me somehow. The nightmares, they’re from him, reminding me what he’ll do to me when he finds me. He gave me an ultimatum. Leave the wolves alone and live, or follow my father’s footsteps and die. I have a target on my head. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when. I knew the risk when I took this job.”

“So you’re just going to sit back and let them come for you?”

“There are things about our world you still don’t understand.”

“You fight the bad guys every day. How is this any different?”

“He cursed me.” His nostrils flared and the veins on his neck bulged.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Jacob was the most rational person she knew. How could he possibly believe that his life was bound by a curse?

She was about to argue with him, when Jacob froze, cocked his head, then cursed violently under his breath.

“Someone’s here.”

She heard it then too, the soft hum of a motor.

“Stay here.” He snatched his shirt from the floor and barreled out of the room.

In the dark, she grabbed for her clothes and dressed quickly.

A car door slammed, followed by a second.

She sneaked through the cabin and peered out the window, sighing when she recognized the two men Jacob confronted.

Chase Payne stood, arms crossed over his large chest, blue eyes dark with anger. His brother, Turner, leaned against the hood of the black SUV, looking bored.

“I can’t keep covering. They need her back in the labs.” Chase growled. His posture hummed with displeasure. “You need to bring her back. It’s not just her life we’re dealing with.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“I don’t know what to think. You let Sinclair take off with Jenna, then you disappear into the mountains. Do you know what it took to convince your mother to tell me the location of this place?”

“You should have known I’d bring her back.”

“How the fuck was I–”

“Holy shit.” Turner’s eyes went wide as Kiera walked towards them. “You marked her?”

Instinctively, her hand went to the mark on her neck. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, it was easily visible.

“No wonder you’ve been acting like a dipshit,” Turner said, chuckling.

Jacob glowered, his fists clenching at his sides.

A peculiar scent stung her nostrils, making her eyes water. “Do you smell that?”

All three men went still.

“Wolves,” Turner spat, his shoulders tensing, body angled, ready for a fight.

Jacob’s nostrils flared as fear flashed in his eyes. “You brought them straight to us.”

“No one followed us,” Chase snarled irately.

Instead of words, a low rumble echoed from Jacob’s chest.

They were wasting time. The wolves’ scent hung thick in the air.

“We need to leave.” She touched Jacob’s arm, making his gaze jerk to her.

Without warning, his fingers tangled in her hair. He bowed his head, crushing his mouth against hers in a desperate kiss. When he pulled back, his expression hardened. He released her, and motioned to Turner with a command. “Keep her safe, no matter what.”

“Yes, boss.” Turner gave a sharp nod, then stepped in front of her when she started to follow after Jacob. He pulled his weapon from its holster and handed it to her. “Do you know how to use a gun?”

She took it, tentatively, and gave a small nod.

“Get in the car and lock the doors.”

She didn’t move. She couldn’t.

“Kiera.” Turner’s lips curled back on her name. “This isn’t a game. Get in the fucking car.”

The shadows drew closer.

“He thinks he’s going to die.” Her hand shook around the butt of the gun. “I won’t let that happen.”

Turner’s brows furrowed.

A silver wolf emerged from the darkness, its yellow eyes trained on Jacob. More than a dozen materialized behind the alpha, fangs bared, ears drawn tightly against their heads.

There were too many of them.

She pushed past Turner, ignoring his curse and ran to Jacob. “We need to get out of here.”

Jacob’s tormented expression revealed how he’d already accepted his fate. He cast a quick glance at Kiera before turning to Chase. “I’ll fight them off. Just make sure she’s safe.”

“Bullshit. We’re not leaving you here,” Chase snarled.

And neither would she. There wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to let him give up that easily. She lifted the gun, pointed it straight at the silver wolf, and fired.